Interview by Gainesville High School senior and Abernathy Cochran intern Emily Stewart
Meet Jaelyn McPhaul! Jaelyn is a senior at Gainesville High School and will be staring as Ariel in the GHS theater performance of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” starting Tuesday (Dec. 10). In the past, Jaelyn also starred as Cinderella.
To purchase tickets: https://ghs2445.booktix.com/dept/2445/e/mermaid
We want to thank Jaelyn for spending time with us recently and telling us more about her life and love of Hall County.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
A: “I have my dad, Trey McPhaul, and my stepmom, Natasha McPhaul, my mom, Caitlyn, and two siblings, Parker and Hanes McPhaul.”
Q: Tell us about your involvement with GHS Theater.
A: “I’m currently in high school at Gainesville High School, and I am also involved in theater there. It’s super fun and one of the best parts of my life. I also work at my parents’ restaurant, City Park Pizza.”
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
A: “Definitely, I love it at City Park Pizza, of course. I would also say Consuelo; I love it there.”
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
A: “I’ve lived here my entire life, and I’ve worked at City Park Pizza for a few months now.”
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met in our community?
A: “I would say either Kris Nordholdz or Sam Couvillon.”
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would you go and why?
A: “I would travel to Greece. It’s so beautiful there, and I love the vibe.”
Q: What is one of your favorite movies or TV shows?
A: “One of my favorite movies is ‘10 Things I Hate About You,’ and one of my favorite TV shows right now is ‘Abbott Elementary.’”
Q: What advice would you want to give to people or leave with them?
A: “Trust yourself and don’t let anyone make you doubt yourself.”
Q: What current or former local business makes you feel the most nostalgic about our community?
A: “Probably a former one, and it would be Turnstile Deli.”
Q: If you could choose anyone who is alive today and is not a relative, with whom would you love to have lunch? Why, and where locally would you meet for this lunch?
A: “I would meet with Patina Miller. I think she is so amazing and such an inspiring performer, someone I strive to be like, and I would take her to ‘Centro’.”
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community? And secondly, what is something you hope our community will have or do in the future?
A: “One of my favorite things that we do is Christmas on Green Street. I think it’s very special and such a vital part of our community. Something I hope we do in the future is create more events like Christmas on Green Street, surrounding other holidays.”
Q: Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?
A: “Hopefully, I will be in med school and come back to Gainesville to work at the hospital.”
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: “It’s to become a doctor.”
Q: What is something you are proud to have checked off your bucket list?
A: “Getting to play my dream role, which is to be a princess, and I’ve had the chance to do it twice.”
Q: What band do you go to when you can’t decide what to listen to?
A: “Taylor Swift.”
Q: In hard times, we can sometimes see and recognize greatness in those around us—hardworking, positive attitudes, and helping on the front lines. Who is one of our local shining lights today?
A: “I would say Fancy Pettit. I’ve never seen her not be positive, and she’s just so inspiring to so many kids—and even to me, still today.”
Q: What is the most beautiful place you’ve ever been to?
A: “Alys Beach in Santa Rosa, Florida.”
Q: What’s your favorite month, favorite holiday, and the best single day on the calendar?
A: “Favorite month? Probably July. Favorite holiday? Christmas. And the best single day is the 11th.”
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
A: “Our community.”
Q: Who would you want to play you in a movie about your life story?
A: “Definitely Cynthia Erivo.”
Q: What are one or two of your favorite smells?
A: “I love the smell of anything citrus.”
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
A: “Definitely my dad. He has done so much for our family and worked so hard to get to where he is. He makes me want to be just as good as he is.”
