When Ayan Caudle first arrived at Benton Grade School in third grade, he felt like he had stepped into a completely different world. Before moving here, he had attended school in small communities where internet access was limited, and trends traveled slowly. He remembers that when he got to Benton, classmates were talking about things he had never even heard of. “I didn’t know what TikTok was. I didn’t know what YouTube was,” he said with a laugh. “All I had were DVDs.”

That early culture shock could have made the transition difficult, but instead, Ayan adjusted. Over time, he found his footing academically and socially, growing into a student whom teachers now describe as someone worth highlighting.

Ayan has been part of the Benton school community for most of his childhood. He is the oldest of three children. His younger brother, Elza, is in sixth grade, and his little sister, Isla, is currently in pre-kindergarten. At home, he lives with his mom and grandmother. His mother works hard at Continental Tire in Mount Vernon, driving a forklift on the weekends so she can be home more during the week. Ayan doesn’t overcomplicate how he describes her. She’s simply “my mom.” That quiet loyalty says more than a long explanation ever could.

Academically, Ayan has earned respect for his steady performance in the classroom. He especially enjoys social studies, naming Mr. Crisp’s class as a current favorite. He appreciates learning about how the world works and how people and systems connect. Math, on the other hand, has been more challenging with Core math. Still, he approaches it the same way he approaches most things—with persistence.

Outside the classroom, Ayan is rarely standing still. He has competed in cross country for the past two years and recently signed up for track again this spring. Running, for him, is both discipline and release. “I just enjoy running,” he explained. He trains to stay active and healthy, but there’s also something mental about it—the rhythm, the focus, the chance to push himself.

In track, he competes in the 100-meter and 200-meter races and has also tried long jump. He appreciates the speed and precision of sprinting, but he found success in long jump as well. This year, he also stepped outside his comfort zone by trying wrestling for the first time. Although he chose to compete only in home meets, he enjoyed the experience and the challenge of learning something new.

When he’s not running or training, Ayan keeps things simple. He plays video games occasionally—favoring older Mario Kart games over newer versions—and spends time exercising. He prefers activity over idleness and structure over chaos.

As he looks toward high school, Ayan is thinking practically. He is considering trade school and is especially interested in careers that would allow him to be useful to his family and community. He mentioned becoming a lineman, mechanic, or engineer—careers that require skill, hands-on training, and dedication. He likes the idea of doing work that matters in a tangible way.

“I’m just trying to be something generic that my family will need,” he said, though there is nothing generic about wanting to build a stable future. He has also considered keeping college as an option, weighing both paths carefully.

Perhaps the most telling part of Ayan’s story is the advice he offers others. He believes one of the most important lessons in life is learning not to let others control your emotions. “Try not to get mad at anybody, even if they’re mean to you,” he said. “Sometimes they just have problems.” That level-headed perspective speaks to maturity beyond his years.

He also emphasized something simple but powerful: “Just try to be a nice person.” In a world that can feel loud and reactive, Ayan chooses steadiness.

From a third grader adjusting to a new culture to an eighth grader preparing for high school, Ayan Caudle has grown into a student defined by quiet determination. Whether he is running a race, tackling a difficult math problem, or planning for his future, he moves forward one step at a time—steady, focused, and ready for whatever comes next.