Overcome your challenges

Makrina Morozowski was born with cerebral palsy, but she says this disability taught her many valuable life lessons, including how to overcome the obstacles she faces on a daily basis.  When she was young, a general rule in the household was, “If Makrina falls down, she gets up on her own”.  For someone who uses crutches regularly, and a wheelchair when she wants to get somewhere faster, that rule may seem harsh, but Makrina says it taught her many valuable life lessons.  

Makrina, 27 years old, is an active member of St. Peter’s Parish in Calgary, and has been a member of St. Peter’s Catholic Women’s League since 2013. She was one of the youngest members when she joined at age 21 following the footsteps of her mother and grandmother, who are also members –three generations in one council.  St. Peter’s CWL, as well as members throughout the Alberta Mackenzie province of the Catholic Women’s League sponsored Makrina when she was accepted as a Youth Ambassador of the Canada C3 Expedition when Canada celebrated its 150 anniversary in 2017.  She spent 10 days on board a ship that travelled from coast to coast to coast, and afterwards, she shared her experiences in classrooms, and with the Catholic Women’s League at both the Calgary Diocesan and Alberta Mackenzie Provincial Conventions.

A former and current ambassador for Easter Seals Alberta, Makrina has become a leader by influencing others to help them overcome their challenges.  She was awarded the John Kittler Volunteerism Award from Easter Seals Alberta. She’s an avid hiker and a bronze medalist with the Wheelchair Basketball Team Alberta, at the Canada Winter Games in 2015, In Prince George, BC. She recently completed a 1.5 kilometer swim in a fundraiser for the Easter Seals Alberta. Makrina has a Masters of Counselling, and works in social services in Calgary, supporting people in distress.  
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Makrina was recently accepted into the Catholic Women’s Leadership Foundation, which inspires Catholic women to be transformed into influential leaders where they live, work, and volunteer.  She is looking forward to joining others from across the country in the process of transforming and influencing leadership while infusing spirituality into the learning process. Makrina likes to follow the guidelines of ACE, an acronym used by Power To Be, an outdoor based organization supporting those with disabilities in the outdoors; Accept all abilities, Challenge yourself, and Encourage others.

Written by Jan Myhre 

Makrina (left), with her mother and grandmother.