Tyra is someone who shows up, with consistency, care, and a growing sense of confidence.
Her path hasn’t always been immediate, but her growth has been steady and earned over time.
From early academic challenges to a strong senior year, she’s developed into a thoughtful and dependable student. She mentors younger students, puts in the work behind the scenes, and continues to grow into her voice.
Here’s more of her story, in her own words.
What are your favorite subjects in school?
My favorite subjects are math and Latin. I’ve always been good at math, and I like how much it challenges my thinking. Latin is something new for me, but once you get into it, it actually becomes pretty easy to understand. I took Spanish freshman year, but I didn’t love speaking it, so switching to Latin was a better fit. Right now I’m in pre-calculus.
What has been your favorite extracurricular activity in high school?
Managing the football team has been my favorite. At first, a lot of the players kept asking me to do it, and I didn’t want to because they can be… a lot. But I ended up doing it senior year with a few friends, and it turned out to be really fun and easy. I actually really enjoyed it.
In what ways have you changed the most between the start of your 9th-grade year and now being in your final year of high school?
I’ve definitely grown academically since freshman year. I’ve also gotten better at speaking up for myself and being willing to try new things, even when they feel a little scary.
What has been the best part of attending Trinity?
The community. It’s very welcoming, and it’s been easy to find my people. Everyone is open and supportive.
What has been the most challenging thing about high school? Did UP RVA help you at all in overcoming that challenge? If so, how?
Time management has been the biggest challenge for me. I’ve struggled with procrastination all four years—I’m definitely a “last-minute” person—but I’ve been getting better.
UP RVA has helped a lot with that. They’ve been there since day one, helping me stay on track and build better habits. A lot of what I’ve learned about managing school comes from them.
How did Anna Julia Cooper prepare you for high school?
AJC prepared me really well, especially with writing. I learned how to structure papers properly and got a strong foundation in the basics. That made a big difference once I got to high school.
If you had to do it all over again, would you still be a part of UP RVA? Why?
Yes, definitely. UP RVA is a great opportunity—not just for getting into a strong high school, but for having a real support system behind you the whole way.
What are a few things people should know about UP RVA?
UP RVA helps students stay on track and supports them when they need it. It opens doors that a lot of students might not otherwise have access to. It’s a big opportunity.
-Tyra Gilliam
