Makayla Williams, a senior at McKinley Technology High School, hopes to conduct research in the field of psychology about the connection between economic status and mental health. Makayla’s first introduction to how the brain works was her anatomy class at McKinley. She will continue to explore her interest in the field of neuroscience and psychology at the University of Pittsburgh this fall. “I think it’s interesting that everyone can have different thoughts and thought processes,” says Makayla. During her high school career, Makayla has taken advantage of opportunities to grow and learn both inside and outside of the classroom. In addition to a number of AP courses including AP Calculus, and AP Human Geography, Makayla participated in community service through an organization called Brainfood, where she learned to cook, and played on the varsity volleyball team. Through McKinley’s National Academy Foundation (NAF), Makayla interned with Girls Who Code, where she learned the basics of coding including Python, HTML, and CSS. During her time at McKinley, Makayla says that she appreciates the support that she has received from her teachers who have really made class fun. “[McKinley] is a place where teachers care.” #DCPSGoesToCollege
