Washington State University Athletics
%20Front%20Page.jpg&height=300&type=webp)
Get To Know Future Cougar, Makamae Gomera-Stevens
February 22, 2017 | Soccer
We asked the incoming freshmen some questions to get to know them better before they get to campus.
Who inspired you athletically to pursue your collegiate dreams?
When I was in either the fifth or sixth grade I started traveling with my soccer team to compete in tournaments. On one of the trips my team was able to meet Mia Hamm. I would say that she was the first athlete I looked up to at a young age. Ever since I found out our birthdays were the same and that she scored the winning goal in the World Cup during the same year I was born, she became my favorite athlete. To be honest, I didn't really watch soccer a lot when I was younger, so I don't know what type of player she was, but all I know is I wanted to follow her steps and become as successful and good as she was. This may seem cliché but Alex Morgan was and will always be another athlete I look up to for soccer. One of my coaches told me that I could be just like her, so I wanted to do everything like her. I wanted to go to a Pac 12 college, like her, and I wanted to play professional soccer, like her, as well. Alex Morgan shows 110% effort in every game and is always hungry to score. Her success is something I hope for in my life. Â
When I visited the campus, I immediately fell in love. The weather is definitely different from home, but it's something I can get used to. I also liked that I could finally experience all four seasons. I was also able to finally see trees that were different colors. I told my grandma during the summer soccer camp that this was somewhere I saw myself going to college. I also love the pride that comes with the school. Everyone wears attire that represents Washington State. The feeling of being a part of something big is scary, but I know that I am up for the challenge. I believe that the biggest factor in my decision was the coaching staff. They took a chance on me and continue to show me support. They continue motivating me to try my best. When I first met them, they made me feel very comfortable. Each coach has a different personality, kind of like my high school coaches. I immediately felt connected with each of them.
What do you love about soccer?
First of all, I love how soccer is so dynamic. This sport is unique in a sense where there are no set plays. The game of soccer allows your creativity to run wild. Every soccer player gets the same basic training, which creates versatile players, giving one player the skills needed to play multiple positions. Second of all, I love that soccer is so competitive. It feels good to win and I will always strive to be a winner. As a forward, my self-esteem rises a little when I am able to score a goal that helped my team win. Once you taste victory, that's all you ever want, and you're forever hungry to get more. On the other hand, losing motivates me. I do not like the feeling of losing and that is one reason I work hard at every practice. During practice my goal is to improve my skills while also motivating my teammates around me to do the same. There is also a constant competition within myself. I am always trying to get better and I will never be satisfied with what I have done. There will always be areas I need to improve in. I know my personal goals, and I will never stop until I achieve them all. Most of all, I love the friendships I've made throughout my years of playing. There is a difference between your school friends and your soccer friends. You share common interests with your soccer sisters and that's what makes the bond so special. My friends and I always motivate each other to do the things we need to do to get to the next level. We are the first ones there to congratulate each other after a win, and the first ones there to comfort each other after a tough loss. My soccer friends and I will forever understand each other and that's why our friendship will never end.  Â
What do you hope to get out of your time at Washington State?
As a student, I hope to get the proper education needed to pursue the career I would like to go into. Right now, I do not know what I want to study, but hopefully I will figure it out in the next couple of months. I also hope that I can get help from tutors if needed to keep me up to date in all of my classes so I do not fall behind. I also hope to continue using the good studying habits I've developed this past school year throughout college. As an athlete, I hope to gain more soccer knowledge and I hope to learn more about the sport. I also hope to continue improving my soccer skills. I have individual goals for myself that I would like to continue working towards, and I also have high hopes for the team I will be playing on. Aside from the soccer aspect of being an athlete, I hope to also become healthier. I would like to work on changing my diet in a positive way so it benefits my playing ability. As a teenager attending college, I hope to create more lifelong friends. I hope to enjoy my life in college. I hope to have the perfect balance of fun and focus. I hope to make more memories with people I will never forget. I have high hopes for my college experience and I also have high expectations for the school. I definitely believe that Washington State will exceed those expectations and I can't wait to be a student athlete there.
