Senior Spotlight: Layla Roland, East Wake High

From playing clarinet in the marching band to many roles in plays and musicals, Layla Roland is one of the stars of the East Wake High performing arts department. 

She's done all of it despite having to overcome a variety of serious health challenges. 

Through her own grit, determination, and self-advocacy - and with support from her teachers and fellow students - she landed a $50,000 scholarship to Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) to continue pursuing her dreams.

“I feel like a proud mom," gushes East Wake theater director Karla Bullock. "She has come so far.”

Tackling health obstacles

In many ways, Layla’s high school journey began in 8th grade, when she not only began researching performing arts colleges with her mother but also was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and Grave’s disease. 

Grave’s disease is an immune system disorder that results in the overproduction of thyroid hormones, also known as hyperthyroidism. 

“I wasn’t there for eighth grade all that much, and then Covid hit when I was still dealing with thyroid problems,” Layla explained. 

Between online schooling throughout the earliest days of the pandemic, continued thyroid struggles, a complex jaw surgery that left her jaw wired shut for three months, and two bouts of Covid, Layla found herself out of school often and constantly working to complete a backlog of assignments. 

Despite it all, she managed to stay active and engaged in both the band and theater programs at East Wake. 

“Twelfth grade year hits, I had [my jaw surgery] . . . and I was on a liquid diet,” she recalls. “I’m part of the marching band, too, so I couldn’t participate in the marching band experience. I just sat in front of them, cheering them on, while drinking blended-up beans, rice, and chicken."

"Nothing's going to stop her'

For Layla, situations like the one described above are not uncommon – she’s gained a reputation in the theater department for contributing all she can and supporting her peers wherever possible, even through the worst of her health struggles. 

While she’s modest about her contributions, Ms. Bullock knows that Layla’s drive to contribute and participate is what sets her apart from her peers.

From a role in a radio play her freshman year, to supporting roles in productions such as Fame Jr., The Little Mermaid, and Aladdin Jr., Layla became a valuable member of her theater classes and the theater department as a whole. 

This dedication to her passion and to her peers earned her a 2024 Drammy Award, East Wake’s combination of a drama award and a Grammy for students in the theater and choral programs, for Best Supporting Actress in a Play.

Layla’s passion for the performing arts has also earned her a $50,000 scholarship to pursue a major in acting with a potential minor in animation at SCAD this fall. 

"She's going to do well because nothing's going to stop her,” Bullock says. “She's going to keep pushing through whatever obstacles are put in her way."

Of Savannah, Layla says she likes the “laid-back feeling” the city emanates. She looks forward to the access she will have to jobs and opportunities through connections made at SCAD. 

That’s not to say she won’t miss the many friends and mentors at East Wake who have helped her blossom personally, thrive academically, and shine on stage. 

Layla’s words of wisdom to any incoming high school freshman: “You’ll be fine as long as you surround yourself with good people.”