Motivation is something that keeps everyone working towards their goals and trying to accomplish them. Athletes like Makena Sweet are no different and she says that motivation is a big key to her success.
“I am motivated by the success of my team,” Sweet said. “I have never been forced to play a sport so my teammates are a driving factor when it comes to my motivation. I am also motivated by the gratitude that I receive from my hard work on and off the court.”
Makena is a senior at Booker T Washington High School, where she is a member of the basketball and soccer teams. Away from sports, she is involved with the National Honor Society, Green Team, Spanish Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Safe Team, Hispanic Honors Society, and Tulsa Public Schools Student Athletic Advisory Committee.
There have been some important people that are a part of Makena’s life that have helped shape her into the person that she is today.
“The biggest influences in my life are my parents and grandparents,” she stated. “I have always admired all of their ethics and principles, and I am thankful for all they have instilled in me so that I can be the best version of myself. I have had two teachers that have had significant impacts on my life. My middle school English teacher Mrs.Baker has taught me to always look on the bright side and give back to others. My current biology teacher Ms. Moore has had an impact on my life because she is always willing to listen to my life problems and she helped spark my strong interest in biology, which I hope to study in the future.”
Sweet enjoys playing her sports but she also knows that when she puts on the jersey, she is representing more than just herself.
“To me being an athlete at Booker T means being a part of something bigger than yourself,” she stated. “This community supports individuals and their talents in a unique way and it is gratifying to be considered a part of something so important. This is especially important to me because this allows me to be a role model for younger athletes within the community.”
