By Derrick Smith

Sports allows kids the ability to learn a sport and to how to play it to the best of their ability. If one sticks with that sport for a long enough period of time, they begin to know not only know the game better but also their teammates. Karmen Jones loves to play the game of basketball, but more than that she enjoys spending time with and hanging out with her teammates.

“I would have to say that the highlight of my career would be making bonds with my teammates that will last forever,” she said. “It has been an honor to be a part of this family.”

Jones plays small forward on the Perkins-Tryon High School girls basketball team. She has been around the sport since she was in pre-K, but now as a senior and looking back on her career, she knows that it was not always easy, but the work was vital to her success. 

“In order to be successful at any sport, you have to have a passion for the game, and you have to want to be successful,” she said. “You have to put in time and effort every day in order to get better. You can’t get down on yourself for the little things and you can’t fear failure because that is just setting yourself up to fail.”

Throughout her life, Karmen has had a lot of people that have had an influence on her both as an athlete and as a person. 

“The biggest role models would have to be my parents because they have taught me to have a strong work ethic and to never give up,” she stated. “My coaches have also pushed me to do my best and they have helped me get better along the way.”

Karmen says that there is a teacher at Perkins-Tryon that has also had an influence on her.

“Mrs. Hara is my favorite teacher,” she said. “She inspires me to be a better person each and every day.”

Outside of sports, Jones is also the vice president of the student council, a member of the media news crew, HOSA, and she is also a senior class officer.

2020 track and field in the 3200-meter relay.”