Senior Spotlight: Bobiey Parker

Shooting guard for the Riverside Lady Braves Basketball Team, Bobiey Parker also competes in shot put for track.

“My sister used to do it her freshman year, so I just thought, okay, I'm [going to] do it too, and it's just been there ever since,” she said. “So, I just keep going because I make it to state, but then I don't get farther than that.”

Parker is an avid basketball player.

“I've been playing since I was at Anadarko, and it was fun to me, and I liked it, and I came back to Riverside, and it was pretty good,” she said. “It was fun playing, and I played with my sister for almost two years, and I just kept going, and it was fun because I got to make a lot of new friends, and mostly sisters.”

Parker is also the senior class president.

“My sister’s always joined, so I was like, ‘Okay, I'm [going to] do that too,’ and it seemed fun, and I like how they always count on me to do most things, and it's really fun being in that role,” she said. “Because it really shows me how to be a leader and improvise for people, and when they need help or something like that.”

Parker has several roles in the position.

“So, we bake cookies for our school, and I have to find people to do that for us, so I have to go ask people, or I help with the graduation,” she said. “We have to get budgets, too, so I get to plan some of those and help with the people around the school.”

As for Parker's greatest accomplishments, track and good grades are at the top of the list.

“One of my biggest accomplishments was also going to state for shot put because I never thought I could make it far, but I made it far, so that was a big accomplishment for me,” she said. “And mostly scoring more points than I did last year. I mean, last year I was a junior, but this year I'm a senior, so I'm glad I can start scoring more. That's one of the accomplishments for me.”

Parker is going to miss her coaches and teammates.

“I like how Riverside pushes you to be better for yourself, especially us all being Native,” she said. “They push Native kids, and that's really good because now not everybody pushes Native kids, but that's what I'm [going to] miss.”

Parker’s friends and family motivate her to be the best she can be.

“That's what I love about my mom and sisters. I can go to them when I fall, and they'll pick me straight back up, and they're probably my biggest motivation,” she said.

Parker hopes to attend college on a basketball scholarship and practice pharmacy.

“Well, I've always liked it. I like how people do it and stuff. I've just always been motivated to go be a pharmacist,” she said. “And plus, you can get a lot of money off of that IHS scholarship, so that's what I wanted to do. But, you know, I had to go to college for basketball, so that's fine too.”

Parker said being at Riverside helps her connect with her Native culture.