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Robyn Hadley never expected a single summer program to change her life's direction. What started as a small initiative to help students prepare for life after high school has grown into a powerful force for educational change in one of the state's largest school districts.
"After high school, I had no idea how we would pay for it or get it all done," Hadley explains, recalling how the program began with support from friends, family, and community members. "We thought we'd have maybe 25 students this summer. We had 100."
That first summer proved more successful than anyone imagined. Students learned valuable skills like professional etiquette, internship application strategies, and got to experience college tours with guest speakers.
"I thought it would be a one summer activity," Hadley says, "and I ended up being here much longer than I anticipated."
The program's success led to important conversations with the school superintendent and eventually turned into consulting work. Hadley was tasked with looking at what college preparation programs already existed in the community and finding ways to improve them.
This "little project," as Hadley describes it, soon became something much bigger – the Watts After High School Program, with Hadley as its founding director.
Working in the state's 17th largest school system, Hadley joined forces with school counselors, social workers, nurses, and coaches. Together, they created learning materials and training to help more young people understand their college options.
"At that particular time, I think in '04-'05, that was the focus," Hadley notes. The goal was getting students familiar with what college looked like – whether at a two-year or four-year school.
Hadley discovered that many families felt overwhelmed by college information. "The thing that I heard most consistently from parents was that there's so much information on the Internet or at college nights. I'm not really sure what I should be focusing on or what order we should be doing things," she explains.
Parents often told her: "If I'm feeling overwhelmed, then I know my child is feeling overwhelmed."
The program helped families understand they weren't alone in feeling confused. Hadley would reassure parents by explaining that college applications follow a process that can be learned.
"It's not a magic formula, but it is a formula," she often told families. "There are things you really need to know if you're going to be successful in supporting your young person."
The Watts program taught students and families not just about applications, but about crucial skills like how to present themselves and interview well.
Hadley's approach balanced hope with reality. "Nothing is guaranteed," she would tell participants. "No matter how many applications you put in, at the end of the day, you just got to give it your best shot."
What makes Hadley's story remarkable is how a simple summer program evolved into something that changed an entire school district's approach to college preparation.
By bringing together different education professionals, focusing on practical skills, and breaking down complicated information into clear steps, the Watts After High School Program has helped countless students see college as a real possibility.
Hadley's work shows that sometimes the best solutions start small, respond to actual community needs, and grow naturally into programs that make a real difference in students' lives.
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