Meet Makayla Smith

Today we’d like to introduce you to Makayla Smith.

Makayla, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Throughout my life, I have been an athlete in some capacity. Starting with competitive cheer in my elementary school years, then transitioning to playing volleyball in middle school and high school, I have always been physically active. After hanging up the jersey after my senior season, I began to find ways to continue my active lifestyle. It felt different going from team conditioning and practices to working out alone. It took discipline.

As I started college, I was in and out of the gym and lacked consistency. During my freshman year of college, I was very focused on my academics. I had the hope of becoming a dentist! With that came many hours of studying and many stressful days. It got to a point where I became very anxious about my grades and my future. Although I was doing well, I never felt like I was doing enough. Spring semester of my freshman year was the beginning of a cycle of anxiety and depression that I would battle with for the next few years. During each school year, fall semester would be really great, but then spring semester would be filled with anxious thoughts and depression. One season I was extremely motivated and filled with ambition and a desire to make a difference in the world around me. I would wake up at 5am, go to the gym, spend time with friends, and be highly productive. The next season, I was full of despair and felt like there was nothing to look forward to in the future. I was not taking care of myself and remained in a state of isolation. Every morning would be met with a sunken feeling, a feeling of dread and despair that I had to get through another day.

Leading up to my junior year, I switched my major to Nutrition Wellness. I was very unsure about what I wanted to do with this, but my only goal was to graduate and be done with this season of my life. As I took my nutrition courses, I began to learn things that began to spark something within me! I began to see things that I was going through physically due to not taking care of myself. The unintentional weight loss, the fatigue, and missed periods. I began to see a need. I began to see the importance of nutrition and physical activity. Even after this realization, I still went through another hard spring semester. But this time was different. Instead of isolating myself, I sought help from a counselor that aligned with my Christian faith. I began to unpack the things that had been holding me back, such as perfectionism and the fear of failure. Once I gained the tools necessary to overcome negative thoughts and limiting beliefs, I was able to see myself and others clearly.

With my education about nutrition wellness and my experience with mental health and fitness, I have become passionate about helping others reach their goals and empowering others to make lifestyle changes. I see the need we have as a society, as type 2 diabetes and obesity plague our nation and even the world. Our health and wellness is important and it is my mission to help individuals make the lifestyle and behavior changes that they desire to make.

As I finish up the final semester of my undergraduate degree, I am working on a dual health and life coaching certification. I also plan on starting my MBA program this upcoming spring. With this education, I hope to start a wellness business where I help and empower individuals to achieve their goals and make lifestyle choices, making a difference in my community and maybe even the world. I want everyone to experience a healthy, joyful, and fulfilling life! It all starts by making one decision, deciding that you want to be different!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has definitely not been a smooth road! As mentioned previously, I dealt with may mental health battles that I had to fight to overcome. But honestly it was hard. Sometimes I gave into the depression and just laid in bed or gave into the anxiety by letting my thoughts spiral. It was very difficult to get things done, be creative, or even feel like I had a purpose. But it was the moment that I decided that I had power over the thoughts and feelings that I was experiencing that everything began to shift!

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As a finish up school and begin building my life, I am currently working at Chick-fil-A, which has helped me gain so many skills. I have gain soft skills and interpersonal skills that I believe will take me far, no matter what career I am in. On the side, I make natural hair and lifestyle content on my Instagram. I enjoy making content and inspiring others to take care of themselves. I also love empowering my curly girls to embrace their natural hair because it makes them unique.

When I talk to my friends, they always describe me as an encourager and a hard worker. I want to bring that to my community on my online platforms and let them to know that they can change their lives and love who God created them to be!

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I would say reach out to people who are in the position that you want to be in! Go to events or gatherings that can educate you on the topic or industry that you want to go into! I’ve done these things in small ways in my life, whether it was finding some to walk with me in my faith or following other creators online who were doing what I wanted to do! Reach out to them! Many people are willing to help! We just have to ask!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makayla.arbriana?stkn=MXJuYjZzcHh0djl3Zg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@makayla.arbriana