Smiling and watching a chorus of HRS students give her the ASL sign for “me too,” all-star Seattle Storm Guard, Jewell Loyd, told students about her own experience with dyslexia and ADHD – having been formally diagnosed in 8th grade. Her visit to Hamlin Robinson School was made possible by the Joan Beauregard Endowment for Discovery and Enrichment, which provides opportunities to supplement classes at Hamlin Robinson School with special guests, speakers, and performances. This year, students have already learned from enrichment opportunities featuring author Polly Holyoke, retired King County Superior Court Judge Michael Fox, and most recently, Jewell Loyd.  

As a young student, Jewell often found herself frustrated, struggling to understand why she had trouble with reading and writing assignments. The material wasn’t the problem; she could easily comprehend what she was learning. But the pressure to complete assignments weighed her down, leaving her feeling like teachers thought she was just a stereotypical athlete, with no drive for schoolwork. The truth was, she had dyslexia and hadn’t yet learned how to work with it. Thankfully, Loyd’s mom was a dedicated, observant teacher herself, which equipped her to find and support her daughter’s learning differences. The diagnosis not only gave Jewell the confidence to understand she can be successful with the right tools, but it also empowered her to advocate for herself. To help her study, she often played music while she worked, which helped her remember the content. 

On the basketball court, Loyd views her dyslexia as an asset. It has taught her to use her mind in a different way than others, looking for unconventional solutions. She credits her own unique style in basketball to this approach – giving her an edge and allowing her to be the standout player she is.  

HRS students had the chance to see Loyd’s skills in person as she led a game of Knockout with 15 students each from the lower school and the middle school. Basketballs soared through the air, with HRS students making basket after basket to the cheers of their peers in a true show of sportsmanship. As the game raced on, Level 8 student Davin C. kept Loyd running as he made shot after shot. True to form, the winning series of shots from Loyd started with a trick shot from behind the backboard that easily swooshed into the net. 

Once the cheers abated, Loyd answered dozens of questions from HRS students, including many about her learning differences, when she started to play basketball (as early as she can remember), what other sport she might have chosen (tennis), what she’d be doing if she wasn’t visiting HRS (walking her mini-goldendoodles), what she eats after a game (pasta), and who her favorite basketball player is (Kobe Bryant). While there were many questions about achievements, Loyd also shared her perspective on the games that didn’t go her way. While she notes that she has probably won more games than she has lost, she has “learned more from the losses. I’ve learned how to be a better teammate, a better listener, and to have more confidence in myself.”   

Jewell Loyd’s visit was filled with fun and a sense of how genuine and humble she is – truly interested in connecting with students on a personal level. As someone who knows what it’s like to have a learning difference, Loyd spoke directly to HRS students about their worth. Sharing words her mother once told her, that “this is a part of you, but it doesn’t mean it’ll hold you back,” Loyd encouraged students to find their own strengths. With both lower school students and middle school students, she emphasized their value: “Each and every one of you, there’s only one of you. Understand that, own that, love that.” 

  The Lower School Commons wall has long featured Jewell Loyd as part of a display of prominent figures with dyslexia. Now, when students see it, they’ll have a personal story and experience to connect with it – one they are sure to remember for years to come.