She may not have bright pink hair or hail from the alien planet Tamaran, but senior Amy Ayala lights up Paso Robles High School like a starbolt with her approachable, energetic, and optimistic personality. Much like the Teen Titan Starfire this 17-year-old girl blasts through sports, theater, secretary duties, and voice announcements with dedication and superhuman energy. Whether she is saying the morning announcements to approximately 2,000 students, cheering on the sidelines, or transforming into her next role it is clear this girl isn’t just a student, she is a superhero.
Ayala dedicated her four years of high school to varsity cheer (two years), Acting II/III/IV (three years), drama club (three years), Superintendent Student Advisory Committee (two years), class of 2025 secretary (four years), Field Studies Collaborative (three years), and Link Crew (two years).
Before, Ayala tried out for varsity cheer her sophomore year of high school she tried out various sports ranging from cross country to swim, to no avail. So, she went back to her middle school roots and decided to try out for varsity cheer even though she was scared.
“I just wanted to see if I could still do it, because I didn’t want minimal factors to affect something that could be a possibility,” Ayala said.
In addition to participating in cheer, she also is the voice behind the morning announcements.
Ayala’s initial introduction to the role of morning announcements was during her junior year when Principal Fletcher asked students in AP Language and Composition if they were interested in the position, however she was not meant to be enrolled the class as she took it during the summer through Cuesta. After learning about the position Ayala knew it was something that she would be interested in doing for the next two years.
Click here to see the full story on her time as the voice for morning announcements!
“I liked the idea of getting to know what’s going on on campus. I think it was really important as someone who is bilingual, to be in that role, because I knew that if I ever had to translate the announcements into Spanish I would be capable and equipped to do so,” Ayala said.
Her public speaking skills are used behind a mic on a daily basis, while in her Acting II and Acting IV classes she demonstrates her skills as a public speaker as an actor. Ayala has been a part of the Paso High Theater Company since her sophomore year.
In her time in the theater department she has been a part of six shows and has recently starred as Jordyn in the fall play Murder Mystery, Mystery Murder and as a worker in the spring musical Hadestown.
“It was honestly the best way for me to leave the department. I poured most of my dedication, time, heart and soul into this craft. Just knowing that I am leaving this department truly doing the best that I could possibly do, and leaving my legacy on stage makes me feel proud of myself,” Ayala said.
If you didn’t see Ayala in a recent theater production you probably voted for her as the class of 2025 secretary for four years in a row. As an ambitious freshman and a previous middle school secretary, Ayala wanted to be involved in as many activities as she could and continue her previously held position in high school.
She originally set out to be secretary for one year, but decided to reapply for the position the rest of her high school career, serving the longest term amongst the senior class officers.
“I fell in love with the position more and more, and I knew that for sure, if I redid it, you know, two years, three years I’m for sure going to do it my senior year and it’s been an amazing honor,” she said.
Although, Ayala is known for her bubbly personality and serving four terms as secretary she has struggled with mental health issues throughout her high school career making difficult for her to balance her academics and extracurricurlars.
“Throughout the course of high school, I’ve always dealt with, a lot of mental health issues that have impacted me in my academics or in extracurriculars, and finding ways to be okay with getting help, finding resources and understanding that, even though right now I don’t feel okay, things can get better, and trying to find a different outcome was definitely a challenge, especially when life was throwing so many curveballs and obstacles my way,” she said.
As the office manager at PRHS, Jillian Titone describes Amy “as a ray of sunshine. She is always so optimistic, energetic, and kind. Her positive energy always makes me feel happier and appreciated.”
Outside of her many extracurricular activities Ayala shows her true character to her friends.
“Amy is a kind, compassionate, and outgoing person that has always put a smile on my face for as long as I have known her,” senior America Vega said.
Vega and Ayala met each other freshman year in their AVID class, making memories together in and outside of the class since then.
“One of my favorite memories with her was being in PE together. We would walk the track and talk and laugh and it was really fun starting my day with her,” Vega said.
After high school Ayala is going to be attending Cuesta College in the fall in the hopes of transferring to Cal Poly SLO with a major in Agriculture Business. She was inspired to major in Ag Business because her friends and family members are involved within the Agriculture industry.
“I’ve just been very intrigued in that industry, and I think I’m going to be able to thrive there and find something that works for me,” Ayala said.
As Ayala closes her high school volume, dedicating her time to theater, cheer, morning announcements, and secretarial duties she has laid a solid foundation for her future endeavors.
Ayala lo Hace Todo – Carmesi Translation
No tiene pelo rosa y no viene del planeta alienígena de Tamaran, pero en su último año en PRHS, Amy Ayala como una estrella fugaz, es amable, energética, y optimista. Ayala como la Teen Titan Starfire sobresale en muchas cosas como en su deporte, el teatro, y su responsabilidad de secretaria para la clase del último año. Pero muchos la conocen como la voz que da los anuncios cada mañana durante la segunda clase del día. En su primer año de porrista, ganó el premio de Lion ‘s club. Este premio es ganado por la recomendación de su entrenador y deber ser unos de los mejores del equipo. Después de graduarse, Ayala planea ir a Cuesta College y después de dos años, quiere ir a Cal Poly SLO. Ella quiere estudiar negocio de agricultura porque su familia está en la industria de agricultura.
