ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Achanti Thongjang picked up volleyball in middle school, and in just a few years, was already pretty good.
“I didn’t actually get really serious about it until the summer going into 9th grade when my coach asked me to move up to varsity,” said Thongjang. “And that kind of sparked my interest a lot because it gave me a newfound confidence.”
But even though the Harley Allendale Columbia (HAC) volleyball team went to States that year, Thongjang had to work through some mental blocks.
“When I got moved up I thought I was the greatest player in the world, I’d just get playing time instantly, and that wasn’t the case as much as I wanted it to be,” she said. “Overcoming that was really the key to success.”
Thongjang has since become a key player in a Section V Championship team and serves as the team captain.
“Leadership is a trait I have that I hold really close to me and I’m really proud of it. I like to advocate for people,” Thongjang said.
And it goes far beyond volleyball. She’s a part of HAC’s Black Student Union and Student Government. But you could say she became a leader younger than most. Her parents moved here from South Sudan about 20 years ago, so Thongjang had to advocate for mom and dad.
“A bit of a challenge in some aspects,” said Thongjang. “They don’t always understand things about the American lifestyle because they grew up in Africa and that’s all they know. It’s just a lot of learning on both ends.”
After this year, she’ll be off to college, unsure of where or what she’s going to study. But she’s set on being in a big city where she can continue to lead in life.
“I’m just a social butterfly, that’s it. I feel like going to a city where there’s tons of people who are all completely different would be a paradise for me,” said Thongjang.
Currently, the volleyball season is in the preseason phase, with players still getting to know each other. However, Thongjang’s name is one to remember in Section V.
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