Carlee Henderson knew the direction she wanted to go in life when she was just 7 years old. She wanted to help people.
She is well on her way to realizing that dream, as Carlee was recently accepted to medical school at the Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine.
“I’m so excited,” Henderson said. “We start in July with orientation. I’m really excited to go up to Tulsa.”
The COM has a class size averaging about 115 students per year and is consistently ranked among the best medical allopathic and osteopathic schools in the country, according to U.S. News and World Report.
“It takes a good grade point average. You have to take the MCAT and score pretty well on that.
“And you have to have a good personality. They have to like you in the interviews, so I guess I did all that.”
Oh, yes, she also plays softball.
Henderson, a 2013 graduate of Latta High School, is heading into her fourth year as a member of the East Central softball team.
It isn’t lost on her coach as to just how difficult it is being a student-athlete with that career path.
“Carlee is the kind of person that never backs down from a challenge,” said Destini Anderson, ECU head softball coach. “She knew being a pre-med major and playing college softball would be difficult, but she has been determined to be successful in both areas.
“That determination and dedication is what has helped her manage her rigorous class load and softball. I am so proud of her and look forward to seeing her accomplish more of her dreams.”
Henderson helped her high school team at Latta to three district titles and was an All-Stater her senior year.
And as a member of the Tigers, she was a part of the 2015 team that won the Great American Conference Tournament and went to the NCAA Regional Finals.
Photo by Gina Smith, courtesy ECU Sports Info.
“That was really great,” Henderson said.
“I’ve mostly been a role player. For the first few years, I was really a runner. And then last year, I played outfield and hopefully this year I can, too.
“But it’s really taught me leadership and hard work. And Coach Anderson and the staff have just been great making sure that we not only get to play this game that we love and get to excel at it, but also that we excel in the classroom. And I’m really thankful for that.”
Henderson lives on campus, but is only about 25 minutes from home, which she said she appreciates.
“I go home a lot to see my parents. My brother plays baseball at Eastern Oklahoma State College and when he was in high school, it was nice to get to go watch him play baseball and basketball.
“And I get a lot of hometown support and that’s really fun.”
Henderson was named to the All-GAC Academic Team and was a Crafton Tull Distinguished Scholar lat season.
The student portion of student-athlete is big to get into medical school, which was a goal for Henderson since she was a child.
“My parents and I were in a very bad accident at an amusement park,” Henderson said. “I saw the way the doctors took care of my parents and made sure that my brother and I were OK.
“Ever since then, it’s been my dream and my goal and I’m really excited that I’ve finally, almost, made it there.”
With the hard work and now realization that the next step of this journey is going to be a reality, Henderson said she would like to stay fairly local after she completes her training.
“My goal is to really serve rural Oklahoma. Rural Oklahoma has a real physician shortage and that’s what I would like to do.
“I’m not sure about the specialty. I like pediatrics and I like orthopedics. Obviously I’d like to stay somewhere around there. But I’ll probably know more in the future.”
And she has shown herself to be an example to those who follow her as Tiger softball players that with determination a person can achieve a lot.
“I would like to leave behind (at ECU) the knowledge that you can do whatever you put your mind to.
“You can play softball. You can work hard and get those good grades. You can meet your goals.
“And softball will shape you and it will be a big part of your life. But it’s just shaping you to have a better future.”