Dajah Stallings has profound advice for anyone pursuing excellence: “Just be where your feet are, and maximize the moment. Utilize every experience.”
Wise words coming from the 2023 Georgetown University, 2021 UNC-Chapel Hill, and 2017 graduate of the historic Hillside High School. That was almost yesterday. But she’s packed so much into the eight years since walking the hallowed halls of the Durham Public Schools. That includes a trip to Super Bowl LX held on Sunday, February 8, where the Seattle Seahawks, the franchise for which she works, won the game 29-13 over the New England Patriots. Dajah has been working in sports administration since college graduation, and was able to enjoy the game as a spectator for once, she said.
Dajah currently serves as the Community Engagement and Legends coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks, and her career in the sports industry has been expansive: she’s worked with the Cleveland Browns, the NFL Players Association, the Washington Commanders, and Saint Augustine’s University.
Her successful journey began under the direction and support of her mother, who was her plus-one for the Super Bowl and whom she deems her North Star. She also vividly remembers the experiences she had within the Durham Public Schools as a student, and speaks of a number of others who have influenced her ongoing journey.
Dajah remembers teachers– including her before and after-school caretakers– who took the time to familiarize themselves with the students. Dajah remembers Ms. Billups, the coordinator, who knew every child by name. She also knew who their parents were, she recalled. Dajah also loved her music teacher, Ms. Hardy, who treated her like family, she said.
“She was amazing to me. I still owe her an apple,” she says with a grin.
She started her middle school tenure at Neal Middle School, then transferred to Shepard ‘s International baccalaureate program. She was a cheerleader at Shepard and remembers loving her algebra teacher Ms. Baptiste.
She says all of her favorite teachers embodied the same characteristics as her mother– integrity, love and support for her.
In high school, she was a member of a community service organization called Theta Phi Delta that she equates to her current sorority Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. It was there at the historic Hillside High School that she also cheered, danced with the band, ran track, and played volleyball. One of her biggest influences while there was Jason Jowers, who was an assistant principal.
Dajah said her mom told her that as a high school student, she would need to learn how to be her own advocate at this juncture.
“Of course, she was there if I needed her. But that is where I really found my independence, where I really learned how important relationships are, not just with networking but actually building genuine, authentic relationships with people, in handwritten thank-you notes, checking in on people, understanding what’s important to people and their history and their families. That’s actually really important when you’re building relationships with people,” she said.
Which is what happened when Dajah chose UNC-Chapel Hill as her next step after high school graduation. A touchpoint after her visit to the campus sealed the deal and she declared a business degree. She eventually changed her major to Sports Administration, and her trajectory soared. She volunteered with on-campus student sports activities, which she now translates to her current role as an advocate for current and former players.
And now, because her mom advocated for her, and taught her how to advocate for herself and now for others, she can confidently say to those who are following in her footsteps to move forward with assurance.
“I don’t have the prettiest story. My journey wasn't easy. I’ve experienced a lot of adversity and many challenges, and every single experience has benefitted me in some way. It has built my discipline. The people, everything has worked out in my favor. It may not have come immediately. But it has strengthened my patience and resiliency,” said Dajah.
She cites the Bible verse, Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” She also encourages her younger counterparts to “put God first and remain faithful in Him and His promise.”
She maintains that attending Durham Public Schools was solid preparation and recommends the public school experience.
“I would highly advocate for the public education experience. It allowed me to learn how to be resourceful, to learn how to do my own research, to learn how to be independent, and maximize whatever opportunity is presented to me. My children will be going to a public school, for sure. There’s nothing like it,” she said.