The Stacey yearbook staff is tracking down former students to find out about their life after high school. Freshman Gabriella DeLambo was able to track down Alaya Keane (class of 2015) and ask her a few questions.
What were the disadvantages and advantages of going to a small school?
The best thing about going to Stacey was the 1-on-1 interaction with teachers. I think it really helped my education and allowed me to be successful. The major disadvantage was the social life but I also guess you had a tight-knit community with your peers and as someone who grew up going to military schools I really didn’t know any better while I was in school. If you asked me this question while I was in high school, I probably would have said that we have no football team!
How long did you go to Stacey?
I went to Stacey from 8th-12th grade.
What did you do after graduation?
After graduation I immediately left home and started my undergraduate career at Texas A&M University (College Station).
Favorite memory of going to Stacey?
Some of my favorite memories were bouncing between student council with Mr. P. and Mr. Fernandez and Mrs. Wann’s rooms. Those corny movies and tv shows where thoughtful teachers really push you to do better in life were true for me! I really owe a lot to them and Mr. Fernandez was actually the teacher who told me to go to college and helped me schedule my tour of Texas A&M!
What advice would you give to current students?
Life doesn’t end with high school! I know during school I felt like I had to make the toughest decisions and was “missing” out on life from being at a small school but just enjoy the ride and know that it doesn’t last forever. I know it is especially hard because your
actions are known by the whole school (literally) but I promise high school isn’t the be-all end-all! Take advantage of having your teachers/counselors as resources as you get ready for your next steps!
What’s your greatest accomplishment since Stacey?
Since leaving Stacey, I have completed my undergraduate degree at the top of my department and am now in the 5th year of my PhD. I recently just moved back from Brazil where I was living to conduct research on monkeys for my degree. A lot of my accomplishments so far have been academic and to me they mean so much. I am first-
generation, a minority, and a woman succeeding in a field that has historically been dominated by white men and I did all of this after coming from a teeny-tiny school on a military base.
What did you participate in while you were here?
While at Stacey I was in student council, track, cross country, volleyball, choir, on the yearbook staff, and I helped manage the girls’ and boys’ basketball teams.
Where do you live now?
I currently live north of Austin to finish up my PhD.
How have you changed and stayed the same since Stacey?
At Stacey I think most if not all of my teachers would have said that I was very curious and loved learning and that has 100% remained the same. As with most people as they age, you start to care less about what others think of you and start to be more unapologetically
yourself. I would say that I am more confident in my abilities and who I am now.
What is one thing you wish you did in high school?
Hmm, I feel like I did so much, and all of those things have made who I am now. I still love to run; I still love to be involved in my community, so I am grateful for those experiences but I
wish I would have been grateful in the moment and realized that even something like high school really shaped me into the person I am today.
“THANK You Alaya!”
Note: click below to read a previous Texas A&M Today article on Alaya:
https://today.tamu.edu/2020/11/03/first-generation-celebration-how-one-aggie-student-went-from-first-gen-to-ph-d/
