Mackenzii Phillips '21 Recruiting Profile

    At about five years old I was watching the 2008 Olympics with my family, this is when I realize that running was a sport. At that same time, my parents were talking to my siblings and myself about starting sports.  I was preoccupied with the idea of running that refused to pick up any other sport because all I aspired to do was run. In sixth grade, I had my first opportunity to join track. That year I excelled in the hurdles. While I sampled other events, I picked up the turbo javelin just once that season. Over the next two seasons, I began to throw the javelin more often. By my eighth-grade year, I began to understand the complexity of the sport and fell in love with it. I wanted to understand everything I possibly could about javelin, this passion for learning my sport still moves me each day.

    Over the years, javelin has taught me so much about myself. I have learned to be humble, to win with pride but more importantly to lose with dignity and always learn from the experience. The hardest lesson that I have learned and still am learning is to compete against myself. Oftentimes I don't have competition throwing at the same level as myself. I have had to learn how to push myself and never give up and take an easy win. I am a very determined individual, doing less than my best is not an option. Frustration comes out a lot, it is mainly frustration with myself and how I can learn to do something new while sustaining the routines that help me. I like to know what I am doing right, but more so what I am doing wrong.

    Those traits transfer over to my everyday life as well as my academics. In school I am an active learner, I am always taking part in conversations, asking questions, and contributing my ideas. I always enjoy a challenge. I am seeking an active learning experience in college where I can continue to grow. The medical field has always stood out to me. At this time I see myself starting out as a Pre-Med student in college, as I learn more about the field, I would like to choose a specialization and continue my education.

    As I know it is an obstacle for millions of others, my biggest obstacle in life has always been money. My parents could not afford school supplies let alone the best education. We have always found ways around the lack of money and never let it hold me back in my pursuit of achieving my goals. My mom taught me that things will always work out in the end, you just have to work for it. I have been blessed with opportunity's to attend camps and Jr Olympic events. This was possible because my mom and I found creative ways to fundraise. We see these opportunities to attend these camps and events as an investment in my future. With no real javelin coach, my mom has had to step up and help me with training. Being self-taught has been a learning experience, with a lot of mistakes along the way. I take advantage of any opportunity I can to seize new knowledge. This normally comes from watching videos of other throwers or talking to coaches at meets, asking them to give me feedback or pointers. My mom has been my rock and my main supporter through my journey, hopefully, one day we can see all of our hard work pay off in a big way. Pursuing javelin on a bigger stage would be a dream come true.