By Thalia Henry, Lawton MacArthur High School
Ethan Dixon was on his way to athletic success when a doctor found a lack of major disk fluid in his spine and told Ethan he may never play sports again.
Though this discovery meant Ethan was not able to play sports until cleared; he persevered and once he returned to the field, he worked to play to the best of his ability.
“Everything I do,” Ethan said, “I am going to be the best in.”
Born and raised in Frisco, Texas, Ethan is no stranger to athletic competition. By age 14 he had participated in more than six sports, and going into eighth grade he decided to give track and field a shot. Unfortunately, this was the year Covid-19 hit, and so he was able to jump only one time in his first season.
Fortunately, Ethan was able to participate in track and field the next two years to great success, being named a USA Track and Field All American, Nike Indoor Nationals runner up, finishing in the top three at the Nike Outdoor Nationals and earning a spot on the Major Impact Texas Track team.
Although Ethan excels in various sports, he also does well in the classroom and his school at large.
Ethan is in his school’s African American Studies club, which does community service work. Ethan also is interested in joining the Student Council next year for his junior year. All of this while maintaining a 4.15 GPA.
The most important factor of Ethan’s life, however, is his faith. He has always been a Christian, but over the past year has been deepening his faith.
“Over the summer I have been trying to read a piece of the Bible everyday,” said Ethan. who comes from a religious family, and looks to his grandfather and mother for guidance and support on his spiritual journey. `
Although Ethan has battled adversity, he has not allowed it to slow his pace. He takes the lessons he learned from each obstacle and turns it into motivation to do better for the people around him whether through his faith or his philanthropy work.
Through it all, Ethan continues to strive to “be the best in” the ways he is changing his world.
