MEET
MARY
Rozier
The Driven Scholar-Athlete Making a Positive Impact on her Community Written by Richard Stewart Our common “wisdom” might suggest that teenagers today are only interested in posting dance videos on social media and staring at their phones all day. However, I'd like to introduce you to Mary Rozier - a brilliant, talented, humble, warm, and kind young lady who breaks the stereotype. It's an understatement to say that she's busy - the word "driven" doesn't fully capture the faith, heart, and passion that drives her. Mary is a true inspiration, and we need a new word in all languages to define someone so young and committed to doing well for both herself and her community. She was the first young person to win the Unsung Heroine Award from the 100 Black Women of South Georgia. "I love community service and making a positive impact on my community," she says. "I like to consider 'service' as my superpower. I've been doing community service since I was a young girl and was honored to receive the National Presidential Gold Award for serving over 100 hours of community service in a calendar year for five years in a row." Mary is a scholar-athlete with a 4.5 GPA, participating in the swim, track, and golf teams as a junior at Eagles Landing High School. She has completed all the high school requirements to graduate. Her journey into different sports began with soccer, where she realized how fast she was. Her curiosity led her to track and field, where she found her passion for long jump. She is a member of the DC Express Track Club, and her coach Ron Williams has helped her become a better person and athlete. Mary is already a three-time All-American in Track and Field. Despite her impressive success on the athletic field, Mary is just as focused, if not more, on her academics, where she excels equally. "I have finished all my high school requirements, even though I'm a junior, and I'm currently taking dual enrollment classes," she says. Mary aspires to be a biomedical engineer, inspired by her mother, who has diabetes.
"I want to become a biomedical engineer because my mom has diabetes, and I remember tending to her when her sugar was low or high. A biomedical engineer merges medicine and engineering to create durable medical products like robotic surgeons." Mary is grateful for all the teachers who have impacted her life, but there is one who stands out the most - Ms. Willie, who set her on her math path. "She really opened my eyes to how awesome math is. When I was younger, I struggled with math, and she really helped me with my skills." Mary is a well-rounded teenager who enjoys spending time with her friends, playing golf, swimming, and having fun. She even has a study page where she shares tips and tricks on how to study better. Her little puppy, Nico, also keeps her grounded during both good and bad days. When she has self-doubt or fear, she relies heavily on her faith. "Through prayer and worship and believing in God, I can gain the confidence I need to be a better person." Mary's future is bright, and she hopes to bring positive change to her community. "Being a pioneer leads the path for other young, incredible people to be seen and heard and see the great things that they are also doing."
GAME CHANGERS MAGAZINE | 25
