Senior Story: Shayla Cuellar

For Shayla Cuellar, high school has been a journey of growth, discovery and confidence. “I’ve never been the best at anything that has to do with school and I really lacked confidence in myself for a while,” she shares. “I never thought I would make it this far—but I did. And I don’t think I could’ve done it without the support of the people around me.”

After graduation, Shayla plans to enjoy the summer with her friends, save up money and begin her next chapter: cosmetology school. “I just love anything to do with beauty—I think it’s fun,” she says. While she once dreamed of becoming an actress, her path shifted as she explored new passions. With encouragement from family, she found her place in the world of beauty and now hopes to build a career in the cosmetology field.

When Shayla’s not planning her future, she’s either laughing with friends—especially during Just Dance sessions—or enjoying quiet moments drawing and listening to music. “I really enjoy spending time with my friends and just doing whatever,” she says. “But I also love time alone to relax and reflect.”

One of her favorite high school experiences was taking French with Madame Steele. “France has always been a dream destination for me, so I wanted to learn the language. Traveling there and being able to communicate a little was amazing,” Shayla says. “And Madame Steele makes us feel comfortable to be ourselves and speak our minds. She listens when we need someone. I’m really grateful for her.”

Madame Steele, who’s taught Shayla throughout her high school years, has seen that growth firsthand. “Shayla has really gotten comfortable in her skin and has become so confident in the last four years,” she says. “I’ve had the honest joy of teaching AND learning from her. She’s witty, brave, brilliant and full of joy. She cares deeply about the world around her and is very observant. I cannot wait to see what comes next for her!”

If Shayla could go anywhere, she'd head to Brazil during Carnival. “It’s such a beautiful country and the parade is absolutely breathtaking. Seeing it in person would be a dream.” And if she could meet anyone, it would be fashion model Wisdom Kaye and film director James Cameron—two creatives who inspire her with their bold ideas and unique vision.

Her advice to freshmen is refreshingly honest: “Just pay attention and do the work—I wish I had taken that advice more seriously at first. And it’s okay to not know what you want to do in the future. You have time. Live in the moment, don’t miss out, and remember—you can have fun and still have time for school.”

Full of creativity, courage and compassion, Shayla is stepping into her future with confidence—and we can’t wait to see the beauty she brings into the world.