Penguin Hall Student Spotlight: Kayle W. ’22
Meet Kayle W. ‘22, a rising APH junior and a wise soul! Read on to learn more about Kayle, including what she wishes adults would start asking young adults her age:
What do you most look forward to about returning to the APH campus?
As many of us can likely relate, Kayle has a serious need to hug her friends! And, she misses her teachers, too. “I just miss learning in a classroom, it’s a lot different than seeing [my friends and teachers] through a screen.” Still, like so many students, Kayle is making the best of what can be a challenging situation at times. “I’m going to Zoom with my friend tomorrow and watch Selah and the Spades!” she shares, with a characteristic sparkle in her eye.
How do you think the pandemic will impact our society in the future? What might change?
Kayle believes that the Covid-19 pandemic will help people increase their awareness around gaps in income opportunity and security, and to recognize that it’s not okay to assume a person has equitable access to basic necessities like food and supplies. She also hopes people will spend more time washing their hands the right way!
And, she has a message for parents in quarantine: “It’s okay to spend time with your kids! Take a walk, play a board game; your kids love you and want to be with you.” Definitely advice to take to heart!
Kayle with her dog, Ranger
How do you think you’ve changed as a person this year?
“I think in a different way; I can better analyze information… a poem, for example,” says Kayle. And as the big sister in her household, Kayle finds that she has developed better empathy and facilitation skills. “When my little sisters have problems, instead of just telling them to quit, I’m able to think about both sides of the argument and help them come to a compromise.”
What question do you wish adults would stop asking young adults your age?
You might not be too surprised by Kayle’s answer to the above question — she wishes adults would stop asking, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ But her reasoning as to why she wishes adults would stop is refreshing and real.
“Growing up isn’t finite; that’s something Michelle Obama said. It’s not something that happens like a light-bulb moment in a cartoon show. You’re always growing and learning every day. You don’t have to decide [what you want to be] in high school, in college, or even as an adult’.”
So, what does Kayle wish adults would start asking? “What is important to you, what do you value? This is the kind of question that can help [a young person] think about and know where they are headed. For example, what’s more important to you — money or being kind to people?”
Wise words to wrap up our first APH student spotlight!