Kayla Tilicki 2021 Graduate from University of Arizona recognized on the Faces of Tucson

Kayla Joy Tilicki

Hi my name is Kayla Joy Tilicki!
I include my middle name because it personifies who I am – a joyful person.
I was born and raised in Tucson Arizona and am a proud wildcat!

Growing up I was a part of a local nonprofit performing arts studio, Kids Unlimited, for 16 years and have continued to work there after aging out of the program 4 years ago. I grew up seeing my community through performances, at the Reid Park Zoo, The Tucson and Foothills malls, at the Pima County Fair, the Better and Hospital, and countless nursing homes.

Now I am first and foremost a student at the University of Arizona, I just graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science and will be beginning grad school in the fall to get my master of speech language pathology. When I am not teaching performing arts, working on campus, or studying, you can often find me on top of Tumamoc Hill or venturing to another hike, knitting, reading, or spending time in the pool.

Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
Both of my parents moved to Tucson to attend the University of Arizona. They met on the baseball field and now both work in education, my mom as a teacher and my dad as an associate principal. I am the youngest of their 3 kids and the only one to stay in Tucson. My older sister is married with 3 kids and living in Ohio where her husband just began his medical fellowship. My brother is a naval architect and marine engineer outside of Washington DC.

Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
After I finish my master’s degree, I hope to become a Speech-language Pathologist. I am not completely sure what area I want to work in yet, I still have 3 years of school, but I know I want to work with kids to give them the opportunity to have better communication skills however they wish to improve. I love this field because everyone has something important to say, and I want to ensure they have the skills and tools to do so.

Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
I love Villas Mexican! It is a mom and pop Mexican restaurant where they not only remember my family’s orders, but are invested in our lives. I also love Brooklyn pizza and have had it cater for many programs in the residents’ halls at UArizona. Near and dear to me is Fresco, the son of the director of Kids Unlimited owns and is the Chef there and the many nights over long show weeks spent enjoying Fresco Pizza, pastas, and cheesy bread all bring back find memories!

Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
22 years (going on 23 this November) I’ve been here my whole life!

Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
Dr. Bruce Bailey! He was my professor for a one unit seminar my first year at UArizona called math outside the classroom! Dr. Baily not only teaches high level math and engendering courses at UArizona, but he has a math buss that he takes around to make sure kids in Tucson enjoy math too!

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
I would love to go to Greece because I love Mamma-Mia! One of my favorite shows I have ever seen and performed sections of is Mama Mia the music always makes me happy and the country is so beautiful! I would love to go to Greece to enjoy the ocean and the beachy environment and also live my Mamma-Mia dreams! Additionally I would also love to explore the ruins and remains of ancient Greece , growing up one of my favorite Disney movies was Hercules and I would love to see places like the Parthenon.

Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
One of my current favorite movies is Legally Blonde! I absolutely love the sassy “like it’s hard” attitude of Elle woods and aspire to be as headstrong as she is! Right now I am obsessed with Criminal Minds it is the perfect mix of fun facts and interesting storylines that are not currently pandemic related.

Q: What advice would you give to people?
It is what it is, take things as they come! (This is advice I often need myself too)

Q: What is something on your bucket list?
Go to all the national parks!

Q: What is your go to band when you can’t decide what to listen to?
Taylor Swift! I like most music but love Taylor Swift!

Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
Ben’s Bells! Growing up I went to a kind school and would paint kindness coins. We got a bens Bells mural when I was in middle school and my senior class gift to my high school was a bens Bells mural. When I was 13 I was belled for my creation of a scholarship program at kids unlimited. As a college student I would often walk over to the studio and paint bells!

Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
Taylor Swift, because she is the music industry and has created so many songs that are near and dear to me as well as her ability to be genuinely herself, is really important to me. We would meet at Curusos on 4th Ave! This is where my parents went on their first date and is where we go for important family occasions so I would want to take here there! Additionally, it is just small enough to allow for good conversation!

Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
The landscape! One of my friends is an ecologist and was telling me that Arizona is one of the only places that has all the biomes. I love living in a place where I can go on hikes year round, see snow in the mountains, and always see the saguaros and beautiful sunset!

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
I will be just begining my career! I hope to have met someone to spend my life with and be enjoy my work as a speech language pathologist.

Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I have been to all 50 states! We enjoy traveling to see our extended family and the best way to see everyone is by car so we can stop all over. This has taken me to all 50 states!

Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
I don’t know if I can pick just one. Every place is beautiful in different ways and I like to see the beauty in everywhere I go.

Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
My favorite month is December, it’s happy and Christmas lights make me happy. Favorite holiday is Passover my grandmother who I call Bubby and I spend weeks cooking together to prepare for a big Seder with family and friends! May 5th has been a day of my hard work coming to fruition, this past 5/5 I turned in my senior thesis and I also have taken several AP exams and finals on this day. It has become a day of hard work paying off.

Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
Parmesan cheese it is my favorite food!

Q: Who inspires you to be better?
Myself in 10 years. Mathew McConaughey said it best in his Oscar acceptance speech the best person to chase is your future self because you will always have a future self to become and more to work towards!

Q: What is one or two of your favorite smells?
The smell of curling up with a new book, with a clean blanket, and a warm cookie.

Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Baseball, family, and Tucson

For All That You Do,
Thank you Kayla Tilicki from The Faces of Tucson.
We Appreciate You
And… Congratulations!