Staying Irish Through and Through Senior Nya Huff makes major strides to achieve her dreams.

BY AVERY STUCKEY

True hard work never stops. Whether it is going above and beyond in the classroom or giving your all on the track or the court and even reaching dreams that seemed too far, senior Nya Huff seems to have done it all.

Throughout her four years on the hill there was never a dull moment. “I played basketball for all four years, played volleyball my freshman and sophomore year, and have thrown shot put and discus since junior year,” said Huff.

Along with participating in these sports, competing at the varsity level has come with this. Huff stepped up to that challenge and has since been seen suited up and on the court with the Lady Irish varsity basketball team for a little over two years, proving her determination and dedication. “I have been a varsity athlete since the post-season of my basketball season sophomore year,” she said.

While her presence in athletics made major impacts, her work ethic and accomplishments in the classroom are hard to miss. “I am graduating Summa Cum Laude which places me in the top 5 percent (of the class),” said Huff. The journey has most definitely not always been easy. “My biggest challenge academically was definitely taking a foreign language with kids who have been learning it from a very young age. I had never taken Spanish before I came here and my teachers met me where I was.,” Huff said. However, In true Huff fashion she persisted.

“To overcome these challenges, I took advantage of every opportunity Cathedral had to offer. Whether that be going to office hours to get help or talking to a classmate who understands it, Cathedral has put people in my life who can help me every step of the way,” she said.

While the help from everyone assisted her to her success there is not someone specific who stands out. “I feel like it is too difficult to name one person as my biggest support. Each of the lifelong connections I have made here will always give me a shoulder to cry on, no matter what,” said Huff.

For many high school students, including Nya, motivation is commonly lost throughout the long busy days of school work. However, keeping her eye on the prize has become a tactic she consistently uses. “Staying motivated at school does get difficult sometimes, but I feel like it is because I am intrinsically motivated. Grasping new information is a challenge that I love to face head on everyday. It pushes me towards my dreams, so staying motivated is easy when you relate it to success,” she said.

Despite the challenges and hardships she may have faced, it was not hard to reflect on why she belonged on the hill. “Cathedral has been a good fit for me because I have still been able to get a rigorous and individualized education, while getting a top tier social and athletic atmosphere like you would get at a bigger school. The people here truly are great, so they have helped make this the best place for me to be,” Huff said.

Continuing reflecting on her past four years she has been through many trials and errors and highs and lows which have been able to provide her with the knowledge and lessons to continue to be successful. “The most valuable lesson I have learned in my four years here is this idea called the ‘warrior mentality’. I know it is not academic, but it is something that I will have with me for the rest of life. The warrior mentality is when you do whatever it takes in order to win the battle, like a warrior. The battle is whatever life decides to put in front of you that day academically, socially or internally, but truly it does not matter. The warrior mentality works for it all,” said Huff. Having learned what she did on the hill she made sure to find a college that would continue to help her to grow in knowledge while still checking off a short checklist of necessities. “I was looking for a school that would feel big, but would still give me an individualized education and a chance for 1 on 1 learning. I also looked for a school that would let me potentially double major and still graduate in four years,” Huff said.

While the search for the right school quickly became overwhelming Huff put in 110 percent effort without hesitation. “The college application process was stressful for me. I applied to nine dif- ferent schools, and got into 8 of them. That’s because I gave everything to that process. I wrote so many essays, so so many, but it was so worth it,” she said.

While narrowing down schools it became obvious where she was going when she was officially accepted to a school she had dreamed of attending, The University of Notre Dame. “To continue my education at Notre Dame is a dream come true. I love the campus because it feels like Cathedral but on a bigger scale (and) I know I am going to one of the best schools in the nation where I will be able to succeed,” Huff said.

While the change may seem overbearing there is one major similarity between her Cathedral family and her new Notre Dame family. Not only are they both Irish, but both are Holy Cross schools. This allows Huff to dive deeper into faith and continue her education along Holy Cross standards. “I do think it is a valuable thing because it has truly shaped my character. I know with two holy cross schools I am becoming a well rounded person who cares for others but can also prioritize their academics. At Holy Cross schools, I know that I am cared for and am in an environment where I matter,” said Huff.

While the success never fell right into her lap her diligence, persistence, and commitment taught her the most valuable lessons. Huff said, “In order to fight the battle and win the war, take advantage of everything the Hill has to offer”.