Ayla G’s nonstop schedule — from team captain to National Guard member — has made her one of the most driven and unforgettable students in her school.
Ayla moves through her high school days with the kind of relentless momentum that makes people wonder how she fits it all in. A senior who captains both the volleyball and basketball teams, competes in track and field, serves in the National Guard, works a job and participates in National Honor Society and mock trial, she has built a reputation as one of the school’s most dedicated student-athletes. And she wears that responsibility with pride.
Ayla said stepping into her role as a senior captain changed the way she approached her sports. “I feel like since I’m a senior and a captain, I need to show the skills I want the younger players to have,” she said. Leadership, for her, means modeling the habits she hopes her teammates will carry long after she graduates.
Some of her favorite memories come from the court, including one she still laughs about — the night her sister, Davida, was fouled during a basketball game and accidentally fell into the splits. “I’ll never forget that,” she said.
Balancing sports, clubs, schoolwork and a job would overwhelm most students, but Ayla said she refuses to make excuses. She often stays up until 1 or 2 A.M. finishing homework, determined to outwork any challenge. “Me working hard instead of complaining shows more character,” she said.
Despite her packed schedule, her favorite high school memory has nothing to do with athletics. It’s meeting her close friend Iseult — a friendship she said shaped her senior year more than anything else.
Ayla plans to stay active in college, focusing on intramural volleyball, basketball and pickleball while serving in the Air Force. She hopes classmates remember her as someone who was kind, helpful and willing to listen — and as someone smart, athletic and hardworking.
In a school full of busy students, Ayla stands out not just for how much she does, but for how fully she commits to every part of it.
