Meet the Yearbook Staff: Tuie Aya-Ay

by Paddy Mahar

The stadium at West Seattle went nuts.  Tuie went running in to the endzone for a touchdown.  He ran past he student section giving everyone a high five.  

Tuie is a senior at O’Dea high school.  He is from Renton Washington.  He travels a long and hard way to get to school.     

When I got the chance to interview Tuie "The Beast" Aya-ay, I knew I couldn’t pass it up. He’s a 5’6” Filipino pilot, a former track star, and someone who became bilingual by his sophomore year. Oh, and he also made his school’s yearbook! 

After a tough workout, Tuie loves to come home and dig into a big bowl of fruit. Whether it’s strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, or any fruit you can think of, he’ll throw it in a bowl and enjoy it. 

When Tuie visited O'Dea High School, he liked the environment right away. He knew it was the place for him. He really values all the sports at O'Dea, like varsity football and track, and always does his best to help his team win.  “O’Dea is a welcoming environment that will push me to do my best, and to pursue my career in the future,” Tuie said. Once one job is done, he’s ready to take on the next—because his big dream is to become a doctor. For Tuie, when one door closes, another one opens. 

On the basketball court, Tuie makes sure his shots are on point. Off the court, he’s all about building success. His goal in life is to have three things: money, respect, and a comfortable life. So far, he’s doing great on all fronts.