Community service, basketball, serving in volleyball all part of Laborde’s game
By Pam Nero
Palmdale Learning Plaza Staff
In today’s world of youth sports so much focus is put upon the athletic ability of young athletes. Kids are ranked in basketball, baseball, football, and other sports as young as fifth and sixth grades.
Young players are often touted as the next Tom Brady, LeBron James, or Mike Trout. Parents are told over and over that their child is “special” or has “real talent” and should only play a particular sport. What is often overlooked is the athlete who is a scholar athlete. What is more overlooked is the “scholar” part of a scholar athlete. Palmdale Learning Plaza has one such scholar athlete among their student body, Dalailah Laborde.
PLP’s scholar athlete of the month of March is Dalailah Laborde. Dalailah has been a student at PLP from kindergarten to currently eighth grade. Dalailah has maintained a high grade-point average every year, as well as when she is competing in sports. She has blossomed into an example of what a scholar athlete is.
Dalailah has been playing sports at PLP since sixth grade. She played both volleyball and basketball. Her basketball team made it to the playoffs that year.
Unfortunately, with the start of the COVID pandemic, the playoff games were never played, and her seventh grade sports year was canceled along with many other extracurricular activities.
This year, Dalailah has played both sports again. She has such a positive attitude and is very coachable. Dalailah’s athletic prowess has helped her develop not only academically, but also athletically. Dalailah has strong leadership skills and is one of the better players on our teams this year.
Here are some comments from teachers and staff who have had the pleasure of interacting with Dalailah:
“I have known Dalailah since she joined the Sewing for Service Club in sixth grade. Her positive attitude and willingness to help others makes her a stand-out IB scholar. As her community service project mentor, I see her enthusiasm and perseverance to see a task through to completion. She will achieve greatness,” said Diana M. Marlatt, PLP school counselor.
“I had Dalailah in my sixth grade design class. She came in each day with a smile and a great attitude. She went out for volleyball that fall and made the team. She was very coachable and we worked and worked on getting her serve down. Well, she got it down and was the only sixth grader to make the team that year. This is the type of student she is. Hard working and a great attitude,” said Coach Scott Zuccaro.
Delilah a joy an inspiration to all her teachers.
“I had Dalailah for seventh grade. She is a hard-working, dedicated student.
She exhibits all of the I.B. attributes and always strives to do her best.” -Jaimie Kreutel.