“If we were meant to stay in one place, we would have roots instead of feet.”
This world is seemingly endless, and for many high school students, that can be a bit terrifying.
But for Aly Caywood, this enormity of the world is exactly what gets her up in the morning.
From new hiking trails with amazing views, to unvisited beaches to explore, travel and adventure has always called to Caywood.
In Rathdrum, this world can seem so small, but Caywood is a perfect reminder that this life is temporary, and exploring this planet while we can should be a top priority for everyone.
While in the small town of Rathdrum Idaho, you are surrounded by the same group of people, but Caywood is like a breath of fresh air.
With her gentle smile, and ability to connect with anybody, Caywood has left a lasting impression on all those who have met her.
She specifically will leave a big legacy behind on the Lakeland dance team.
Caywood is one of the team’s captains and brings the whole team together.
Regardless of grade, skill level, or experience, Caywood makes all the dancers feel appreciated and welcomed.
“Feeling and moving with the music brings me peace,” Caywood said.
She describes the sport as an outlet for her, allowing her to express emotions and experiences through movement.
However, the dance team is not the only place she has this strong effect on those around her.
In the journalism classroom as an co-editor-in-chief, Caywood always makes sure to make everyone’s work feel valued and appreciated.
She leads the class with a smile, even when things can get a bit chaotic.
Not only does she excel as an editor, but she is one of the best writers and students at Lakeland.
“She is very intentional with everything she does,” Michael Dunn said. “She is somebody who doesn’t like to make mistakes and she goes out of her way to make sure she doesn’t make mistakes.”
Promoting local businesses and non-profit organizations, Caywood uses her talent to shine a light on the good in the community.
This supports the businesses by allowing them to gain an audience from her well-written and researched articles.
Selflessly, Caywood dedicates many hours to writing these articles.
With all this going on in Caywood’s life, it is a mystery how she stays on top of it all.
She reveals this mystery with one simple instruction,
Take things one step at a time.
“The most important lesson I have learned is that it’s really important to take things one step at a time,” Caywood said.
She explains how it is common for high school students to feel like everything is all too much to handle.
“It is important to plan ahead, but it’s also important to relax and go with the flow because life will be a lot less stressful that way,” Caywood said.
In the moment, it is easy to feel judged.
Whenever she felt this way, she reminded herself of one simple thing.
“The cost of not participating is the memories you could have made, so don’t be afraid to try new things because the memories are worth it,” Caywood said.
The fear of a new place, person, job, or adventure can be enough to hold a person in place permanently.
As Caywood will do, ignore this fear.
Go see the world, complement a stranger, try something new, laugh with a stranger.
Caywood will see many corners of this beautiful world, and while she may be thousands of miles away from Rathdrum Idaho at points in her life, the people and impact she left here will not fade with the distance.
“I think that she is a testament to what happens when you work your butt off and when you are putting a hundred percent into literally everything you do,” Dunn said.
