Portraits of Our Community: Layla L., Class of 2024
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This week, as part of our series, "Oui" are the Lycée: Portraits of our Community, we are delighted to learn more about Layla L., a 2024 graduate of our IB program. French-American, Layla joined the Lycée in 2009 in pre-K. She will be attending Illinois State University to compete on their D1 Track & Field team.
Tell us about yourself
I have spent my whole life at the LFC. I have an older brother who graduated from the LFC in 2021 and a younger sister who is in 8th grade. I have been doing track since the 4th grade at the Lycée. In 2019, I became the first person ever at the Lycée to go to State for a sport. This year I podiumed at the Track & Field State Finals in the 100m and 200m runs, achieving 5th place and 7th place, respectively, in my division. My whole family runs track and my dad is LFC’s track coach. I'm going to Illinois State University with a full ride, and I will be continuing my sport in college as a D1 athlete.
Why is the LFC a good fit for you?
I personally thrive with hands-on learning experiences, and the Lycée truly helped me grow so much academically because I was able to have so much help with everything. If you have a problem in class, don't understand or just need more assistance, there is help at every corner of the school. The staff is so nice and the community is so amazing. It was also a good fit because they are just so accommodating when it comes to my sport and my crazy schedule.
Tell us something about yourself that would surprise our readers.
I have Type 1 diabetes. I was diagnosed at eight years old, in the middle of my 2nd-grade school year at the Lycée. You wouldn't see it from the outside, but my life has been really crazy. I wear two monitors on my arms, one is an insulin pump and the other a glucose monitor. I have run my whole track career while also managing diabetes, which surprises many people as it's hard to do a sport and manage having diabetes. I originally didn't even want to run track, I wanted to be a gymnast. I love to film and edit videos, and I'm going to school for film!
* Note: If you are interested in being featured in the "Oui" are the Lycée: Portraits of our Community series, please contact communications@lyceechicago.org.