Commitment Profile
Makarome Lives Up to Her Name, Commits to Columbia
by
Gary Curreri, 24 September 2014
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Star Makarome credits her parents for some "creativity points" and believes it may have helped her land a roster spot in a top college tennis program. She also believes in fate.
"I actually have not felt - and still do not feel - any added pressure growing up to that name," said Makarome, who is a senior at
Wiregrass Ranch High School. "When I was first introduced to tennis, I was still writing my 'r's backwards, let alone attempting to live up to my name.
"To me," she continued, "it's just my name, like anybody else's, and I feel like I am always trying to live up to the expectations that I set upon myself, and not what my name means or dictates."
The Wesley Chapel, Florida, teenager recently committed to attend Columbia University in 2015 after an official visit on Sept. 8-9, just the two days before her 17th birthday.
"I definitely considered it an early birthday present," Makarome said. "I had such an amazing time there. The team said that I should have visited on my birthday so we could all do something together, but I told them that I'll give my family back at home one more celebration, and I'll save my team's celebration for the big 18 next year."
Makarome believes it may have helped get her "name" out there. When she was growing up playing, her father stenciled a "star" on her racquet to emphasize where she should hit the ball with her racquet.
"So far, I think its working out," Makarome said with a smile. "My name was small part in how I got onto Coach Ilene's (Weintraub, Columbia women's tennis coach) radar. One thing is for sure the teachers in school never forgot my name or who I am."
Her official visit to Columbia reconfirmed every feeling she had about the school. She stayed overnight, attended classes, and got a feel of the student life at Columbia. She saw everything that it had to offer.
"I met the new freshman, and I couldn't be happier," said Makarome, who also considered Princeton, Yale, Brown, Dartmouth, and Denver. She took unofficial visits to all except the University of Denver. "Everyone made me feel like I was already attending the school and the coaches and the team made me feel like I had already been part of their family for years."
