Makayla Harris ’21: Balancing D1 Athletics, Academics, and a Curious Mind
Young Alumni Achievers
As an incoming scholar and Division 1 athlete in track and field at Yale in the fall of 2021, Greenhills alum Makayla Harris thought her first year of college would be demanding. She knew the academics would be rigorous, and track and field commitments would take up around 13 hours of her week, so she decided against participating in any extracurricular activities her first year. But the successful student habits and study skills that Greenhills armed her with allowed her to more than rise to the challenge.
By sophomore year she had joined a record label as a student band manager and added a 10-15 hour/week part-time job to the mix.
And on the Yale track and field team, she has posted some incredible stats: 6th on the school’s all-time list for weight throw at 16.79 meters; 48.33 meters in hammer throw; and 12.80 meters for shot put.
But let’s back up: How did she find her way to the iconic cinderblocks of Greenhills in the first place? As Harris recounted recently: “I was a student at King Elementary school in Ann Arbor, and my teacher suggested that I attend an open house at Greenhills; my best friend, Olivia Johnson ’21, also went and we both really enjoyed it. I loved the layout and feel of the school.”
As a student at Greenhills, Harris focused on forensics, sports, and violin. She was on the track and basketball teams all four years in high school and was varsity basketball co-captain her senior year. In addition, she participated in music ensembles and youth orchestras outside of school.
“Greenhills really introduced me to the track world—and to orchestras,” shared Harris. “And the time management skills instilled in us from day one at Greenhills prepared me for a smooth transition to college. The block schedule was also super great for getting acclimated to longer class periods.”
She credits many faculty and staff at the school with guiding her throughout her seven years at the school.
“I absolutely loved Ms (Nadine) Hall and the Black Students Association group, which provided a wonderful social space outside the classroom. Betsy Ellsworth and Stephanie James in the college counseling office were supportive and influential from the very beginning. Dr (Deano) Smith made science and astronomy feel palatable to a non-STEM person. I remember we won a national competition to design a sustainable space habitat that approached science from a humanities perspective. And of course Mme Novak and M. Husson were absolutely amazing.”
Turns out Harris is one of three Greenhills alums who have gone on to compete at Yale as D1 athletes, along with John Lazarsfeld ’13 in lacrosse and Peter Jacobson ’10, in soccer.
Today, Harris is a junior at Yale, where she is majoring in American Studies, concentrating in music, literature and performance cultures, with a certificate in education studies and French. After graduation Harris hopes to move into the business side of music.
“I’m able to pursue a lot of interests, just like at Greenhills,” said Harris. “Off-campus, I’m a classroom assistant and mentor at a K-8 public school in New Haven, which is definitely a legacy of all the fantastic service opportunities Greenhills provided. I’m not necessarily interested in education as a career, but I’d like to continue to volunteer when I can.”
When asked what else she would like to share about her Greenhills experience, Harris said:
“I wouldn’t have been able to attend Greenhills without receiving the maximum tuition assistance available,” Harris continues. “Because of that critical support I had a world-class education and college prep program at my disposal. I’m so grateful to those generous donors whose gifts to financial aid at Greenhills continue to make such a difference, and I look forward to donating and giving back to the school when I’m in a position to do so.”
