Makena Simonds is leaving Liberty.
She is officially committed to Vermont Academy next year to continue her already action packed hockey career. The process to be accepted into a private school for athletics is very time consuming, especially on top of an already busy high school schedule.
“I applied to around three schools. After that I had to visit them. Then I had to write a whole bunch of essays. It’s a very similar process to college applications,” Simonds said.
Simonds is sacrificing a lot to attend Vermont Academy. She will have to re-do her sophomore year, meaning as a senior she will have a total of 5 years of high school under her belt.
“I’m looking at the benefits though,” Simonds said. “It’ll give me one more year of hockey”.
Going to this school also means leaving her current hockey team. Simonds has been playing for the Junior Thunderbird team for 6 years and has made lifelong friends throughout her time there.
“It’s gonna be sad for sure. I had to say bye to my whole hockey team and tell them I was leaving,” Simonds said. “I mean, I’m leaving everyone. All my friends.”
But, Simonds stresses, the benefits outweigh the costs. This school opens the gateway for Simonds to a successful career in hockey.
“It will give me more opportunities to be scouted for pros and colleges,” Simonds said.
Simonds will be leaving people behind, but she will also be introduced to a new group of girls going through similar changes. Along with that, she will be meeting people from across the country, giving her access to different perspectives and experiences.
Simonds will additionally be living in dorms on campus. This new environment and setting away from home will give her a good taste of college and what that experience is like.
“I’m gonna have a roommate in a dorm with me and that’s super exciting,” Simonds said.
Simonds is going through an experience similar to one lots of us will be going through very soon — college. She is just doing it ahead of everyone else.
Simonds is giving her all to the sport of hockey and setting herself up for a very successful career. Though she is leaving her entire life behind, her family and friends, she is ready and excited to try something new.
“It’s nerve wracking, but also exciting,” Simonds said.
