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鈥淭he school motto resonates for me because it鈥檚 about striving for your dreams and goals.鈥�

Layla Prince spent the first two years of high school at Yarra, before moving to Queensland鈥檚 Sunshine Coast. But those two years made a lasting impression.

鈥淢y earliest memory of Yarra is Orientation Day. I was new and nervous and only knew one other person, Ruby, who is my best friend to this day. I also remember going to the Year 7 camp at Marysville and making new friends,鈥� says Layla.

While Science was her favourite subject in the classroom, Layla was drawn to Yarra because of its sports program.

While she enjoyed playing volleyball and footy, basketball has been Layla鈥檚 lifelong passion. It has also taught her resilience and determination.

鈥淚f you aim to be successful, people can sometimes try and bring you down. When I first moved to Queensland, I worked hard to make the state team and achieved that. We won a silver medal and became the second-best team in the country,鈥� says Layla.

鈥淭he next year I worked even harder and I felt I was performing but off court there was a lot of drama around the team. I was playing better but I didn鈥檛 get that team selection email and I was devastated. However, now I鈥檓 not angry or sad about that. Those experiences have helped me do what I do today.鈥�

Since returning to Melbourne, Layla has joined the Melbourne Tigers and plays in the NBL1 semi-professional basketball league.

She has also founded her own business, Empower Hoops, that focuses on coaching and mentoring young women in sport.

鈥淭owards the end of last season, I was asked to speak to young girls at a basketball club in Werribee about pathways and opportunities in the sport. That鈥檚 another passion of mine 鈥� empowering young women in sport,鈥� says Layla.

鈥淲hen I was young, I was inspired by Michael Jordan 鈥� I had his posters in my room. As I got older, I searched for a female role model but realised the stories of female athletes aren鈥檛 heard as much.鈥�

Today, Layla鈥檚 role models include the Australian Opal鈥檚 Maddison Rocci and Jade Melbourne who plays for Seattle Storm in the professional WNBA in America.

鈥淢y goal is to play in the WNBL professionally and to continue to empower young female athletes to break down barriers, set goals and achieve those goals.鈥�