Before she became a collegiate point guard, a mentor, and a leader at Apex for Youth, Elissa was just a six-year-old girl learning to dribble alongside her brother in their backyard. Her parents introduced the sport to her for fun, but it quickly became something more — a source of joy, pride, and identity. That family foundation set her on the path to Apex, where her passion for basketball and her belief in herself began to grow.
It was her community that led her to 청소년을 위한 에이펙스. At age 11, she joined the We Run As One (WRAO) summer basketball league after hearing about it through her Chinatown team, the New York Rockits. The experience was transformative. Competing in a league hosted by Apex and the Dynasty League gave her one of her first real opportunities to play in a structured, competitive environment. Though she was often one of the few girls on the court, she felt supported, welcomed, and inspired to chase her passion for the game.
Finding Confidence, Mentorship, and a Path Forward
After basketball came 멘토링. Elissa joined Apex’s 멘토링 프로그램, participating from freshman through senior year of high school. What began as a step outside her comfort zone grew into one of the most defining relationships of her adolescence. Her mentor became a steady source of guidance, especially during the uncertainty of the pandemic years as she transitioned to college.
Through workshops, new friendships, and one-on-one support, Elissa learned to speak up, trust herself, and stay open to opportunities she may have once been hesitant to explore.
By the time she graduated high school, she was ready for the next chapter and Apex was ready to guide her again. Through the College & Career Success (CCS) and Alumni Programs, she completed three SCEP internships across tech, network/IT, media, and marketing roles. Each experience, even those outside her long-term goals, helped shape her professional confidence and sparked her interest in data analytics.
Building Dreams: On and Off the Court
One of the most meaningful figures throughout her journey was Coach Ian, who began supporting Elissa when she was still in elementary school. He volunteered to train her 1-on-1, investing his time, energy, and belief in her potential.
“I didn’t know it then, but those early sessions shaped the player and person, I would become,” she reflects. “Every moment he supported me, even the small ones, made a difference.”
When she later became a collegiate student-athlete at Baruch College, starting point guard, co-captain, and a leader both on and off the court, Ian continued to cheer her on. His support extended to her family as well, something Elissa says she will always be grateful for.
Coming Full Circle: Returning as a Coach
Elissa returned to Apex, this time as a coach for the very basketball programs she once grew up in. She reflected, “Being able to give back to the next generation of Apex athletes even in a small way has been incredibly meaningful and truly a full-circle experience.” She added, “As a former collegiate athlete, I know the importance of giving back to the community that gave so much to me.”
A few years ago, Elissa volunteered at an elementary school on a Saturday afternoon as an Apex basketball coach. About 40 energetic children ran across the gym, excited to play basketball after finishing Saturday school earlier that morning. Among the group, only about five were girls. During a drill, one of the girls asked her, “Why are there so few girls here?” The question took her by surprise, as the gender disparity had felt normalized during her own upbringing.
Seeing that little had changed in over a decade was demoralizing, especially for the aspiring young female athletes she was coaching. From that point forward, Elissa knew that not only was fulfilling her dream to become a collegiate athlete important to her, but so was serving as a role model for the young Asian girls who had never had one.
A Career Fueled by Passion and Data
As she advanced academically, graduating Summa Cum Laude from Baruch, then pursuing her Master of Science in Business Analytics, Elissa continued giving back. She later joined Apex’s Data, Research, and Evaluation team, helping build the organization’s first dynamic dashboards to visualize historical program data.
The project aligned perfectly with her emerging career in data analytics and data science, allowing her to merge her technical interests with her commitment to community impact.
The values she learned from Apex accompanied her every step of the way:
- Perseverance and passion from basketball
- Connection and trust from mentoring
- Initiative and openness from CCS
- Service and leadership from volunteering
What She Wishes Her Younger Self Knew
Looking back at her 12-year-old self on the WRAO court, Elissa wishes she could offer simple reassurance:
“Keep fighting for your dreams, because dreams are worth chasing.”
Make a Gift Today
From joining Apex 12 years ago as an elementary basketball player to mentoring the next generation as a volunteer coach, Elissa’s journey exemplifies the power of confidence, agency, and belonging.
This Giving Tuesday, your generosity can change lives. Your gift helps low-income and immigrant Asian American youth unlock their fullest potential through transformative relationships and access to resources – building agency, belonging, and confidence that fuel lasting change.
Donate by December 7, and your donation will be matched 2X — or 3X if it’s your first time donating to Apex.
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