Amaya Barnes (photo by Jim Burkstrand)
Inna Shames
Meet Amaya Barnes, a 2020 The Women of Quail Creek (TWOQC) High School Scholarship recipient. Like so many of The Women of Quail Creek scholarship recipients, Amaya grew up in Arizona. Upon graduating from Sahuarita High School in May 2020, a bachelor’s degree in human resource management was her goal.
Step one: Amaya realized that getting an associate degree in business administration at Pima Community College was a way to complete prerequisites at less cost than a university. She received a TWOQC Scholarship in 2020, as well as several other scholarships from civic organizations in Green Valley. She worked at La Posada while attending Pima, while earning her associate degree in business administration in May of 2022.
Step two: For the past two years, Amaya has been a full-time, online student at American Military University while working full time at a Tucson-based infrastructure company as a customer operations specialist. Her job includes quotes, shipping, logistics, and sales proposals. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree in HR management in June of 2024 and plans to continue at her current company, where she has just been promoted to department manager.
Step three is long-term: Amaya’s dream is to join the HR department of Disney. This will require more work experience and more HR certifications, but all in good time. “At this point in my life, I feel I have completed my education, but no one is ever done … so there will definitely be more education down the line, because I always want to keep learning.”
Where did all this drive come from? “My parents are hands-down the greatest influences in my career/educational goals. They are two of the wisest and most resourceful people I know … they have pushed me relentlessly when it came to school and career goals and believed in me even when I didn’t think I could do it. They are the reason I am successful and have been able to accomplish so much within the last four years. I thank them for being that force in my life, because I wouldn’t be the person I am today without them.”
Unsurprisingly, Amaya’s greatest challenge has been time management while juggling full-time work and full-time school. “It was definitely an adjustment,” Amaya says, “I started timing myself on completing assignments and projects and eventually got faster at both. My time management has saved me big time!” So, Amaya’s best advice to young women facing similar challenges is all about time management: “Managing your time wisely is key during school and for life in general. It is a very important skill to develop as a student and an employee.”
TWOQC is eager to help young women like Amaya who are focused and determined to achieve, so spread the word: The Women of Quail Creek support future generations! Congratulations, Amaya! We wish you every success!