Zoey Brown’s remarkable road to success
What a journey it’s been for Ada High School graduate Zoey Love Akosua Pokuaa Brown.
The charismatic Brown has gone from an abused little girl sleeping on dirt floors in a small village in Africa to becoming Ada High School’s student council president, a two-time tennis state champion and an All-Stater.
“I’ve come a long way. But it ended up working out perfectly,” Brown said.
This past spring, Brown and tennis partner Jessi Bolin captured the No. 1 Doubles championship and helped lead the Lady Cougars to their second straight Class 4A team title.
“I couldn’t have asked for any other way to end it — with my team and the way I played. I just left it all on the court. I’m so proud of everything,” she said.
It was a crazy run to the championship for the Ada girls, who had to have 11 matches go exactly their way to claim a part of the title.
Brown and Bolin did their part.
“We just wanted to try to do our best and do our part. At that point, we didn’t know what was happening or how the points were going to line up. We just had to focus on ourselves and get our win,” she said. “God had a plan. It was incredible that it ended up that way.”
Brown has been playing tennis since she was barely big enough to hold a racket, proudly following in the footsteps of her older brothers, Winston and Wyatt, both former members of the Ada High tennis program.
“I’ve been playing tennis for a while — since I was a little girl. In seventh grade, I decided to take it more seriously, so I joined the team,” she said.
Brown qualified for the state tournament all four years of her high school career. She placed fourth as a freshman and sophomore before striking gold during her junior and senior seasons.
She said tennis has been a defining part of her high school experience and has helped mold her into the young woman she is today.
“I think tennis helped shape who I am. I’m a hard worker. You can’t be lazy in tennis,” she said. “It taught me life skills.”
Brown has already begun giving lessons to young players in the area and says the sport will always hold a special place in her heart.
“I think tennis will always be a part of my life. I love tennis with all my heart,” she said. “I love going out and playing it and now I get to teach little kids to love the sport too.”
Brown loved playing under the mentorship of veteran tennis coach Terry Swopes.
“Coach Swopes is one of the best coaches. I have so much respect for him — the way that he coached us. He built that program to be a family,” she said.
Swopes said Brown was far more than just a great tennis player.
“Zoey is a lot of things. She is an amazing competitor and athlete. She is an incredible tennis player and teammate,” he said.
“She has an awesome work ethic. and more important than all that, she is an incredible person,” Swopes continued. “Her light shines everywhere she goes. She is kind and caring and encouraging of everyone. She makes everyone around her better.”
Ada Athletic Director Christie Jennings echoed Swopes’ sentiment.
“Zoey Love is a light in this world. She is intentional with everything she does and says. She makes everyone around her better in every facet of life,” Jennings said.
American made
Brown lived with her grandmother as a small child. But due to her grandmother’s health concerns, she was placed into an adoption program.
“I think she saw something special in me,” Brown said.
That’s when Christy and Tyson Brown entered the picture. Hoping to adopt a daughter, they were led to Zoey.
“I think they wanted a daughter. They were praying about it, and it led them to the adoption agency and then led them to me,” she said.
It was a match made in heaven. They gave Zoey Love Brown all the love her name promises.
“They’ve done the best job of raising me for the past 13 years. I was so lucky I got to be a part of their family — a family who treats me amazingly and raised me into the young woman I am today,” she said.
“They took the time to understand a young, black, African girl who came to them. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without them. All my achievements truly go back to them,” Brown continued. “They’re my No. 1 fans all the time. They always pushed me to be the best version of myself I could be.”
On to ECU
Brown will attend East Central University this fall and plans to enroll in the school’s highly regarded nursing program.
She feels blessed beyond measure to be able to further her education.
“I tried to work really hard in school — I have straight As, I tried to get my work done in time — because I know there’s another life I could have had where I probably wouldn’t have even finished high school,” she said.
Brown said students, no matter their background, should strive to get a good education.
“Coming from a place where school was really hard to obtain — It’s not as easy to access in Africa and other third-world countries. I’m a very privileged black woman. School is power. School in knowledge,” she said. “Education can get you so much farther in life and not everyone has that. You should never take it for granted because there are other kids who wish they had what you have. I’ve been on both sides of the coin.”
The journey continues for Zoey Love Akosua Pokuaa Brown. and her future appears as bright as the light she shines on others.
