Been wondering who Ella Maynard is? She’s the newest writer joining The Auroran, and she brings more depth than your average senior: depth shaped by disappointment, reflection, and the quiet decision to keep going.
An 18-year-old senior headed to the University of Iowa, Ella values family, faith, and hard work. “More than talent or intelligence, your ability to work hard is what really matters,” she said. It’s a mindset she didn’t learn from winning easily, but from learning how to move forward when things didn’t go as planned.
For years, basketball was a dream. Ella hoped to play at the collegiate level and poured herself into the process, training and trying out with determination. When she didn’t make the team, it felt like a door closing. Rather than staying stuck in that disappointment, she made a difficult but honest choice, to pivot. She stepped away from basketball, not because she failed, but because she understood that moving forward sometimes means changing direction.
That same lesson followed her onto the track.
Sophomore year, Ella qualified for state, a milestone that affirmed her hard work. Last year, however, she missed qualification and attended state only as an alternate. At first, she considered it a failure. But after an honest conversation with herself, Ella recognized the truth: she hadn’t earned it. Other girls were faster, and if she didn’t adapt, nothing would change. Instead of quitting, she chose growth.
This year, Ella made a bold shift, transitioning from being a sprinter running 200 and 400-meter races to running long distance, trading speed for endurance. It wasn’t the easier option, but it was the one that challenged her to become better. Getting back up meant redefining success, and now, she’s hopeful and focused, ready to chase new goals in track with discipline and humility.
Off the field, Ella is a self-described reader who gravitates toward books that challenge her perspective. Her favorite, East of Eden by John Steinbeck, stands out for its depth and complexity. “You get so invested, you feel like you know all the characters personally,” she said. She enjoys reading fiction just as much as nonfiction and firmly believes in the words of author Albert Camus who said, “fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth.”
When reflecting on being homeschooled during middle school because of COVID, Ella admits she once felt like she missed out. Over time, though, she saw the unexpected growth it produced. “That time really developed me as a person,” she said, especially in her faith and relationships.
Ella describes herself as someone who learns how to pivot after disappointment and keep moving forward. “Not having success in one area doesn’t mean you give up,” she said. For her, overcoming isn’t about pretending failure doesn’t hurt; it’s about choosing not to let it define you.
Her perfect day is quiet and intentional: a morning run, coffee, hours of reading, time with friends, and watching the sunset from her bedroom window.
If she had to sum herself up as a candy? Sour Skittles. “Not for everybody,” she joked, “but for the people who appreciate me.”
As a new writer for The Auroran, Ella Maynard isn’t just bringing words to the page, she’s bringing a story of perseverance, honesty, and the courage to adapt. And that may be her greatest strength yet. We are happy to have her.
