INTRODUCTION: Hass Diallo appreciated the competitiveness of lacrosse as a sport and she worked hard to excel. She played with the Frederick Douglass Academy and with a club team, Harlem Lacrosse, which took her to tournaments in Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

---

How young were you when you started to play lacrosse?
I started playing lacrosse in 6^th grade when I was 11 years old.
 
How did you become involved with it?
Before this, I never heard of lacrosse before and I honestly did not have any interest in the sport. The only reason why I joined was that my best friend was joining and I wanted to do an activity with her.
 
What made lacrosse attractive to you as a sport?
Lacrosse became attractive to me when I started playing in games. I never realized that I was competitive until then. At that moment I realized that I wanted to train so I can be better and compete.
 
You played at the Frederick Douglass Academy in New York City. Was the field near the school or did you have to travel?
Sometimes we would travel to fields at Randall's Island but it was not common that we would go there because of reservations and other sports that would have games. So, we would practice at the handball courts that were right next to our school.
 
How young was the program at Frederick Douglass?
The program started in the middle school in 2011 through Harlem Lacrosse so it was about 2 years old when I joined. It carried on to high school but Harlem Lacrosse officially collaborated with the FDA girl's lacrosse team in 2019.
 
You also played club ball with Harlem Lacrosse for a total of four years. What was the club experience like?
It was really different simply because traveling made me realized how white this sport was. I knew compared to basketball, football, and soccer it was really different and unique but I did not know that the diversity was limited. Other than that, it was really fun. I got to travel between different states and places which is something I would have never been able to do had I not been on the club team.
  
Where did the club team play games? Did you play in tournaments?
We played in many different states for tournaments but our main places were Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.
 
As a player on the attack and in midfield, you do a great deal of running, don't you?
Yeah, so I was never a big fan of running. I always wanted to be in action so I did not mind having to sprint in transition on the attack to get open or make a shot.
 
Coaches often talk about the adjustments that players have to make from high school to college. What were some of the adjustments that you had to make?
The major adjustment that I had to face and that I am still facing is being the only Black girl on the team. My high school team was full of Black and Hispanic girls and now all of a sudden I am on a team with just white girls. At first, it was terrifying and I felt completely alone but now I know my teammates have my back and are there to support me. Although sometimes I do feel alone, I know in reality that I am not. Another adjustment was becoming a freshman all over again. This shift from a high school senior to a college freshman felt awkward because I was not on top anymore. It makes me feel small and anxious because it is pretty intimidating but adjusting and understanding my role and place on the team was the reassurance that I belong here.
  
When you are home, do you plan to work with any youth programs – coaching, counseling, working behind the scenes, etc.? What do you like about doing that?
When I get back to the city, I would love to offer my time to Harlem Lacrosse to help mentor high school girls that want to play lacrosse in college or those who just want to know how I work through my challenges with academics or athletics. I like sharing my experience with younger girls because it would give them reassurance that they are not alone in challenges or changes that they face as they progress in life.
 
When did the first contact come from the University of Rochester?
My coach first reached out to Coach Behme about my interest and skills. Then after seeing my highlight tape, Coach Behme reached out to me to recruit me.
 
What convinced you to attend?
After getting my acceptance in March I was debating between this school and another. After putting more research into the academic program and receiving my financial aid I saw it as a win-win.
 
Did you speak with any UR alumni before making the decision to come to UR?
I had a teacher my senior year that is an alumnus and helped me out with my applications and financial aid. He also introduced the HEOP program and help me send in documents for it.
 
What interested you about Biology as a major?
I came in with the intention to major in Biology because I want to become a pediatrician. However, I am now planning on switching my major to psychology and continue on pursuing the pre-med track in order to get into med school in the future. Psychology intrigues me because it essentially explores an individual and articulates what makes people alike and unique.
 
Do you plan to work with any campus groups tied to your studies?
I have currently applied for the EDRA course in the Fall of 2021 which is an internship at the Strong Memorial and Highland emergency department that involves communicating and interacting with patience and research.