Just because a challenge is extraordinarily difficult doesn’t mean it can’t be changed…Kayla Morgan’s Life@GWN

Kayla Morgan is up for the challenge. In her life as a writer, poet & finance professional, she has stepped up to the plate time and time again to make home runs out of every curveball life throws her way. 

Since starting at Girls Write Now during the pandemic, Kayla has been named a New York Youth Poet Laureate Finalist, a Scholastic Arts & Writing Award winner, NYC Youth Poetry Slam Finalist, Ned Vizzini Writing Finalist, and a Southern Poverty Law Center Community Poem Winner. All the while, she’s pursued a career in finance, and after landing her first position with Girls Write Now partner, RBC Capital Markets, Kayla looks forward to joining Goldman Sachs in investment banking in summer 2025.  

Kayla is a testament to all that you can achieve when you let your curiosity lead the way and back it with a fierce dedication to actualizing your creativity. As she embarks on a new life chapter as at Goldman Sachs, life promises her new challenges, experiences, and opportunities for growth. Congratulations, Kayla! 

Tell us about your life@GWN.  

I joined GWN as a junior in high school, where I was paired with a writing mentor. When I started, I knew I enjoyed writing as a hobby, but at GWN, I was able to truly thrive. I created an original portfolio of poems that detailed my experiences with my family and community. With the guidance of my mentor, Stephanie, I submitted these poems to various competitions. As a result, I became a New York Youth Poet Laureate Finalist, a Scholastic Arts & Writing Award winner, NYC Youth Poetry Slam Finalist, Ned Vizzini Writing Finalist, and a Southern Poverty Law Center Community Poem Winner. Sharing my words on stage was equally important to me. With the support of GWN, I had the opportunity to work on creative writing projects alongside Viola Davis, Shonda Rhimes, Cicely Tyson, Barbie, and others.

What about doing that/those things gets you up in the morning?

GWN taught me the importance of my words, identity, and the space I occupy. It gave me the confidence to engage in male-dominated fields, take on leadership positions on campus, and believe in my potential for success.

What is it about the Girls Write Now work environment that you find so special?

The encouragement and care that the GWN team provides to their mentees is unparalleled. From the supportive mentee community and the opportunity to connect with other young writers, to being paired with a skilled writing mentor, and the unwavering dedication of the GWN team to uplift the entire community—GWN has consistently been a pillar in my life. Even now, as a junior in college, I continue to feel supported by my GWN family.

What’s your superpower? How does that inform the work you do at Girls Write Now?

My superpower is staying collected. I believe there is power in finding confidence and inner strength, especially now that I feel more like an adult. I hope to maintain my connection with GWN and discover more ways to support other young women in the program.

A Prompt from Kaya Fraser from Girls Write Now on the Art of the Craft: Is growing older what you imagined it’d be? Reflect on your younger you’s hopes for the future. What is the answer to your childhood’s biggest question? 

I believe that being an adult is more nuanced than I expected. Yes, I have more independence—my parents can’t tell me to go to bed anymore—but with that independence comes a lot of discipline and responsibility. It’s important to recognize that you’re a human being, not a robot. You will make mistakes, go through challenges, and have off days. As a result, it’s important to practice empathy and self-forgiveness while actively learning and growing from these experiences. When you’re under 18, your life is basically mapped out for you. Then you graduate high school and suddenly have to figure out all of these years on your own. It feels scary, but also comes with so much liberation. It opened up transformative opportunities and experiences that I never thought I could have as a kid and even a teenager.

Is there one thing that instantly makes your day better?

Dedicating time between classes to go to the gym instantly makes my day better. It’s important to me to take care of my physical well-being, and working out while listening to music always provides me with a much-need moment of calm during the day.

What’s the best place you’ve traveled to?

The best place I’ve traveled to was Guatemala. I stayed in a cabin in the mountains that overlooked Lake Atitlán and a volcano. We stayed in San Marcos and took trips to other nearby islands, like Panajachel, by tuk-tuks and boats, where we got to immerse ourselves in the local Mayan culture. One of my favorite memories was ziplining through the mountains, where I saw butterflies and birds.

In a few lines, what’s the best book you’ve read recently? Why?

I am reading Naruto manga, volumes 20–27. I grew up reading Naruto, and these volumes cover the Sasuke Retrieval Arc, which has always been my favorite. This arc explores themes of self-confidence in the face of terrible odds, the importance of trust, and discovering parts of your identity you didn’t know existed.

What’s the best career decision you’ve ever made? 

The best career decision I ever made was betting on myself. As a Black woman, I believe it’s extremely important to have audacity and maybe even be a bit delusional at times. Many people will try to judge you based on statistics or the challenges you’ve faced in life, but it’s important to believe in yourself and all the odds you can overcome. You cannot allow others to define who you are or set caps on your achievements. At the end of the day, the person you wake up and go to bed with is yourself. You have to trust in your abilities, understand your flaws, and constantly seek new areas for growth and exploration.

What motivates you at work?

Being challenged is essential to me. The moment something feels too easy or predictable, I always ask myself if there’s something new to understand or master. You should always strive to be a lifelong learner. This doesn’t just mean getting A’s in all your classes or leaving one place to find a better opportunity—although those can be part of the journey. Because of the standardized academic cycle—starting in preschool, going through high school, and then undergrad—people often conceptualize success solely within the classroom. However, I believe real learning happens when you apply lessons from the classroom to the real world and learn authentically from life experiences. You should never get too comfortable in one box. Always ask yourself if there’s a way to improve and grow, if there are opinions or perspectives you haven’t considered, or if there are opportunities or ideas you’d like to explore. Be curious and try everything. When I started high school, I thought I was going to be a journalist. Then I considered becoming a public relations specialist, followed by a psychologist. When I got to college, I thought I would become a lawyer, and now I plan on working in finance. If I hadn’t asked questions, joined clubs, and pursued internships, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

What was the best advice you ever received? Have you been able to pass it on?  

The best advice I’ve ever received is that long-term success requires short-term sacrifices. During college, I’ve had periods where I dedicated all my time to achieving important milestones, such as securing internships at Goldman Sachs and RBC, winning scholarships like Funds for Education Abroad and PIMCO Scholars, and working on consulting projects for Mastercard. Because I put in an immense amount of effort, it made me appreciate the happy moments even more, where I get to look back and feel grateful for the time and energy I invested. For example, I hope to reflect on this more next semester while studying abroad at DIS Copenhagen. While it’s essential to live in the present moment, it’s equally important to think about the future and how the actions you take now can make your life easier in the weeks, months, years, and decades ahead. This has helped me to practice gratitude, set clear intentions, and establish meaningful goals.

Aside from necessities, what one thing could you not go a day without?

Waking up with a passion is essential to me. Every day, I have something to look forward to—something that motivates me to try harder, think more effectively, and work more strategically. I was incredibly excited to study abroad in Copenhagen. This has been a dream I’ve had since I was 12, so I worked hard to win the Funds for Education Abroad and Upper Midwest Rebuild Scholarship. I’m also driven by my dream to find the intersection of capital and equity, which led me to become a Pimco Scholar and also gain experience at finance firms like Goldman Sachs that believe in philanthropy and economic progress. Even in smaller aspects of life, I set goals that keep me excited. For instance, I want to squat 200 at the gym, so I’m drinking my less-than-appealing protein shakes every morning. Next week, I’m going home, and I’ve made plans to watch Wicked with friends and try a new Colombian restaurant. Having things to look forward to, both big and small, keeps life exciting and fulfilling.

What’s something you’re proud of?

I am very proud of maintaining resilience in the face of adversity. I’ve come to realize that, unfortunately, there are many aspects of life beyond our control—unforeseen challenges and obstacles that feel unfair. What has truly given me power in life is how I’ve chosen to respond to these challenges, and refusing to let them define my future. I’ve constantly heard the advice to focus only on what you can control and set aside what you cannot. While I agree with this to some extent, I also believe that many of the achievements we celebrate today were once considered radical or too crazy to be done—things that someone 10, 20, or 50 years ago might have dismissed as unrealistic and impossible. If I had been "realistic" about my academic and career goals, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Just because a challenge is extraordinarily difficult doesn’t mean it can’t be changed. It means you need to be creative and disciplined in finding a way to overcome.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

Unfortunately for my doctor, I am both. I stay up all night and I like to wake up early.

Coffee or tea?

It depends on my mood. In the morning, I enjoy tea with breakfast, but in the evening, I love coffee drinks like chai lattes and caramel macchiatos to give me an energy boost.