Makaila Quiroga

​​Makaila Quiroga – Virginia
Nomination by Faith Quiroga
Photography by Karen Leigh Photography
Issue 85 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

Nomination: Makaila is a driven young woman. Throughout high school she has maintained an impressive 4.1, while balancing dual enrollment courses, attaining her CNA at 16, and becoming a National Honors Society member. She is a natural leader; Senior Secretary for Student Council, Cheer Manager, Class Leader in the Renaissance/Leadership program, and VA representative at the National Congress of Future Medical Leaders. She is involved in her community with over 100 hours of volunteer work, all while also maintaining a part-time job. She is applying for Pre-Med in college, with the goal of being a PA specializing in Pediatric Oncology.
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Photography by Karen Leigh Photography
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What are your secrets to balancing everything you have on your plate?
The most important part in balancing my life is to know my schedule and include time to rest and have a social life. Most days I have college work to do along with my jobs and clubs as well. Many times, this can be stressful, however having a great support system is crucial. Knowing your limits on what is too much is also something I like to keep in mind to ensure that I have time to myself and time to spend with the people I love. Keeping a detailed schedule is so important because it is what I plan my life around and how I go through my daily routine.

What is your favorite class at school right now and what is the most interesting thing you've learned?
My dual enrollment biology class is probably my favorite school subject right now as it is what I plan to do in college, Pre-medicine. My teacher, who is also a sort of mentor of mine, has really pushed me in microbiology. We also studied cancer and how it affects the body, which is something I hope to further research in college, so I would say that is my biggest interest now. Having a successful scientist, who is also a woman has been a great resource and role model. It’s so important to see people like you doing things that you wish to do in the future. I am most thankful to the women in science and medicine that I can look up to and learn from. My love for science and medicine would be nowhere without my female mentors.

What have you found is the difference between high school classes and college classes?
The biggest difference that I’ve learned between high school classes and college classes is the workload and freedoms that come along with them. In my high school classes, I have a small workload and a more structured class, while in college classes, I have more work, and my work is done on my own time. Being able to complete my college work on my own time gives me a chance to grow in responsibility and accountability. I have loved being able to do both high school and college classes at the same time, and have learned so much about staying on top of my schoolwork. My high school classes gave me the base of what I would learn in college, but my college classes have prepared me for what the next four years will be like.

Why was obtaining your CNA at 16 important to you?
Getting my CNA at 16 is not the norm for average teenage girls. I knew I wanted to get my CNA so I could dip my foot in the medical field and really understand patient care. Getting my CNA was a long year journey, but something I learned a lot from and will continue to learn from. I hope to begin working as a CNA in December. Knowing that at 16, I could do a job that was so important and touch so many people’s lives was really something that I wanted to do and I’m glad that I did.

What has been your most memorable moment in the NHS?
My most memorable moment in the national honor Society is undeniably the induction ceremony. I have spent a lot of my time putting on community events and supporting not only my school, but my state which has been so beautiful to see. I think that seeing that you were part of something so important and being nationally recognized for your hard work at the induction ceremony is something you’ll never forget. The people beside you are the people who are going to be supporting you and supporting your community for the next two years. That night is the night that you decide to do something for the community and to do something with your peers who have worked so hard beside you the entire way.

How would you describe yourself as a leader, and what is your strongest leadership quality?
I’ve been a leader in many clubs, sports and classes. I have been honored to be the vice president in SCA and HOSA as well as a leader in my leadership class, my cheer teams, the national honor Society, and much more. I do not think that it is the title that makes you a leader. It is the commitment. In my time in these roles, I’ve learned to stand in front of a crowd and talk about what I think is important and to find new ways to uplift our school, community, and our nation. Being a leader does not mean that you have a job title or a higher position than anyone else, it is the will and want to make a change and to share your ideas on how to do so. I believe that my strongest leadership quality is the ability reach out to multiple people and come up with a plan for change.

What are your roles and responsibilities as Senior Secretary for Student Council?
My roles and responsibilities as senior secretary for my student council were to take notes and share my thoughts with the club on how to evolve and improve our school community. As the vice president of SCA currently I am now able to make these changes happen, meet with our school board and principal, plan events that will uplift our school climate, and help change our school for the better. As a senior secretary and as the vice president now I’ve been so honored to be a part of the change.

How did you become Cheer Manager and what does it mean to you?
Last year as I was going to work and doing multiple college classes, I decided that during the winter season I would be the cheer manager and give up my spot on the winter season cheer team. This decision did not come lightly, and it was not easy to communicate with my team and my coaches. This decision was hard. I saw this as an opportunity to help my school and my team throughout the season. During the season I helped organize events and showed up to most of the practices and the games to help keep our team on track. I loved this time as manager as it gave me insight on organizational skills and helped me balance my life on top of my love for cheer.

What does the Renaissance/Leadership Program do and what do you do as the Class Leader?
Our school has recently added the Renaissance leadership program to our school class list. In joining this class I did not fully know what would come of this semester. The first day in class I was one of the kids to be decided as a leader of the class. In this class, we dedicate our time and resources to help organize events for the school, advertise them on social media and create events that will help our school spirit. Organizing the class and giving everybody a position really helped the workload for me and the other school leaders. The Renaissance Leadership Class is a beautiful curriculum that helps kids who want to be leaders and has really grown kids in our class to be those leaders they wish to be.

What has been your most rewarding experience as a VA representative at the National Congress of Future Medical Leaders?
As a Virginia representative at the national Congress of future medical leaders, I was able to sit alongside kids who had the same ideas as me and the same wishes for the future. This event was so important because it gave me insight into other doctors and famous scientists that came before me. I was able to watch surgery, speak with famous doctors, see famous cases, and learned so much about the medical field. The most rewarding experience as a Virginia representative was being able to see people from all different states at the Boston Congress, in which Duke, Harvard and other major colleges attend and put on. Making contacts with people from all over the world who are the future of medicine and will be going through the same school as me is so important because it gave me a community to connect with and a group of people who understand the workload and commitment that is the medical field.

What service project is closest to your heart and why?
The service project that is closest to my heart is the project that my peers and I have put on through the Red Cross blood drive every year. In this event, we invite kids from our school and teachers to give blood. Though this act seems small it is what saves hundreds of thousands of lives. As the vice president of Hozier, which is the health occupations students of America I hope to do at least two blood drives this year. In doing this event every year we ask our teachers why it was so important to them last year. I got an answer that would change my life forever. One of our teachers had a wife who died from an awful disease but had previously needed blood transfusions weekly. She said that due to the amount of people that year who gave blood, it was doable. I knew after this conversation why our annual blood drive is so important. Seeing the amount of kids every year who are willing to sit down and give their blood was so moving and I hope to do this for years to come.

What inspiring things about you does your nomination not cover?
In my free time I have previously worked with kids and I hope to continue to do that through my life and my career after high school. I also have done All Star cheer and competition dance my entire life and grew up working in the studio. I currently do sideline cheer and spend my time at work or working out with friends.

What do you feel passionate about or could talk about forever?
My love for politics is unmatched I think I have always been very opinionated and I could see myself being involved in politics one day if the opportunity came around.

How did you find your photographer? What was your experience like? What did you love most?
I have known my photographer since I was a kid doing dancing, singing, and acting and have always loved her work. She was great at helping me pose, move my outfits, find amazing lighting, and take photos. She is an amazing woman and is in my opinion one of the best in the field.

Why do you want to be in Inspiring Teens Magazine?
I want to inspire girls to not be afraid of trying new things to be being bold and get out there. Growing up I struggled with eating and I was often really anxious in public but learning to love yourself and be yourself is so important.

What is a favorite memory with or thoughts of the person who nominated you?
Faith Quiroga has always been there for me no matter where I was or what I was doing. Whether I was acting, cheering, singing, or dancing she was always supporting me and there for my growth as a person.

If you had nothing to do and all day to do it, where would we find you?
If I had nothing to do all day, you would probably find me at the beach. The fondest moments in my life, I’ve been found on a beach. I hope to one day live on the beach as it is a beautiful place.

What is up next for you that you are super excited about?
The next thing I plan to do that I’m so excited about is college. I’ve spent the last two months sending in my applications, scores, and nominations to the best schools in America. As an American, I am so lucky to have all these options and opportunities in front of me And I cannot wait for the future ahead. I plan to study Pre-med and decide later down the line between being a doctor or Physician’s Assistant. I hope to be involved in my school and the clubs as that is really important to me. As the first kid in my family to go to college, I am beyond excited and ready to take the next step for my future.

Look for Mikaila in issue 85 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!
*Interviews are not edited after received from our inspiring teens - what you read is who they genuinely are!

click here for more information on issue 85

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