Last month, Kokomo Magazine readers were introduced to the nominees for its first Fortitude Scholarship contest. Nominated by their teachers and school administrators, each candidate has worked through challenges. They have used the experience to grow, and the knowledge gained in their journey has given them a pathway to their future. Instead of turning to self-destructive behaviors to fill a void, these teens rose to the challenge. The following is the second part of their inspirational stories of fortitude.
Brooke McKoon, Taylor High School
In the fall of her freshman year of high school, Brooke McKoon lost her older brother in a tragic car accident. Jonathan McKoon was thrown from the back seat of a car during a crash. The 16-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene in the early hours of a Saturday morning in September of 2021.
Now, three years later, McKoon states, “Most days we are getting through it. I’m always telling my friends to be careful when they are driving somewhere. I tell them to make sure they put on their seat belts.”
She remembers the days after Jonathan, who was a well-liked football player and wrestler, died, saying, “The school was so supportive. There was a vigil held on the football field Sunday night after he died. A bunch of family and friends came.”
Even with the embrace of the community, she found it hard to return to school. Initially she didn’t want to go back. It was hard not to just give up. “It was the push of my parents to stay on track that kept me going,” she says. “They knew Jonathan wouldn’t have wanted me to fall behind. He would want me to stay in school.”
“My best friend, Brinn, was very supportive,” she adds. “Her mother had passed away and she knew what I was going through. Together, she and my mom helped me.”
In the fall of 2025, McKoon sees herself heading either to Indiana University Kokomo or Ball State University. She is setting her sights on a criminal justice degree. Since she has received support from the community, her goal is to be on the other side, and in a position to help people.
“I just take it day by day,” she says. “Even though Jonathan isn’t around anymore, I must keep living. And I must live for him.”
Sophia Poe, Western High School
During her freshman and sophomore years, Sophia Poe was diagnosed with chronic health conditions that caused her to miss a great deal of school. Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), polycystic ovary syndrome, and losing the sight in her right eye are responsible for her lack of attendance. At one point she missed six weeks in a row.
“One Wednesday morning of my sophomore year, I couldn’t see out of my right eye,” she says. “I went home after third period and went to the eye doctor who couldn’t find anything wrong. A few days later I couldn’t hold my head up. My mom took me to the ER of Riley Hospital for Children. Numerous specialists ordered an MRI and spinal tap. I went home with a horrible headache but no answers.”
“It has impacted me,” she adds. “With POTS, I can’t overly exert, and I can’t do stairs because if I overheat, my blood pressure drops and my heart rate becomes high. The fear that I will pass out is so awful.”
Poe shares that she is determined to maintain her grades. She must remind herself to push through by asking lots of questions. When she is tempted just to lay in bed, she sets her mind to be strong.
“I love my friends; they will carry me if I need them to,” she says. “My mom has helped me by talking me through bad times. She reminds me that there are others that have it worse and that I am strong. I won’t let my medical stuff get in my way.”
In the future, Poe would like to become an animal ophthalmologist. She hopes to attend Purdue University. She’d like to help animals with eye conditions.
“It helps to let the teachers know about my illnesses,” she says. “All my teachers have been wonderful, especially Mr. Bowers, who teaches French, and Vice Principal Lewis. A lot of people struggle with things. Don’t give up; push through.”
Tate Strebin, Tri-Central High School
Tate Strebin is an example of how hard work and commitment pay off. He feels that if someone sets their mind to a goal, it can be achieved. During his freshman year, he worked his way up to becoming a starter on the varsity football team.
However, his path to athletic success was not an easy. After his mother passed on when he was 9, he was riddled with anxiety that affected his day-to-day life. Fortunately, he conquered his issues by pushing himself through them.
“It was a tough time,” he says. “From middle school to freshman year, I was in a state of worriedness. I was mentally in my head and constantly worried about what was going to happen. It was so hard that I quit football in sixth grade. My dad, Brian Strebin, knew that football would be important to helping me. He knew when to push me, but he also knew me as a person. Tri-Central is a small school, and teachers are very involved in students’ lives. They want us to grow as a person. Students can go to any one of the teachers or coaches for help. Coach Shane Arnold was very supportive to me.”
Strebin’s advice to those dealing with anxiety is to relax and try to distance themselves from anxiety. He feels it’s important to talk to family and friends, and get reassurance that the world isn’t going to end. Although he was on medication during middle school, he worked hard and is now completely off of it.
His love for math and science may take him to Purdue University. At the present time he is thinking of a career as either a mechanical or industrial engineer. However, he hasn’t ruled out business yet. Whatever he chooses, he wants to make sure that he would enjoy it and be happy doing it.
“I know now I can do anything if I work for it,” he says. “The work itself becomes a success. Keep moving forward toward mental stability. Keep family and friends close, not distant. Everyone is going through something.”
Taliah Wright, Kokomo High School
When asked about herself, the first thing Taliah Wright mentions is how close she is with her family. When her younger sister, Bella, unexpectedly passed away last January, it hit her hard. Since Bella suffered from Dravet Syndrome, a rare and serious form of epilepsy, the family expected her life span to be short. However, she had been very healthy leading up to her death.
“Bella couldn’t walk, talk or do anything by herself,” Wright says. “My brother, Reece, sister, Addie, and I spent a lot of time with her. We had our own way of communicating. My mom is the director of Head Start and Bella went everywhere with her. It was hard. She died at home. We woke up on a Wednesday morning and saw that she had passed on. I decided to go back to school on Friday. It was awkward at first, but school is my safe place. I could be myself and I didn’t have to be the older sister.”
Wright admits that she had some bad days, but it has gotten better. She credits the support of her church youth group at Grace United Methodist, her friends, and caring adults who made the effort to reach out to her. She is grateful for her friend, Karlee, and Karlee’s family, who were there for her in the days after her sister’s passing. She also names her color guard coach, Mrs. Wideman, as someone who checked in on her.
Her plan after graduating is to become an education major. She would like to follow in her mother’s footsteps and teach. At the present time she is leaning toward attending Indiana University, but she is still visiting other schools.
Wright’s advice to people faced with a loss is to “open up to others. Don’t just keep it in. That can make it worse. My friends have been important to me. It helps to know you have people on your side.”
Jiesue Phifer, Tipton High School
Even though Jiesue Phifer was born with arthrogryposis, a disability affecting the joints of her arms, wrists, hands and nerves, she pushes herself to never give up. Adopted from an orphanage in Nanchang, China, as a toddler, her first language was Chinese. Early on, she struggled with English besides learning how to do everyday tasks.
“I learned early on how to do things on my own,” she says. “When I was little, my arms did not bend, and I fed myself by laying my hand on my knee, bending over to eat food. I’ve had many surgeries, and my physical therapists were great in showing me how to manage.”
One challenge Phifer continues to face is being able to write and use a computer. It hasn’t prevented her from maintaining her grades or participating in school activities. She competes as a diver in both the Tipton swimming and diving program, and the RipFest diving program.
“My cousin, Megan, gave me the confidence to get on the board and dive,” she says. “I was self-conscious because of my arms, but she told me to get out there and not care, because I could do it. I also get a lot of encouragement from my dad, stepmom and mom. It surprises me every day how the teachers are there to help me. Honestly, there have been times when I’ve just broken down and cried, but that’s not going to get me anywhere. It’s so much harder if I don’t do anything, and it makes me feel I have a purpose if I figure out how to do something.”
Phifer’s goal is to attend college to obtain a business degree. She is also interested in hospitality management. She would like to explore the possibility of diving in the Paralympic Games.
“I never quit,” she says. “I take time and use patience to solve problems. I have lived a challenging life, but I truly believe if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything.”
