By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw

WARSAW — To suggest Makia Lucas overcame adversity would be a monumental understatement.

The 18-year-old was 13 when her father, Matthew Lucas, was murdered in his home off Fox Farm Road in Warsaw by his girlfriend, who then attacked Makia’s grandparents

Makia’s grandmother died two weeks later from COVID and from lingering trauma from the attack. And soon afterward, inextricably, Makia’s infant baby brother passed away as well.

But through all of that, Makia found strength and support through school and others, as well as Briana Kessler, whom she was matched with six years earlier through Lunch Buddies, a program operated by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kosciusko County.

A year later, their bond continued to grow in the more traditional BBBS community program, and they continued to meet regularly

Despite the struggles in her home life, Makia continued to excel and made it a point to improve her life with memories of her father never far behind.

“When children go through a lot of hardships, they go down pretty fast, and I didn’t want to do that. I wanted to make something out of my story,” Makia said in an interview for In The Know, the public affairs show you can hear this weekend on Kensington Digital Media radio stations.

“So I pushed myself to the absolute hardest to help every kid who’s going through hardships at a young age and pushing through them,” she said.

Throughout high school, she was an honor student and participated in basketball and track until she was sidelined by injuries.

But that only seemed to motivate her even more.

She received her associate’s degree in criminal justice when she was 17.

She was President of JAG Indiana (Jobs for America’s Graduates), participated in Kosckusko County’s Teen Court program, and (with the support of JAG) interned for a year at LITE Recovery Café in Milford.

Makia’s father struggled with drug use, which was one of the reasons she wanted to get involved with LITE, a well-established recovery center.

“I just wanted to be on the other side of the system, just helping people instead of being in the prosecutor’s office or the courtroom,” she said. “I really wanted to work with people and get to learn that side … people go through the hardest things, and just being there for them.”

Earlier this week, she headed to Ball State University for her freshman year where she will continue her studies in criminal justice.

Makia was asked about the impact Briana has had on her.

“She’s helped shape me into the person I am today,” Makia said. ”When we first met, I was like a mute child. I did not talk. I was so quiet. I didn’t talk to anybody besides my family.”

“I absolutely love her. She’s definitely a part of my family and will be for the rest of my life,” she said.

“I always say my favorite thing about her is she just makes everyone around her feel so comfortable,” she added.

Briana was asked how she equipped herself to respond soon after the tragedies unfolded.

“I’m by no means equipped to do anything. I have the power of God behind me. I truly believe in God, and I prayed for her a lot,” Brianna said.

On June 12, Briana and Makia were announced as the national Big Sister and Little Sister of the Year at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) national conference.

They flew to Philadelphia to receive the award and will now be national BBBS advocates for the next year.

BBBS sees Makia as a testament to what hard work, determination, and support along the way can do for youth.

Tammy Smith, director of development for BBBS of Kosciusko County, said the chaper was “super excited” about the honor.

“It’s an opportunity for their story … to be told and hopefully, it inspires other people to become a Big Brother or Big Sister,” Smith said. “There are a lot of kids out there like Makia who just need somebody to show up for them.”

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In The Know can be heard at the following times:

News Now Warsaw (99.7 FM and 1480 AM):

Fridays at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Saturdays at 7 a.m. 

Sundays at 7 a.m. & 2 p.m.

WRSW (107.3):

Sundays at 6 a.m.

Willie (103.5 FM):

Sundays at 6 a.m.