Spotlight on Jessica Ayala 

By Jessica Ayala and Brent Davis 

  

Jessica is an Admissions Advisor for BSN, MSN, PharmD and AURA High School. She joined the admissions department in April 2023. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice in May of 2022 from California State University, Long Beach. She hopes to return to school and pursue a master’s degree in the future.  

 

In her own words: 

I am proud to be a Long Beach native. I was raised in the Bixby Knolls area until I was 7 years old and then moved to the east side of town. 

 

I am my mother’s first and only child. She was a single parent who, despite the circumstances and challenges she faced, gave me everything. I have so much admiration for my mother’s resilience and the pain she had to overcome. She taught me the value of working hard, the importance of being optimistic, the significance of being kind, but most importantly, she taught me to never give up. My success is a direct reflection of my mother’s sacrifices and the reason I beat the odds of becoming a statistic. I am so grateful to have her in my life and feel so lucky that I get to call her my best friend! I  

 

 

Jessica was drawn to AUHS because of our values, diversity, inclusivity, and the opportunity to surrender to and strengthen her faith in God: “In the short time that I have been with AUHS, I’ve learned that God makes no mistakes and I have no doubt in my mind that God led me here with a purpose. I am devoted to helping my students pursue higher education in health science and guiding them through what is the beginning of their dreams.” 

 

Outside of AUHS, she is passionate about learning about different cultures and visiting different parts of the world. She has had the privilege to travel to South America, Mexico, Southeast Asia, Europe, and Iceland and has probably traveled more outside the United States than within the states. She enjoys practicing hot yoga, beach walks with her dog, distance running and spending quality time with her favorite people. This past weekend, she and her family helped with the Acts of Love event for Thanksgiving where AUHS gives back to the community.  

 

Reflecting on that she wrote: “It was such a humbling and fulfilling experience and it gave me a new perspective on what life is about.” Well said Jessica and for that and all you do we shiene the spotlight on Jessica Ayala, Admissions Advisor.