Amaya is an International Baccalaureate Diploma Candidate attending Justice High School in northern Virginia. She and her family have recently faced financial and emotional hardships after her father’s decision to leave the country. Despite these challenges, Amaya shows the same resilience she’s seen her mother display. This pushes her to continue finding success at school and in her community.

At home, Amaya helps her mother run a small baking business making Peruvian desserts and cakes. She also takes pride in her connection to her aunt and cousin. She recently assisted them in completing their U.S. naturalization application and has spent hours tutoring her cousin with his math assignments. Amaya’s family inspires her to continue helping others.

Amaya is most proud of her work as the executive director of Scholars of Other Languages in English (SOLE), a student-led organization focused on supporting multilingual learners (MLLs) in her school community through tutoring. She’s also a dedicated member of the National English Honor Society. She volunteers at her community’s monthly mutual aid, distributing food and hygiene items to 200+ families.

Inspired by her own teachers, Amaya hopes to become a high school math teacher. She wants, not only to help students feel confident in their math skills, but also to support them as they navigate difficult times. She has started doing this as a math tutor, knowing that her future career will let her spread the enthusiasm and care she has received from her own mentors.