Makena Valentine '22 Recruiting Profile

Cancelled! To learn that my school committee cancelled my fall field hockey season was and still is absolutely devastating! All I have wanted to do was play field hockey, especially in college. After dealing with what felt like a punch to my stomach, I had to figure out how to keep playing.

I have been playing filed hockey since age 8 but got to really play on a Rec team in the 6th grade and completely fell in love with the sport. I remember having the varsity field hockey players from the high school come to my elementary school to do an after school program to expose and encourage girls to play. I knew after that, that I too wanted to help inspire younger players to play. I have been assisting with a local field hockey Olympiad to help grow the game. It has been motivational as well as inspirational to A) watch younger athletes learn the game and B) have a mentor such as this coach to guide me as well  to learn from. COVID has definitely changed how and if we can play. Our goal has been to put together a team of younger players to be able to participate in local club play. Hopefully ,this summer we will have our first team!

It has been difficult to remain motivated when  your school team has been canceled for the year,  even more so when everyone else around continued to have a season. I have actively looked for opportunities to remain in the game, motivated and in shape. I am presently playing on a local club team which has many college students whose seasons have been cancelled as well. Being able to train and play with more advanced players has been a great opportunity for me. I have been able to listen and learn from girls who are exactly where I hope to be in 2022, on a college team! As well as playing on a club team, I have been trying to get some of my teams players to meet for " captains" practices, which has been challenging due to COVID. I started playing for my high school team in 7th grade and was chosen as captain of the JV team. From 8th grade on I have been a varsity starter.  During my sophomore year I had been chosen by my school to attend the annual MIAA sportsmanship banquet due to my leadership and sportsmanship on and off the field. This year I have chosen to take a lead role on this and assume the role of captain until our school can appoint a set of girls, which will not happen until the fall. I have enjoyed trying to motivate and get members of our team together even though we are not being allowed to play this year. Another opportunity I feel has allowed me to grow as an athlete is having been able to work with a previous Olympic field hockey player and coach. Not only have I been able to spend time working on skills, I've also learned about what it takes to be self motivated and to do what it take s to play the sport I love.

My academic goals are very important to me and have guided my choices of colleges in many ways. I am hoping to find a college that has a program that will take me on a medical academic path through my collegiate years. I have been able to talk with some college athletes who are already in such a program and playing sports who say the two can very well be done together. It is important for me to attend a school with an academic program that I love and challenges me, I want to be challenged on the field and in the class room. In the future I intend to go on to Physicians Assistant school or Medical school after college. 

My hopes and dreams are to play at the collegiate level and hope that my love of the game, desire to be on a team and work to improve what I can do as a team member, academically as well as athletically will appeal to a college!

Sincerely,

Makena Valentine