Pekin senior Kyra Akintayo

Kyra Akintayo is a Pekin graduate in the spotlight this week. She is the daughter of Dione Lyn Akintayo and Edward Adetokunboh Akintayo. Her siblings are Kalell Anthony James Harnden and Kiya Jasmine Mercedes Akintayo.

While in school she was involved in Robotics, Spanish Club, and Ottumwa Archery. She has also worked at A&W as a Team Lead.

What's your favorite school memory/OR what will you remember the most? My favorite memory, as aggravating as it is, is when I made a ceramic bust for an art class led by Matt Guise. It was oversized and I had to take it home to finish it and I brought it back when it was done. It was the biggest one in the class and I was so excited to get it in the kiln and paint it after it was done. It was put in the kiln and the kiln was turned on. A few hours later my master piece blew up in the kiln breaking some of the bust next to it.

If you could go back and change one thing, what would it be? Giving Mr. Eidahl the jawbone of a rabbit for a grade. I wish hadn't given it to him. The assignment was to bring in a bone and tell him what it was, I did just that with the jawbone of a rabbit that I had shot through the eye with an arrow (I was so proud of that). 1) I never got that jawbone back 2) There was no grade put in and 3) was one of the reasons I failed Biology the first time. He lost the rabbit jaw and ever since then I have held a grudge.

Finish this sentence: "I could not live without..." My mother.

What's the best and/or worst thing about being a senior? The worst is the existential crisis every day that soon you'll be out of high school and on your own as an adult, paying bills, taxes, going it alone.

Which teacher or staff member has had the biggest impact on you and why? Mrs. Winslow. That woman has a way with emotions. I don't like crying in front of people, hell I don't even like my emotions, it's too much, but that lady has helped me so much with my own mental issues and made sure that I had my grades up so that I would make it to graduation.

Advice to incoming high school freshmen: Don't be an asshole. We are all in the same boat, just because someone is less fortunate than you doesn't entitle you to treat them like they are nothing. Don't threaten to fight your fellow classmen, if you do you better be prepared to get your crap rocked by the consequences. For those who are mistreated, stand up for yourself or get help no matter the circumstances. Lastly, as my mama always says, "If you don't got anything nice to say, don't say it." It's the truth whether or not you appreciate the language used.

What are your plans after graduation? Military to be a Marine or college for electronics.

What is one outrageous thing you want to try in your lifetime? Travel the world.

If you could move anywhere in the world, where would you go AND why? Heck if I know. I want to go everywhere. I want to travel everywhere because it's freeing. I want to see the amazing sights and the abandoned places lost to time and overtaken by mother nature. I want to take beautiful pictures to remember what I've seen.

Who has been your biggest influence AND why? CoryxKenshin, he's always been true to himself and done what he needed to do for his own physical and mental health. He has encouraged many of his subscribers, including me, to take care of themselves and to do what was right for them.