Coaches and teachers can make an impact on their athletes and students that goes far beyond the field or the classroom. While it may be a lot of time that they invest, their influence does not go unnoticed. Skylee Hastings is in her senior year at McLoud High School and she has a couple of people that fit that bill perfectly.
“My eighth-grade science teacher and softball coach Ashley Barbosa is a role model for me,” Hastings said. “I knew that no matter what the situation or how bad a performance that day was, she was always going to have my back and still be in my corner. She has impacted my life in more ways than one for sure. More than anything she was the person that continued to believe in me when I felt like no one did. One other teacher and coach that has made an impact on my life is my head track coach, Wayne Jaggars. Without him, I wouldn’t be in the spot I am today. He started our track program just this last year. To say track has made me a completely different person would be an understatement. Coach Jaggars as well has pushed me to be the person I am today. He’s taught me that no matter what, you can still be one percent better than you were yesterday. No matter how well you performed that day you can still be better tomorrow. Both of them have had major impacts on my life and I will forever be thankful for them.”
As a high school student, Skylee is involved in a number of different activities and clubs. She plays softball and basketball, is a member of the track and field team, and she is a football manager. Outside of sports, she is a member of the Business Professionals of America, Future Farmers of America, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and the Key Club.
As an athlete, Skylee knows that reaching her goals is not easy but it is worth it.
“It has taken lots of hard work and determination,” she said. “I’ve had many obstacles in my time playing sports, two ACL surgeries and hip surgery. With hard work and determination, I have been very successful in sports.”
