Mystra Toffalo Akil is a senior who was born and raised in Miami, Florida, and is of Argentinian, Greek, and Syrian ethnic backgrounds.

Growing up in a household rich with Argentine, Greek, and Syrian traditions gave her a deep appreciation for fashion, music, and family gatherings.

Mystra loves to play tennis and has an immaculate musical taste with a lot of her favorites coming out before the 2000s. When she isn’t serving on the tennis court, you can find her browsing local record stores looking for vinyls to add to her collection for her vintage record player.

“What I admire about Mystra is how she doesn’t let other people’s opinions affect her,” said her younger sister, Sofia, who is a sophomore.

Mystra’s unique interests, mixed with her contagious confidence, uplifts and brings light into every person’s life she enters. Mystra loves classic literature and tends to read books about politics, art, and philosophy. She says that after reading S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders, her life was completely changed, as she gained a different perspective on friendships, loyalty and growing up.

Senior Garret Brown said, “Mystra is the most beautiful, easy to talk to, and witty girl.”

Being a senior, she has a lot to look forward to, but also has much to navigate within the next couple of months. Mystra is currently working on finding the right college for her specific goals and figuring out what path she wants to take for her future. She recently took on an assistant job and is excited what new experiences it will bring her. The advice Mystra would give her younger self is to let loose and have fun.

“We are growing up and in the prime of our youth. Don’t waste it. Enjoy yourself!” she said.