Beyond The Nest is a feature that reaches out to WYWLA  graduates and interviews them to 

provide insights about their college or professional experiences.

This month we spotlight Ariadne Loeza and Saliyah Jones!

What year did you graduate from WYWLA?

I graduated from Wake Young Women's Leadership Academy in 2025. 

How long were you at WYWLA?

I was at WYWLA from 6th to 12th grade.

Why did you choose WYWLA? What were some things you had in mind to get out of WYWLA? Did you? Who were your biggest influences at WYWLA?

I chose WYWLA because my sister was there, and I got to see the connections she was making and how being at an all-girls school helped her become the best version of herself. 

When I first got to WYWLA I was very introverted but held in a lot of my thoughts. One of the biggest things I wanted to work on was coming out of my shell and finding myself as a person, and understanding my values. My biggest influences were my sister, Dr. Terry, and Mrs. Watkins. They often supported my goals and me to become the best version of myself. 

What are some of the biggest lessons you learned at WYWLA?

The biggest lesson I learned was to make yourself proud. Often, we think that we have to make others happy, which can drive our minds to set unrealistic expectations. It can also make you choose things that you don’t want to do, such as straying away from your dream career. WYWLA helped me set my values and goals at an early age which helped me achieve them and bring joy to my life. 

What were you involved in during your high school years? What staff members championed you while at WYWLA?  How?

I was involved in many clubs such as Student Government Association, Federal Business Leaders of America, Junior Civitan, and National Honor Society. Outside of school, I completed two internships and had a job. For my community, I was a member of Poder NC. Dr. Terry and Mrs.Watkins were my main guides as they saw me grow from 6th grade me to senior me through their club. They encouraged me to apply for leadership positions and also for school opportunities. 

How many college credits did you earn through our partnership with colleges?

I finished with 64 college credits.

What did you choose as your major? What is your current job/career?

I am a strategic communication and political science major with a double minor in Latino-American Studies and business administration. I currently work for Elon's first-generation society as a social media intern.

What advice would you offer to our 6th-grade OWLS, 9th-grade OWLS, and our senior OWLS?

6th grade: Stay true to yourself and find your community, these students will be with you for the next years and can help you find your people but also your support system. 

9th: Understand yourself: find your values, beliefs, and identity. In the long run this will help when society pushes you down. Knowing yourself is the biggest thing that will keep you true, but also help you connect back to reality when needed. 

12th: Learn to let things go for the better, cherish memories, but also learn to allow new things to come. You will be going out into a whole new world, and there will be a lot of changes to be made. Know that you are growing and have to let go of past things to allow for a better future. 

What do you do in your spare time?

In my spare time, I enjoy listening to music, doing arts and crafts, and going on walks. I also enjoy doing nails. 

What colleges did you apply to/get accepted? Why did you choose your university?

I applied to 14 schools, mostly in-state, with Uni of Florida, The University of Texas at Austin, Clemson University and West Virginia University being out of state. I got accepted into 11 schools and had 9 full rides. I chose to attend Elon University because of my scholarship (Odyssey program) and the environment. I enjoy staying near home but also a far distance to be alone. 

How did high school prepare you for college? 

The workload and organization helped me. Coming to college with time management skills helped a lot. 

What is your impression of life in college?  What is college life like?

I enjoy college life very much. I can go to random events and meet new people every day. I enjoy my independence and exploring new places to do homework. 

What year did you graduate from WYWLA?

I graduated from Wake Young Women's Leadership Academy in 2025. 

How long were you at WYWLA?

I was at WYWLA from sixth through twelfth grade.

Why did you choose WYWLA? What were some things you had in mind to get out of WYWLA? Did you? Who were your biggest influences at WYWLA?

I chose WYWLA because I believed that, compared to my base school at the time, WYWLA would be a better option for me academically. I wanted to become more well spoken, which I believe I have achieved. One of my biggest influencers was Dr. Terry. I was placed in her GLC in sixth grade and from that point on she encouraged me to get out of my shell. Thanks to her, I learned how to project my voice and become better at socializing. 

What are some of the biggest lessons you learned at WYWLA?

One lesson I learned was the importance of networking. By introducing yourself and simply becoming someone's acquaintance, you can get far. Proper networking has allowed me many opportunities I would not have gained had I not introduced myself and expressed my interests. 

What were you involved in during your high school years? 

During high school, I primarily worked as a teen attorney through Capital Area Teen Court. I served as a teen attorney all four years of high school. I was able to apply to Girls on Outdoor Adventure for Leadership and Science which ended up being the source for the majority of my college application essays. 

How many college credits did you earn through our partnership with colleges?

 I graduated with a total of 53 credits. 

What did you choose as your major? What is your current job/career?

Originally, I chose my major to be Environmental Studies; however, I have recently changed it to biological engineering with a concentration in bioprocess. As of spring semester I will be working as an intern for a professor at the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering (NC A&T and University of North Carolina at Greensboro) doing work on extracellular vesicles. 

What advice would you offer to our 6th-grade OWLS, 9th-grade OWLS, and our senior OWLS?

Make sure to talk to anyone and everyone you can especially if they work in a field of study you are interested in. It is incredibly important to show people, especially professors, that you are interested in their work and that it can help you get into labs or undergraduate research. Even if you are not yet applying for college, participating in programs and reaching out to people can help ensure that not only will you have the skills, you will also have the references necessary to open different doors for yourself. 

What do you do in your spare time?

I crochet or go on walks outside.

What colleges did you apply to/get accepted? Why did you choose your university?

I was accepted to East Carolina University, High Point University, University of North Carolina at Pembroke, UNCG, University of North Carolina at Asheville, University of North Carolina Charlotte, Western Carolina University, Sweet Briar College, Catawba College, Appalachian State University, North Carolina A&T, and North Carolina State University. I chose North Carolina A&T because I loved the campus life and was also able to accept a full ride scholarship through the honors college (Lewis and Elizabeth Dowdy Scholarship). 

How did high school prepare you for college? 

High school gave me a good work ethic and the ability to keep myself accountable especially once I started taking college courses. My work ethic has been helpful for me in maintaining my grades in college and properly managing my time. 

What is your impression of life in college?  What is college life like?

So far, I have enjoyed college life. I have found ways to keep myself busy and friends to surround myself with. College life when you put yourself out there to meet new friends can be exciting. As long as you are willing to meet new people and try new things such as join clubs or attend events you will find your community and also enjoy your time wherever you attend.