Cole Wakefield

My name is Cole Wakefield, and I have lived in McKinney, Texas for all of my life. Nearly every day my family would drive by a set-back building, hidden amongst the trees with a simple sign out front that read “The Samaritan Inn: Hope for the Homeless.” For years, I shamefully believed that the entire homeless population was the same: without an identity, without any form of misfortune, without any spark of hope for what the future held. I failed to recognize that they each held individual, unique, and heart-warming stories desperately needing to be shared. All it took was walking through the doors of the building I had driven by hundreds of times to change that.

After first being introduced to the shelter through McKinney's Young Men’s Service League, I was blessed to be named the Leadership Co-Chair of the Samaritan Inn’s Teen Action Council. Each time I left the shelter, a wave of energy buzzed throughout my body, as having exposure to the shelter residents’ tenacious desire for self-betterment is not only commendable but powerful, moving, and forever beautiful.

Without doubt, my favorite part of volunteering is tutoring the shelter’s children -- ages ranging from seven to seventeen. And although the bulk of our conversations might revolve around multiplication facts, mitosis, or subject-verb agreement, I find far greater enjoyment in discussing the hopes and future dreams of my students, or as I prefer: “my friends.” These conversations allowed me to uncover what makes each one of my friends’ eyes light up, what excites and energizes them, and what has the power to reassure them that their potential is not decided by their home address but by their humanity. In all of my students, I also see a glimpse of myself, and in getting closer to the humanity of my friends, I have found myself getting closer to my own.

While I could walk through what each of my friends have taught me, I would rather introduce you to the people, the humanity, behind them.

Messiah: an energetic, boisterous, gregarious sports-lover. In Messiah, I see my time spent playing varsity tennis for my school. I see the joy I feel each time I walk on the court, but even more joy in being surrounded by a family of incredible teammates and support.

Leah: a wonderful artist, beautifully encapsulating her worldview with 24 Crayola Crayons. While I am far from an artist, like Leah I find great joy in documenting my journey, just through another medium: words. Writing the “Meeting Needs and Creating Memories” chapter in "Giving the Ultimate Gift" (Stovall) gave me the opportunity to walk my reader through the inexplicable gratification felt after creating a new playground and bike rack for the children of Shiloh Place: a shelter for female domestic-abuse victims.

Connor: inquisitive, adventurous, and curious as all could be -- possessing 10,000 unique interests (and counting!). It is in Connor that I see my countless, occasionally sporadic hobbies and tastes come to life: My love for national parks melding with my fascination with station wagons. Or, my old-school, FM radio-style music taste accompanying my deep interest in real estate.

While I do not yet know what my future may look like, I know that I will continue to see the beautiful humanity that every Longhorn and non-Longhorn has to offer. I hope my passions, friendships, and memories remain disconnectedly unified, all in the best ways possible. I am truly the luckiest person in the world to call the Forty Acres Scholars Program my home, and I look forward to the next four years with excitement and a very full heart.

Major
Business Honors & Plan II Honors

Honors Program
Canfield Business Honors & Plan II

Other Academic Interests 
Considering Accounting or Finance Major; Statistics & Data Science Minor

What drew you to the Forty Acres Scholars Program?
Throughout the entirety of finalist weekend, there was one commonality: the level of passion that the Forty Acres staff, alumni, and scholars were willing to pour into our group of high-schoolers whom they had never met before. Each scholar infuses such fascinating life experiences, advice, and knowledge into the program. But above all, each scholar truly is a kind, unique, compassionate individual who devotes their all into everyone they meet. I look up to and aspire to be just like each member of the program. The program’s incredible staff and supporters remain ever-focused on the "little things." Those small, yet ever-present, attributes that show this is a group of people who, more than anything, truly care about Longhorns: who care not because it's the easiest thing to do, but because it matters. I am forever thankful I have the chance to spend time immersed among those with such a mindset.