Perseverance. That was what it took for Biology major (pre-med) student MaiYa Giles and her family to rise above the calamity of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
"One day, it was a normal day, like one every year before… I was shopping for school supplies with my mom and getting ready to start school. The next day, I was on the road to Katy, Texas, to get away from the storm," Giles says.
Leaving their belongings behind, Giles came to Texas right away with her dad, while her mom stayed behind to wait out the storm. The family stuck together, sometimes sharing living quarters with 11 family members in transition after Katrina's passing.
Giles will graduate in December with plans to earn a master's degree before heading to medical school. The memory of her family's time in Louisiana and seeing family members and others deal with the devastation, along with hearing stories from people along the way, is one of the things that has fueled her desire to help others.
"In high school in Katy, I gained so much experience doing clinical rotations in radiology. I can't wait to graduate so that I can help uninsured and underinsured families in and around Houston."
Giles has two heroes, "My mom, who is by far the strongest woman I know. She has been through so much and cares for so many. And Katherine Johnson, who was a NASA orbital mechanic mathematician. These two women are my heroes because they are the epitome of resilience and class and that's the type of woman I hope to be."
Giles has loved her time at UNT, pointing out the deep connections she has made with her classmates during her time here and how "everyone belongs." She should know, as she has made quite a name for herself with her involvement in student organizations. Giles has served as the Secretary and Social Media Chair for Women of Gold, a group that empowers women from all ethnic backgrounds to come together and be involved in their communities, a facilitator and participant for the Black Student Experience, an organization that hosts an annual retreat that serves to introduce freshman and transfer students to leaders of the Black student population and the Press and Publicity Chair for UNT's chapter of the NAACP. She is also a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, NT40 and Black Student Union.
Not only has Giles been involved in student organizations, but she has positioned herself to closely work with the university itself as the Student Government Association's Communications Director, helping to bridge the gap between the university's administration and students, while helping to promote SGA and campus-wide events. According to Giles, one of her most rewarding posts was serving as the Dean of Students Student Survivor Advocate, aiding students impacted by violence on and off campus.
In her spare time, MaiYa loves creating. She makes customized and personalized items such as signs, apparel and gift boxes @madebymai_ on Instagram.