Aa-Shayah H. – Youth of the Year Candidate
Aa-Shayah H. is a 15-year-old 10th grader from Gainesville, Georgia. She joined the Youth of the Year competition to embrace new opportunities and challenge herself in a meaningful way, inspired by the positive experiences she has had from others.
Her friends and family describe her as kind, energetic, and understanding. Aa-Shayah is passionate about cheerleading and also enjoys dancing and reading in her free time. At school, she is actively involved in the HOSA Club (for future healthcare professionals), the cheer and dance teams, and Sister with a Purpose. Her favorite subject is anatomy, as it supports her dream of pursuing a career in healthcare, specifically in Labor & Delivery.
Aa-Shayah’s biggest goal in life is to make her mother proud, and she draws inspiration from both her mother and her older sister. She believes in staying true to herself and encourages other teens to “be yourself and don’t worry about someone’s opinion.” One of her favorite mottos is, “Be yourself… everyone else is already taken.”
When she’s not busy with school or extracurricular activities, Aa-Shayah enjoys quiet time alone. She loves music from PartyNextDoor and Summer Walker, watching the show Alexa and Katie, and snacking on pasta or green apples. If she could travel anywhere in the world, she would choose Paris.