Silence sits among audience members in the Patil theater as they wait in anticipation for the next routine of the upper school dance show. Suddenly, the curtains open and the upbeat tune of “Telephone” begins playing. Dazzling lights illuminate the bright red tones of Makayla Aguilar-Zuniga’s (12) costume as she dances, hitting every move with energy and confidence in her self-choreographed routine.

Dance has played a significant role in Makayla’s life since her childhood. After discovering her love for dance at the age of 3, she has continued to dedicate herself to the art. Makayla started dancing at the upper school by participating in a tap dance in ninth grade. Since then, she has made strong strides in dance by participating in the Harker Conservatory’s certificate program and performing in the annual dance show.

“When I was younger, my mom put me in a lot of sports, and I didn’t really find interest in them until I found dance,” Makayla said. “I really liked the less competitive side of dance. Unlike other sports, I’m not really a competitive person, so dance was a good way to express myself.”

Throughout high school, Makayla continued to foster her love for dance by taking several dance-related courses, including Dance Composition in her sophomore year and Choreography in her junior year, which provided her the opportunity to choreograph her first routine for the dance show. 

Dance serves as both an enjoyable hobby for Makayla as well as an outlet for her emotions, as it offers her the freedom to explore various styles and movements. Creating her own unique choreographies posed challenges for Makayla at times, yet persevering through these difficulties has proven to be both rewarding and satisfying. Makayla recalls one such instance when she and co-choreographer Linette Hoffman (12) overcame choreographer’s block.

“We were really struggling with a [choreography] part and we couldn’t figure out what to do for it, and we couldn’t push it off,” Makayla said. “We spent an hour outside trying to figure it out, but once we got the movement, it became a really iconic part of the dance and it became the part everyone remembers.”

Through dance, Makayla has formed personal connections that have blossomed into close friendships, such as her relationship with Ally Lee (12). Ally has witnessed Makayla’s dedication to dance throughout her years at Harker. 

“At first, Makayla was very nervous,” Ally said. “She didn’t know how [choreographing a dance] was going to go, especially the first year in which she did it, which was her junior year. Now in senior year, she feels a lot more comfortable with it and she puts a lot of time and thought into it. You can see that through her progress already between last year’s dance and this year’s dance.”

Close friend Sophia Bronder-Chang (12), who performed with Makayla in Hoscars last year, also noted Makayla’s perseverance throughout her journey in dance.

“She is very resilient,” Sophia said. “Sometimes she’s had difficult circumstances happen to her, but she always makes the most out of it. Last year for her dance, things weren’t going her way, but she pulled it off. And her dance is really good.” 

Outside of dance, Makayla continues to express herself by connecting with her heritage through the LatinX affinity group. After upper school mathematics and LatinX affinity group adviser Jeanette Fernandez invited her to join the group in her sophomore year, Makayla quickly found a welcoming and supportive community in the club. Now, she serves as one of the co-leaders of the LatinX affinity group. 

“There’s not a lot of LatinX people at Harker, but once I was in that environment, I was able to express things that happen at home that I wasn’t able to tell my friends because they just wouldn’t understand,” Makayla said. “Having that bond really made this a safe space.”

As a co-leader of the LatinX affinity group, Makayla devotes a significant amount of time to taking part in and leading meetings. She also helps plan activities such as the LatinX affinity group booth during last year’s Culture Week. Fernandez noted Makayla’s optimistic personality and willingness to learn. 

“She’s always smiling, [and] she has a great sense of humor,” Fernandez said. “She will participate, and she isn’t afraid to make a mistake, which is great because she knows that she’s learning. I enjoy having her as a student.”

Makayla’s positive attitude stands out not only in the classroom and among her friends, but in her interactions with new members of the LatinX affinity group as well. Fernandez appreciates Makayla’s ability to make them feel welcome and heard, as well as foster lively discussions.  

“She has really helped to bring in new students to our group and help them have a voice,” Fernandez said. “She encourages them to speak their concerns or laugh and joke around, and shows them that we do have a community here at Harker where the students can feel safe to come to the meetings.”

The group also enabled Makayla to learn about the various traditions of different cultures within the LatinX community, as well as discuss their shared LatinX identity. Makayla values both the unity and diversity within the community. 

“The LatinX club really helped me shape my culture, because there’s not just one type of LatinX person,” Makayla said. “We all have something shared amongst us. Whether it’s food or a holiday, there is something in between us that connects us and bonds us, but it also adds something different. They can eat different foods as well or have different traditions. The club helps me learn more about being LatinX, and I can also share my stories as well.”

Through choreographing dances or organizing events for the LatinX affinity group, Makayla has blossomed into a confident, approachable leader and friend whom others feel comfortable talking to. Supported by the communities surrounding her, she expresses herself fearlessly.

“[My motto is] to stand out,” Makayla said. “A lot of times when I was younger, I really loved to blend in in the background because I didn’t want attention on me, but when you stand out, people can really see who you are.”