FSLM Student Profile May 2025
/Meet Brailey Stewart
By Baylor McLelland
Photo by shane darby.
As the school year winds down, seniors reflect on their past, say their goodbyes, finish classes, and prepare themselves for whatever the future may hold. For Liberty Eylau’s Brailey Stewart, there’s one additional task: finishing her last season with the track team.
Brailey has been a member of Liberty Eylau’s track team since middle school. “When I was younger, I played softball, but then when middle school came around, I was really into a bunch of other stuff,” she said. “So I started running summer track, but ninth grade was when I really started to take it seriously.”
As her love for track grew over time, her priorities shifted. Brailey had also been a member of the softball team, cheer squad, and even the drill team, motivated to participate by her cousins and aunt who were in it before her. But, eventually, she quit all three to focus on her track career.
Brailey said she manages the demands of track with focus and gratitude. “I really just do it by reminding myself to not give in to what’s going on right now,” she said. “With previous seasons, I’ve been hurt, so this is a good season without any minor injuries. I’ve been taking in all the moments and just appreciating when I have burnouts, because it’s all part of the process.” She said that her mother and aunt inspire her and play the biggest role in her life, motivating her day to day.
“I think that’s what’s helping me a lot: being more responsible, being on time, showing up when I need to be there.”
Brailey expressed a desire to one day become an athletic trainer or a radiologist. A radiologist specializes in diagnosing and treating medical diseases and physical injuries—like the many that have happened to Brailey’s hamstring, knee, and ankles in track. Though she has little experience with this field, her dream comes from her love of athletics, as does her goal to be an athletic trainer.
More than an athlete, Brailey was crowned Liberty Eylau’s 2024 Homecoming Queen. The process was not what she had expected. When she won, however, all she could feel was an immense sense of pride and belonging, as both students her age and underclassmen had chosen her to represent all of Liberty Eylau High School.
She explained that, rather than the crown, spending time with the rest of the court was the best part of the whole homecoming experience. “Being around girls my age and watching all of us bond is kind of fun,” she said. “We all go to school together, but we didn’t really talk to each other, so I got to really talk to them one-on-one and just get closer to them.”
Brailey was the Homecoming Queen at Liberty Eylau in 2024. submitted photo.
Despite the joys of senior year, there is still an underlying feeling of stress throughout. Brailey has managed to keep things positive, reminding herself not to succumb to whatever is worrying her at the moment. This can be seen on the homecoming court, in class, and on the track.
“I’ve been hurt so many times, so this is like a real season without any injuries,” she explained. “I’ve just been taking in all the moments I can.”
While Brailey did not place at the regional level this year, her talent is not to be diminished. Her freshman year, she attended the state-level competition and would have attended the Junior Olympics if not for an injury. Though she achieved a lot at a young age, Brailey knows that, since her freshman year, she has grown tremendously as an athlete and person.
submitted photo.
“I feel like I have improved a lot,” she said. “I’ve matured a lot, and I think that’s what’s helping me a lot: being more responsible, being on time, showing up when I need to be there.”
Brailey encourages up-and-coming track stars to pursue the sport with all they have. “I would say go for it, because at the end of the day, you’ve got free will,” she said. “Use it. All they can do is tell you no, and at least you can say you tried.” Now, as her future outside of high school begins, she’ll live by these words, pursuing either a career in radiology or as an athletic trainer. Either way, Brailey seems to be running towards success.