Black History Month: A Letter to Role Models
MaKayla Kelby
2/10/2022
Washington Track & Field's MaKayla Kelby acknowledges those in her life who helped shape her into the student-athlete she is today.
Give Them Their Flowers
by MaKayla Kelby
Sis. Tola was one of the smartest, strongest, loving and most beautiful God-fearing humans I have ever met. She always put the needs of others before her own although she was sick and battled serious illnesses. As my fourth through sixth grade teacher, Sis. Tola not only guided me in my faith, she also went the extra mile to help me in school.
"She always cheered for me and always showed love despite her suffering. She truly has been one of the biggest blessings in my life, and I forever thank God for the opportunity to have met such a wonderful person like her."
Throughout elementary I struggled with reading comprehension. Noticing this, Sis. Tola offered to take my brother and I to the after-school tutoring program she worked for every week for a few months. In doing this, she spent a couple hours helping us improve our comprehension that our test scores easily improved. Sis. Tola offering to go the extra mile to help with my reading comprehension showed how selfless she was and how much she cared about her students.
She believed in me before I believed in myself, and she always taught with love and grace. Although Sis. Tola passed away on January 1, 2021, she will always hold a special place in my heart as one of the only teachers I have had that cared and loved her students like her own. She always cheered for me and always showed love despite her suffering. She truly has been one of the biggest blessings in my life, and I forever thank God for the opportunity to have met such a wonderful person like her.
As many people know, track and field has been a big part of my life since I was about 6 years old. Now having been along this track journey for almost 16 years, I am truly thankful for all the people I have met and have gotten me to where I am today. There are a few people I specifically want to shout, and the first person I will talk about is Ian Moses.
"He’s been there through thick and thin, and he’s like a second father to me."
Coach Ian has been by my side for the past 10 years. He’s been there through thick and thin, and he’s like a second father to me. He pushed me to be the best thrower, athlete, and person I can be. He coached me through most of my youth track career and got me interested in doing track collegiately. He drove me to track meets when my parents couldn’t and got me a gym membership so I could train in the summer. If it weren’t for him, I don’t know where I would be today, but I do know I would not be a student-athlete here at the University of Washington.
The next two coaches that deserve all the recognition are Jesse Griffin and Brian Cooper.
"A lot of my high school success goes to him because he always had my (and the team’s) best interests at heart. He was always there for me when I needed him and did not need him."
Coach Griffin was the head girl’s track and field coach at my high school, Lee’s Summit West. A lot of my high school success goes to him because he always had my (and the team’s) best interests at heart. He was always there for me when I needed him and did not need him. Coach Griffin is the reason why I wanted to do my best for the team. He emphasized togetherness because he understood the importance of teamwork in reaching our goal in becoming state champions!
Griffin also understood the importance of exposure for us to get recruited by out of state schools. Every year he made sure we competed at competitions that not only collegiate coaches would be scouting at, but also meets where the best in the country came together. Doing this allowed us to compete at our best, and if it weren’t for him, I’m not sure where I would be attending college but it wouldn’t be in the Conference of Champions.
"He reminded me that hard work towards something I am passionate about can be fun."
This leads to my next coach, Brian Cooper. Not many people know this, but I did not have a throws coach at my high school until my senior year. I coached myself from freshman through junior year. Coach Griffin saw how determined I was, saw me at my worst and at my best, that he wanted to bring in someone who was genuine, hardworking and has been a collegiate thrower before. This person is Brian Cooper.
Although Coach Cooper has been in my life for 4 years now, it seems like I have known him forever. He reminded me that hard work towards something I am passionate about can be fun. As someone that has previously competed in Division 1 track and field, he gave me a glimpse of what collegiate training is like and prepared me for the next step. My success my senior year would not have been as enjoyable if it weren’t for him. He made track and field fun, and my determination would not be the same if I had not met Coach Cooper
Last but certainly not least, my family has been one of my greatest blessings. My family has supported my dreams for as long as I can remember. The love and selflessness they have shown over the years are one of the many things I love and am thankful for.
"All of my future successes in everything I do is dedicated to my family, and I wouldn’t trade them for anything."
If it weren’t for my parents, I would have never done track and field. I would have never been able to find joy in throwing implements far, and I would not be attending the University of Washington.
The sacrifices they made to make sure I was able to travel to competitions across the country are one of the many reasons why I want my collegiate career to be successful. I want all the work they put in to be worth it. I thank God every day for the family I have, they love we share, and the bond we have. I wouldn’t change anything in my life because I have been blessed countless times. All of my future successes in everything I do is dedicated to my family, and I wouldn’t trade them for anything.