Turning Challenges into Opportunities, Alaysia Taylor’s Story

At Taft Union High School, Alaysia Taylor stands out as a student-athlete and leader. She is social, outgoing, and charismatic, earning her admiration of both her peers and the adults around her. For Principal Mary Alice Finn, Taylor represents everything a principal hopes to see in a student.

“She brings an infectious smile wherever she goes,” Finn said. “She is hardworking, kind, and resilient, pairing an outgoing personality with a level of determination and maturity that is truly beyond her years.”

But that resilience didn’t come easily. At thirteen years old, Taylor was exposed to a violent incident that resulted in the death of her stepfather.

“That affected me a lot more than anyone could really imagine,” Taylor recalled. “I live in a small town where everyone hears everything.”

In the aftermath, her family received threats and was forced to leave town temporarily, making it difficult to process her grief.

Just a few years later, Taylor faced another life-altering moment. While returning home from her grandmother’s funeral, a suspected drunk driver veered into their lane. Her uncle swerved to avoid the collision, causing a crash that ejected Taylor and her younger brother from the vehicle. She suffered severe injuries, breaking more than a dozen bones in her body, including vertebrae in her spine.

“I went through so much damage physically and emotionally, especially since everything with my stepfather happened a year or two prior,” said Taylor. “I was grieving the body I once had, and I’m still carrying all the emotions from the aftermath.”

Taylor recalls feeling alone and scared during the two months she spent hospitalized in San Bernardino. The experience gave her a renewed perspective.

It was an opportunity she did not intend to waste.

Following multiple successful surgeries, Taylor made a remarkable recovery that allowed her to return to school and jump back into her extracurricular activities without needing physical therapy.

“I worked really hard in my sports, so coming back and not being able to compete at 100 percent was definitely a setback,” she said.

A triathlete, Taylor competes in volleyball, basketball, and track and field. Volleyball remains her favorite, largely because of the camaraderie and team dynamic. She has played varsity since her sophomore year and was selected to the all-star volleyball team. She says she enjoys the sport because success is shared, not dependent on any one player, and values the opportunity to travel, meet new people, and compete against different teams.

Inspired to get even more involved this year, Taylor ran for student body president.

“I’ve always wanted to get involved in student leadership, so I put myself out there,” Taylor said. “I received so much grace and support, and now I’m focused on giving back to my class.”

As her senior year comes to an end and graduation approaches, Taylor is already looking ahead with a clear vision for her future.

“Ever since a young age, I was like I am going to be a veterinarian,” she said.

Through dual enrollment, Taylor is on track to graduate high school with significant progress toward an Associate of Science in Biology from Taft College. She plans to continue her studies there before transferring to San Joaquin Valley College to become a veterinary technician. Her long-term goal is to attend University of California, Davis and pursue a career as a zoologist, ideally here in Kern County. 

As a first-generation college student, Taylor hopes to lead by example for her younger brothers. 

“I hope they see what I’ve been through and look to me for advice,” Taylor said. “I feel honored to be in that position, knowing I’m a role model my brothers can look up to.”

Through it all, Taylor has learned to reframe adversity. 

“Our hardships don’t define us,” Taylor said. “They make us stronger and give us another lens to look at life through.”