Aiyanna Cruz-Padilla is a 10 year-old Made in Hayward, Native American/Hispanic young lady who is making us proud. She will join Mahershala Ali, the Rock Dwayne Johnson, and Andre Ward in putting our fine city on the map. We have a champion on our hands!

She has been practicing karate since she was 3 years old! Has she found success? Well, yes, at 10 years old, she is now close to her second black belt. Her training is at Team Brewer Karate. She has numerous medals, plaques, and trophies for karate tournament in her dojo, and she does karate tournament with the league. 
 
This past October, at the age of 9, she won the World Finals in Reno, Nevada. While in competition there, she won three medals, as seen in the photo: 1st place in Sparring, 1st place in Traditional Kata Forms, and 2nd place in Traditional Kata Weapons.
 
She tells me that she never feels nervous before her matches…call it confidence, no? However, she does get excited after her matches, then really tired. I am most impressed.
 
At St. Joaquim’s Catholic School she runs track with her sister, and she is a straight A student!  Not only that, at her age she is beginning her volunteering career, being on the Student Council. In her school council meeting she is in charge of jump rope for heart and they have meetings about upcoming school gatherings.
 
Miss Cruz's future is being 'a doctor for animals'. A veterinarian would be an excellent profession for her.  
 
What are her likes? Besides being very close with her baby-sitter, Aiyanna, like me and other Mother Nature lovers, she loves lions, a lot! Like a good Bay Area youngster, she likes our Golden State Warriors, and, keeping with the physicalness of karate, she loves jump roping with her friends and family.
 
Her dislikes? They are a bit usual: bugs, spaghetti, and being sick in the house. Wonder why bugs...they are so cute. She and I don't agree on spaghetti either, especially when eaten with garlic bread. Sick at home is not good...so I agree.
 
Aiyanna Cruz-Padilla is an impressive very young lady. I salute her, thank her parents and her teachers, and am extremely honored and proud to present her to you.
 
Let’s help her, and my other Youngsters of the Month be leaders. They will encourage leadership and volunteerism among their peers, for the benefit of our whole fine city.