5 Questions with Ayla Pruneda

Mia Dixon-Slaughter, Co-Editor-in-Cheif
March 11, 2015

Junior Ayla Pruneda talks about her basketball career that began her freshmen year at Downey High when she made the varsity girls basketball team.

Q1: What made you get into basketball?

A1: I always loved the sport and being competitive. I had a mentor that pushed me outside of my comfort zone. I was afraid to try out, but he told me that if I didn’t have anything to lose and I was good at it then why not try it?

Q2: How do you like being on the basketball team here at Downey?

A2: I like that I’m part of a family outside of the student body; it’s just like a group of a girls that care for one thing and are always there for you. You can count on them.

Q3: What is your favorite part about playing basketball?

A3: When I’m playing, there’s nothing going on in my head; it’s a stress-free zone.

Q4: Do you have any experience playing basketball outside of school?

A4: Well, the first time I started playing I was four and a half, but I didn’t start taking it seriously until eighth grade.

Q5: Do you want to pursue a basketball career in college or even in life?

A5: If its something I love and it can take me somewhere then why not do it?

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About the Contributors

Mia Dixon-Slaughter, Co-Editor-in-Cheif

Mia Dixon-Slaughter, Co-Editor-in-Chief of The Downey Legend, stepped into the world of journalism 3 years ago as a sophomore. After a great deal of persuasion from her two best friends, who were on staff at the time, Dixon-Slaughter submitted her application at the semester and was welcomed shortly after. “I love writing and always have,” Slaughter said, “but I’ve always stuck strictly to literature so branching out into a different style and type of writing has helped me develop as a writer.” Although writing essays and covering stories can be polar opposites, the writer adjusted without much trouble. During her time at The Downey Legend, she has covered numerous stories, fiddled with the camera, and established the newspaper’s credibility on social media. She is competent enough to know what it takes to have efficient deadlines; all Slaughter has to do now is to guide her staff in that direction.

If the writer is not covering stories happening around school, she is still somehow always somewhere on campus. Juggling AP classes, an ASB position, and her role in newspaper, Slaughter often finds herself with a hectic schedule. This being said, when genuine free time presents itself, she takes full advantage of it. “I love getting lost or ending up in places spontaneously because it feels so great to not have an agenda sometimes,” Dixon-Slaughter said. While the senior is busy getting ready for college and balancing out the rest of her responsibilities, she hopes to provide the staff with an exemplary example of the amount of greatness that can rise from commitment.

Dayna Sanchez, Photographer

A part of The Downey Legend staff, sophomore Dayna Sanchez is a photographer. She enjoys taking photos and wants to capture the sports events around school. Sanchez enjoys taking photos to show off her skills. Being a photographer requires a creative eye and patience, which Sanchez has.

In her leisure time, Sanchez enjoys watching Netflix and taking photos of her three-shitzu mix digs named Esme, Darcy, and Charlie. “I need my daily dose of Netflix right before bed!” Sanchez stated. In five years, Sanchez sees herself in college becoming a pastry chef. Her goals for this school year are to participate more in the school events around campus. “This year I plan to be more involved in school”, Sanchez said. “I would possibly join the volleyball team, because my dad got me involved in the sport”. Sanchez still has years of high school ahead of her, but she hopes to become more positive and to stop looking at the negative side of situations that come her way.