Juhlaya Class of 2026
Where are you from?
I was originally born in Portland Indiana but often commuted to Muncie since my mom not only worked here but there wasn’t much in Portland and this was the nearest “big” city. We eventually moved to Muncie in 2021 when my sister got accepted into Burris.
How did you first hear about the Academy?
In 8th grade at Burris, I started to play tennis and the captain at the time was an Academy senior so she told me about the Academy. It wasn’t very clear to me at the time what it was but getting into my freshman year, I started to see more Academy students around the halls of Burris which made me curious. I later looked it up on my own since I hear a few of my friends at the time were applying.
What made you decide to apply?
My old school was honestly a lot easier than the Academy and it would still be easier if I stayed but I realized I wanted more of a challenge in high school so once I learned more about the Academy I couldn’t resist applying! It was honestly on a whim to apply at the time, and I didn’t fully expect to get in since the sophomore class was a small selection so I was more than surprised to get an acceptance letter.
What is your greatest memory about your time at the Academy?
My greatest memory was the Kings Island trip my sophomore year. It was honestly such a de-stresser from the heavy workload at the Academy and it was so much fun going to a theme park with my friends!
What are some of your extracurricular activities?
I am the secretary of the MENASU (Middle Eastern North African Student Union) at our school and vice president of Roblox Club. I also manage the girls basketball team, play on the girls tennis team and take part in Burris choir.
How has the Academy prepared you for life?
The Academy has taught me how to properly manage my time and workload as well as prepared me to deal with solving problems on my own like asking for help when I know I need it and not being afraid to ask for it.
What are your plans after graduation?
I’ve been thinking a lot about my plans after graduation recently and I can’t say there is anything I truly have my heart set on wanting to do yet. I’ve always been interested in working in entertainment or education but am not fully sure I plan on following through with either one so for now my plans are undecided.