Santa Ynez High senior excels in the three A’s: athletics, academics, and arts
The Santa Ynez Valley Elks Lodge, in tandem with Santa Ynez High School, has named SYHS senior Natalie Bailey as the January Student of the Month.
Natalie was born in Santa Barbara and has lived in the Santa Ynez Valley for the past 11 years. She brings energy, discipline, and heart to everything she does.
Athletics have been a central part of Natalie’s life — she has played soccer for as long as she can remember and is also deeply involved in both indoor and beach volleyball. This year, she served as team captain and was named Most Valuable Player, honors that speak not only to her athletic ability, but also to her leadership and character. Outside of sports, Natalie enjoys baking, hiking, spending time outdoors, and running — activities that reflect her active and balanced approach to life.
What Natalie enjoys most about being a student at Santa Ynez High School is the strong sense of community within athletics. She has grown significantly in her athletic abilities and takes pride in mentoring younger students, especially freshmen, often stepping into a coaching role to encourage and support them. Having been homeschooled prior to high school, Natalie values the opportunity SYVHS has given her to challenge herself academically through AP and honors classes, where she feels she has gained her strongest academic foundation.
Natalie credits her family as her greatest source of influence and support. Her mom played a key role in her education through homeschooling and has been a constant source of encouragement and guidance. Her dad has been equally supportive of her goals, and her grandparents on both sides of her family provide a strong and loving support system. Surrounded by people who believe in her, Natalie has learned the importance of perseverance, humility, and gratitude.
Academically, Natalie’s favorite subject is math — she describes her brain as being wired to think logically and analytically. At the same time, she enjoys engaging her creative side through art and English, appreciating the balance those subjects provide. One academic accomplishment she is especially proud of is her AP Art portfolio, which focused on creating functional kitchen pottery. This project reflects both her creativity and her attention to detail — qualities that define her work in and out of the classroom. Natalie has taken three Hancock College classes, five honors classes, and five AP classes, and earned a 4.3 weighted GPA.
Natalie motivates herself academically through strong self-expectations and a clear sense of direction. Growing up in a homeschool environment helped her develop independence and a deep understanding of where she wants to go in life. She plans to pursue a career in nursing and is preparing to attend Colorado Christian University to continue her education.
Natalie is also actively involved beyond academics and athletics. She participates in Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Honor Society, and California Scholarship Federation, and she holds leadership roles within her church youth group. In that role, she helps plan activities, leads worship, and teaches Sunday school classes — experiences that have helped her develop patience, confidence, and leadership skills outside of the classroom.
The values Natalie strives to live by are rooted in her Christian faith: respect, kindness, positivity, and treating others well no matter who they are. She contributes to the school community by leading through example — whether on the field, in the classroom, or through her interactions with others.
One of Natalie’s biggest challenges has been managing the pressure she puts on herself to excel in every area — to be a top student, a top athlete, and a leader. Through experiences like preparing for AP exams, balancing work as a barista at Good Seed, and managing her commitments, she has learned the importance of balance, grace, and trusting the process.
When asked what advice she would give to younger students, Natalie shared this thoughtful message:
“Take life lightly. Be present each day. Don’t dwell on the past or worry too much about the future.”
