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Massoki Maka '23

An almost fatal crash

9/12/2022

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By Massoki Maka


For most of my life, I haven't been a thrill seeker. Until recently, the most exciting thing I had ever done was paddleboarding. However, the summer of 2022 would change that. While we were enjoying our 10 day holiday in Dubai, I went quad biking on the dunes of Dubai in 110 degree weather. It completely changed my view on thrill seeking. My 9 year old little sister  and I shared a quad bike which made it even more exciting. When I would drift with the bike she would scream and it would be so funny.

“Soki is really good at drifting on quad bikes”- my sister Malaika Maka said,(without being forced).
I am a 17-year-old with a story like no other. I was born in America but lived most of my life in Ethiopia. My mother is Kenyan and my father is Cameroonian and naturalistically Italian. A mouthful, I know. I chose to come to North Cross because I yearned for a new environment away from the school I had previously gone to in Kenya. Also, being an American citizen made it easier to come to school here because I did not need an I20 visa and could pay domestic school rates.

However, one almost fateful day could have changed the fact that I was able to go to Dubai this summer.

On April 23, 2022 at around 9:30 p.m. I was on my way back to the dorm from work when I decided to use a Lime scooter for the first time. I had my airpods in as I rode around the dimly lit streets of downtown Roanoke, so I could not hear what was taking place around me. I stopped at a red light and looked around aimlessly as I waited for it to turn green. I started back up onto my scooter and turned left onto the road but as I turned I was slammed into by the car next to me. It knocked me to the ground and I had lost all sense of place. My ribs ached and arms and legs were covered with scratches and bruises. My glasses and airpods fell on the road and the contents of my tote bag spilled all over Jefferson street. As the car sped away, it took me a minute to process what had just happened. At 9:33, a passing car stopped because they had seen the whole ordeal take place.

“ Are you ok?”  asked a random, concerned stranger.

Was I ok? I was still in one piece, my airpods and glasses were still intact and I was able to gather all of my belongings. So yes, I was ok. And I thank God that I am ok today, because the fact that I was on the scooter made the accident less fatal than it would have been if I wasn't on it. If I wasn't protected by the grace of God during those almost fatal 3 minutes, exactly 73 days later I would not have been able to enjoy quad biking and camel rides with my little sister.

​
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    Picture

    Massoki Maka

    In this picture, I am standing in the snow posing for the photo. From the picture, one can assume that I am a happy, fun person. This photo was taken last winter on Jan. 16, 2022 and the photo was taken about 30 meters away from the dorm. I think that is not interesting but worthy of publication because it perfectly depicts me; a joyous person. ​

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the Willis Hall Herald

Contact: willishallherald@northcross.org 
4254 Colonial Ave.
Roanoke, VA 240189
(540) 789-7289

Letters to the Editor: willishallherald@northcross.org 

Founded in 2010, and based in the Journalism elective, The Willis Hall Herald is the official student-led publication of the Upper School at North Cross School in Roanoke, VA. The Herald may be published in magazine form three times per year. GeoPrism: The Global Studies Journal may be published in magazine form once or twice per year. The Herald welcomes letters, commentary and submissions of original content that adhere to the Herald's dedication to factual journalism. Letters and other content must be signed and may be edited for length and Herald style. The Herald does not guarantee publication of outside submissions. Please contact Robert Robillard for ads. The Herald won Gold Medals from Columbia Scholastic Press Association in 2012 and 2015. 

The Staff

Editor-in-Chief ........................................................................................................................ Massoki Maka
Managing Editor....................................................................................................................... Eason Zhou
Social Media Editor.................................................................................................................... Eason Zhou
Website Editors...........................................................................................................................Eason Zhou
Opinion Editor.........................................................................................................................Massoki Maka
Graphics Editor................................................................................................................................... Dat Bui
Business Manager.......................................................................................................................Brock Miles
Features Editor......................................................................................................................................Nhi Le
Photography Editor.................................................................................................................. Eason Zhou
Arts Editor...................................................................................................................................Rabia Ferron
Arts and Entertainment Editor.......................................................................................Aadeetri Pandey
Sports Editor............................................................................................................................ Tristan Lange
Staff writers...................................... Rowan Anderson, Anne Bradley Cullen, Didi Dibetle, Lam Do, Antonio Mack, Aadeetri Pandey, Jiale Qin, Veronica Weston.
Graphic Artist .....................................................................................................................Gracean Ratliff
Op-Ed Columnists................................................................................................................... Helen Hertz

Advisor................................................................................................................................ Robert Robillard
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  • Home
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    • Head of School Armistead Lemon
  • Sports 2022-23
  • Features
    • Profiles >
      • Student Profiles
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      • Seniors: Class of 2021
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  • GEOPRISM
  • Opinion
  • Arts
    • Scary Stories
    • April Fools Day
  • Print Issues
  • Photos
    • Homecoming
  • Ads
  • Staff
    • Aadeetri Pandey '26
    • Anne Bradley Cullen '26
    • Antonio Mack '26
    • Brock Miles '24
    • Dat Bui '23
    • Didi Dibetle '24
    • Eason Zhou '24
    • Gracean Ratliff '23
    • Hania Raza '24
    • Helen Hertz '24
    • Jiale Qin '26
    • Kenzie Raub '24
    • Lam Do '26
    • Massoki Maka '23
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    • Veronica Weston '26
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