In this recurring monthly special, Nonahood News will be featuring those who’ve graduated from Lake Nona High School and will recognize the achievements they’ve made since. Some will have been a part of the first graduating class. Others might have graduated a few years later. Few have stayed in the Lake Nona area, and many have explored the world or are still doing so. Let’s see where life’s journey has taken them so far!
Name: NaKaela Feagin-Hooks
Age: 24
Year Graduated: 2011
Occupation: Digital Sales Specialist
Current Location: Atlanta, GA
Meet NaKaela Feagin-Hooks, an ambitious and strong young woman who’s had to overcome more than the average 24-year-old would ever even think about. Feagin-Hooks recounted, “I think a big part of my life happened after high school. I went to summer school at UF, and the semester was amazing. I met my two best friends that summer. On the day of the Casey Anthony verdict, a lump appeared on the left side of my neck. My parents came up to Gainesville that weekend to take me to the doctor and the diagnosis was simple – a hematoma. Ice, and it will go down. Well, two and a half months later, during my track physical, our team doctor, Dr. Gravlee, said she would not clear me until we could figure out what was really on my neck. After many tests, a final neck biopsy and surgical biopsy were conducted to declare that I had Stage 3B Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. That changed everything.”
Feagin-Hooks continued, “It sparked me wanting to take my life seriously. While I was receiving treatments, I left college in the middle of the fall semester and continued at home until the following fall. When I was declared to be in remission, I went back to school. The spring semester of my sophomore year, I changed my major to journalism to pursue my passion of storytelling, specifically athletes. I also took my relationship with Christ more seriously. I actually pursued God and wanted to live for Him and not just use Him as a lucky-charm bracelet. Gave me a new outlook on life. Take chances. Don’t be afraid to be different. Enjoy life, it’s short! I think that’s what made me move to Atlanta without fear. I had no job, no money, and one family member. Now, I have an amazing career in sales with NBC, have made amazing connections and have been working towards my LLC.”
This month’s alumni was a Lake Nona resident long before it became the hustle and bustle of what we know today. “At the time that my mother and stepfather met, he was playing as an offensive lineman for the Osceola GhostRiders. When they decided to take their relationship to the next level, my mom moved my sister and I down to Orlando from Jacksonville. But, my mom loves quiet and slow areas. And at the time, Lake Nona was only a few houses, some cows, the YMCA and McDonald’s! Nothing like what it is now. This was in 2006, when I started eighth grade at Odyssey Middle School. I moved when I went to college in 2011, but since graduating college I come home every month. My family is in the same house a mile away from Lake Nona High!”
Coming home every month and living that close to your high school must have some constant flooding of memories. I know every time I drive by Lake Nona High, I find myself reminiscing of those moments that feel like forever ago and what I wanted to do after high school. Feagin-Hooks thought back on her post-graduation goals: “When I was at Lake Nona, I had a myriad of dreams. I wanted to be a veterinarian, publish a book on my research on marine life, and, of course, continue running track. That was my main reason for wanting to go to the University of Florida. It has one of the top vet schools in the nation and, of course, a premier track team in the best, yet hardest, conference.”
Feagin-Hooks discussed how she started to pursue her dreams but began to let outside factors affect her decisions. “I started out pursuing those goals, too. I was pre-vet at UF and thoroughly enjoying my animal science courses, and I was a triple jumper at UF as well. I am forever grateful to my coaches Mike Holloway and Nic Petersen. My life was amazing because of the opportunity they gave me to be part of such an amazing team,” Feagin-Hooks shared. “But I felt out of place in my major. No one was interested in sports, dressed like me, talked like me or was even interested to do group work with me. That’s when I started losing interest. I always thought, if I’m always the outcast in my classes, then I would always be the outcast in my career. Way too lonely for me. I regret letting that get to me. I realize now that I have a say in my outlook on situations.”
Feagin-Hooks considered how her past challenges won’t stand in the way of what she wants to accomplish at the current point in her life. “My main goal is to not lose sight of my career aspirations. We make so many goals for ourselves but don’t typically have one to keep us centered,” stated Feagin-Hooks. “Focusing on achieving ‘age high goals’ (as my colleague likes to say) will keep me focused to have my master’s soon, go from digital sales to marketing, to have enough confidence to make multiple streams of income and own my own business.”
Fast-forwarding to the next five years, she focused on both her career advancements and personal achievements: “In the next five years, I will be 30. Wow, that’s crazy! By 30, I plan to have my wig business or non-profit named, off the ground and making impact in the community. Professionally, I will have my MBA and go right into my doctorates. I also am aiming to be a media strategist (or similar title). Personally, I would like to be married and have a child, but if it’s just marriage by 30, I’ll be more than excited for that.”
Making wigs and doing hair is a lot of fun for Feagin-Hooks in her spare time. She also takes personal fitness very seriously and explained how she helps others eat right for their body and stage in life, and she also follows the same routine for herself. She stated, “I’m firm on detoxing the bad (mentally and physically) before fixing yourself to be better. Like a car. You can’t have a whole bunch of bad gunk in your tank and hope you can just remodel the outside of the car to make it work. No, you clean it all out, and start rebuilding with [a] fresh [start]. I teach others how to cleanse safely, eat right, cut bad cravings and maintain a healthy lifestyle by working out minimally. And the trust is built because I put my body through the same lifestyle.”
Feagin-Hooks has also coached middle and high school track for three seasons so far at Atlanta International School. She described how it feels great when parents, students and the school alike all support her and her coworker as there was no program before them. She exclaimed how she’s had multiple athletes break age-old school records, make the leaderboards in the region, qualify for State and even get invited to USATF-sanctioned meets. She also co-created the social media for the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters.
Written for current and future Lake Nona alumni by a Lake Nona alumna. Check back in to our September issue to learn about our next Nona graduate(s)!
