Mikayla Davis
Episode 200

Narrator:

Welcome friends to another episode of The Story & Experience Podcast. Join your host, Japhet de Oliveira, with his guest today and discover the moments that shape us, our families and communities.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Hey, welcome friends to another episode of the Story & Experience Podcast. I am delighted with our guest. If you are brand new to the podcast, we have 100 questions. They progressively become more vulnerable, closer to 100, and they're about stories and experiences that shape this person into the leader that they are today. I'm going to ask the first 10, and then, and they're smiling, which is a good sign this is going to go well, and then after the first 10, they're going to pick numbers between 11 and 100, and we'll take the journey and see where we go. So let me begin, the first one, could you tell us your name and does anybody ever mispronounce it?

Mikayla Davis:

Okay. My name is Mikayla Davis. I do get it mispronounced, but nothing too butchered. I would say my nickname is really what people tend to butcher, if they're just reading it.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Oh, really.

Mikayla Davis:

Yeah. Yeah, I go by Miki outside of work. So I would say if you know me not from work, you call me Miki. And if you read that maybe on my Instagram or social media, you might pronounce it Miki, because it's spelled M-I-K-I.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Oh, that's good. Do you ever correct anybody about your nickname?

Mikayla Davis:

Yeah, of course. I'll make the joke. It's Miki, like the mouse.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Okay. All right. Hey, that's good. Mikayla, do you prefer Mikayla or Miki?

Mikayla Davis:

I will stick to Mikayla for this, just because I am in my work role.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah. That's great. Well, Mikayla, we are glad for you in your work role. So tell us what is your work role?

Mikayla Davis:

So I am the executive assistant to the president here at St. Helena Hospital, the president being Dr. Herber. So I'm very lucky that that's who I assist.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah, he's fantastic. That's great.

Mikayla Davis:

Yeah, he's-

Japhet De Oliveira:

How long have you been doing this?

Mikayla Davis:

So I've been in this role a little, maybe close to two and a half years now. Yeah, going on three and I'm loving every second of it. Dr. Herber exposes me to a lot more than I think the average executive assistant gets to see, so it's been really cool.

Japhet De Oliveira:

That's really good. That's really good. I'm glad you get to support him and the entire vision of what we're doing.

Mikayla Davis:

Yes.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah, that's great. Now Mikayla, where were you born?

Mikayla Davis:

I was born here, at this hospital.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Really?

Mikayla Davis:

St. Helena Hospital, I was born here. Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Wow, you're local.

Mikayla Davis:

Born and raised in Napa.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Oh, that's fantastic. Now, when you were a kid growing up, what did you imagine you would grow up to be?

Mikayla Davis:

That's a great question. I guess I always pictured myself here.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Really?

Mikayla Davis:

Yeah, I think so, because I never really saw myself anywhere else. I saw myself going off to and living somewhere else during that time, which I did do. I lived in San Diego during that time, but I knew I was coming back.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Okay.

Mikayla Davis:

Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira:

That's fantastic. Now, Mikayla, are you an early riser, late night owl?

Mikayla Davis:

Depends on the day of the week, I guess.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Fair enough.

Mikayla Davis:

Yeah, I'm in bed pretty early on the weekdays, but if I have plans on the weekend that involve friends, I will stay up as long as I need to, to make sure I'm getting that work-life balance.

Japhet De Oliveira:

That's good. All right, and now this morning when you woke up, what was the first thought that went through your mind?

Mikayla Davis:

Probably that it's raining.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Oh yes, okay. All right.

Mikayla Davis:

Because that's been a change in the weather, so I had to-

Japhet De Oliveira:

Do you like rain?

Mikayla Davis:

I do. I love that the weather has changed and that we're now entering this fall season. I'm really excited about it.

Japhet De Oliveira:

It's beautiful. And what's your first drink of the day? Do you have a liquid green smoothie, water, coffee, tea? What's your first?

Mikayla Davis:

Usually water. I keep a bottle next to my bed, so I try and drink as much of that in the morning. And then just before leaving for work, I make my iced Americano and so that's my second drink of the day.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Hey, that's good. Water is fantastic. The more we drink of it, it's better for all of us. All right. Hey, that's good. Now, personality-wise would people describe you as an introvert or an extrovert and would you agree?

Mikayla Davis:

I think people would describe me as an extrovert, but I would describe me as an introvert.

Japhet De Oliveira:

All right, that's fair. So you can push yourself forward?

Mikayla Davis:

Yeah, I can wear whatever mask I need to fit in and make sure that I'm feeling comfortable. So I like to really try and be as extroverted as I can, at work especially because I want to get to know the people that I'm going to be surrounded by every day.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Hey, that's great. That's great. That's really good. All right, here's a last question in this block and it's a leadership question. Are you a backseat driver?

Mikayla Davis:

I guess depends on the driver.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Fair enough.

Mikayla Davis:

With my partner, who I think I drive with the most, I don't think I'm a backseat driver because he's so good at driving.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Okay. All right. Well that's good. That's good. All right, so where would you like to go next? What number would you like to pick?

Mikayla Davis:

Let's do 15.

Japhet De Oliveira:

What's one thing that you always misplace?

Mikayla Davis:

Probably my phone. Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira:

And how do you find it? Do you have the watch that does that?

Mikayla Davis:

No, I don't have any of those fun gadgets, so I just have to retrace my steps, old school.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Okay. All right. What's the most interesting loss that you've ever had with your phone?

Mikayla Davis:

The one that happens most frequently is the bathroom.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Okay. All right.

Mikayla Davis:

I usually leave it on a counter, or if it's a public restroom, in a stall, like on the toilet paper dispenser, which is pretty bad.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Okay. That's good. That's good. A lot of information. Thank you for sharing.

Mikayla Davis:

Yeah, sorry.

Japhet De Oliveira:

No, that's good. All right, that was 15. Let's go next.

Mikayla Davis:

Okay, let's try 21.

Japhet De Oliveira:

21. All right. Oh, share the best compliment you've ever received.

Mikayla Davis:

Guess my smile. I think I've received compliments about, you started the episode with I was smiling ...

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yes, you were.

Mikayla Davis:

And I think that's often the first thing people notice about me is I'm usually grinning just because I'm curious about what's-

Japhet De Oliveira:

[inaudible 00:06:21].

Mikayla Davis:

Going to come. Okay.

Japhet De Oliveira:

All right. Hey, that's good. That's good. That's the nice thing. All right, so that was 21, where next?

Mikayla Davis:

25.

Japhet De Oliveira:

25. Share about the most beautiful thing you've seen.

Mikayla Davis:

Probably my older sister having her first child. I didn't witness the event, of course, but being around when the baby was brought home and meeting my first niece, that was incredibly special and I'm really close to my sister, so it was a really special, beautiful moment.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Hey, that's really beautiful. How many sisters do you have?

Mikayla Davis:

I have two sisters.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Two sisters. That's good. Are you the youngest, the oldest or [inaudible 00:07:04]-

Mikayla Davis:

Middle.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Middle.

Mikayla Davis:

Yep.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah. Hey, that's great. That's great. All right, where next?

Mikayla Davis:

Let's do 40.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Tell us about a time, Mikayla, where you failed.

Mikayla Davis:

One area, I guess I don't really think of it as a failure, but one thing that happened when I was younger, when I was applying to colleges, I didn't have a lot of knowledge or people around me to help guide me through that process. And I feel like I have some major regrets about that time because I didn't get into the college that I wanted and I think it was because I didn't know how to, I guess you could say play the game. I applied to a very impacted program because it was the first one on the list alphabetically, and I didn't understand what impacted programs were or how I should maybe apply to a different program, so that I had a better chance of getting in. And when I didn't get in, it was devastating.

Japhet De Oliveira:

All right. So what advice would you give to somebody who is thinking about applying, like you learned this lesson?

Mikayla Davis:

Use your resources. So go to an advisor, talk to your friends who are applying, talk to people who are already in college and ask them how they got there. And just anything you can do to make that process simpler because there are so many people who have already done it and have learned from those mistakes and I didn't even think of that.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Hey, that's good. Good advice. I think people appreciate that. All right, where next?

Mikayla Davis:

Let's do 43.

Japhet De Oliveira:

43. All right. Tell us about the best gift you've ever received.

Mikayla Davis:

Oh, I have a really good one.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Okay.

Mikayla Davis:

So for Christmas one year, my little sister made me a CD, which I'm sure were already antiquated at the time, but it was a mixed CD and I think the only one I've ever received in my life. But she put on songs that reminded her of me and she even made the little leaflet that goes inside the CD case and, with each song, provided a memory next to it of why that song reminds her of me and yeah, it was so special. I'll never forget it.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah, that's pretty amazing. Wow. Have you been able to return a gift as special as that to her?

Mikayla Davis:

I've done some handmade items for her. I recently started sewing, so I've made her a some clothes and she's actually getting married next year, so I'm hoping I can make her a dress for her rehearsal dinner.

Japhet De Oliveira:

When somebody says they've begun sewing, you don't think about the fact that you can make dresses and clothes. I'm like, okay, that's a lot. I'm thinking-

Mikayla Davis:

You're making a good point. I probably shouldn't have taken that on, but I'm hoping it'll get me to learn how to sew even quicker.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Okay. All right. That's pretty impressive. All right, good. Where next?

Mikayla Davis:

How about 50.

Japhet De Oliveira:

50. All right. Oh, share about who's influenced you professionally.

Mikayla Davis:

Well, Dr. Herber is a big one, I would say, because before working here I worked in hospitality and fell out of love with it during COVID and did a major pivot. And when I ended up here, I've never worked in healthcare, never worked in a hospital setting, never experienced really anything like this, at least career-wise. So he's been major in showing me all the major facets and where I might fit in or find a passion and it's inspiring really, because he's so knowledgeable.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah. Hey, that's fantastic. Good, good. It'll be a good nod for him to listen to this as well. That'd be great. Yeah. All right, where next?

Mikayla Davis:

55.

Japhet De Oliveira:

55. Share about something that frightens you.

Mikayla Davis:

I guess being outside at night is frightening to me.

Japhet De Oliveira:

I'm glad you qualified it by night. I thought you were just saying being outside.

Mikayla Davis:

Oh no. Yeah. So the reason why I say that is because I recently got a dog and the nights, the sunsets have been coming earlier, and so his walks have been getting darker at night and I've realized, okay, I need to start getting home sooner because the anxiety I get is, and it's just stressful walking at night. You never know what you're going to run into.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Okay. So is this based on reality or just in your imagination?

Mikayla Davis:

Maybe both. I did experience, in college, my house was broken into while I was in it.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Oh no, that's horrible.

Mikayla Davis:

Yeah. So I do think I have, some of it's reality, but it's probably slightly irrational.

Japhet De Oliveira:

It is horrible when somebody breaks into your house.

Mikayla Davis:

Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira:

I know. I totally understand that. Oh my goodness. Well, I'm glad you're safe and everything's good. What dog do you have?

Mikayla Davis:

So he's a Chihuahua mix. Not sure what the mix is. I'll keep you posted when I find out, if I ever do one of those DNA dog tests.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yes, do. And let us know the final relatives. All right, where next.

Mikayla Davis:

How about, I just did 55. Let's do 58.

Japhet De Oliveira:

58, all right. What is something small that you are really passionate about?

Mikayla Davis:

When I hear small, I'm thinking silly or maybe just not, well, I guess I'm really passionate about film and TV. I try and soak up every bit of anything that's popular, that everybody's talking about right now. So if there's a popular TV show, I want to be part of the conversation. I'm watching it right when the episode comes out. So I do have a passion for that. I think it's just fun to be part of the zeitgeist in that way.

Japhet De Oliveira:

So do you write reviews on films well online or commentaries in it or usually watch and you talk about it?

Mikayla Davis:

No mostly, yeah, watching and talking about it. My partner is also super into film and art and just anything culture-related.

Japhet De Oliveira:

What's the best series that you've seen in the last six months?

Mikayla Davis:

Probably Severance.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Oh, okay. Okay.

Mikayla Davis:

They had a new season come out. I don't know if it was the last six months, but it's the one that sticks with me the most, for sure.

Japhet De Oliveira:

But that doesn't happen to you when you come to the office?

Mikayla Davis:

No. I was going to ask, have you watched? Because it seems like you have.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah, all good, it's all good.

Mikayla Davis:

No, I'm lucky I don't work there.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Okay. All right. Hey, that's good. All right. That was 58. So where next?

Mikayla Davis:

How about 62.

Japhet De Oliveira:

62. All right. What does a sense of community mean to you?

Mikayla Davis:

Sense of community means, to me, connection, having common purpose, so having something that the community can come around and feel a common connection over. Yeah, I think Napa has a very strong sense of community because a lot of us come from the same or are within the same worlds as each other, if that makes sense. So we're all overlapping in a way because we either know someone or ourselves some way, part of this beautiful industry that Napa is so known for.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah. Yeah, that's true. That's true. Hey, that's good. All right, where next?

Mikayla Davis:

70.

Japhet De Oliveira:

70, yeah. Tell me about one thing that you are determined, Mikayla is determined to accomplish, and what is that one thing? Other than the wedding dress.

Mikayla Davis:

I am determined to figure out what I want to be when I grow up.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Okay. All right. Oh, wow. Okay.

Mikayla Davis:

Every day I think about where am I going, where do I want to go, what am I going to do? Because I just feel like I still haven't figured it out and I don't think that's a bad thing. I think many people are in a similar boat and maybe stay that way for longer than they hope, but I don't want to stop driving towards pursuing a career that I would only dream about, but I don't know what that is yet.

Japhet De Oliveira:

That's actually great. So I've got to ask qualifying extra question, bonus question here. What are you learning or reading right now that's intriguing to you?

Mikayla Davis:

Well, learning, as I mentioned, working here has really opened my eyes up to a world that I really didn't even know existed. So trying to learn what's out there, truly, what don't I know that exists, so that I can really feel that when I make a decision or when I choose a path, I know what I'm saying no to, if that makes sense.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah.

Mikayla Davis:

Yeah. So just trying to really learn what my options are.

Japhet De Oliveira:

That's really good. Have you heard of The Compound Effect and that we should really be having at least five friends that are influential in our life?

Mikayla Davis:

Oh, I don't know if I've heard of that term, but I think I've heard of similar ideas through the Blue Zones.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yes.

Mikayla Davis:

Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Relationships are really key. So do you have people in your life? Could you describe one person you think, well, that person in my life makes a lot of difference, is helping me grow?

Mikayla Davis:

Yeah, definitely. I just spent time with a friend of mine who I think has a very similar outlook as I do, and maybe felt like she was floundering a little bit, similar to how I sometimes feel. And she has a similar drive to do what she's passionate about and not afraid to fail at those things. Her name is Melana and so I think I am inspired by her every day because she just keeps trying new things and she's not afraid to fail at those things, but-

Japhet De Oliveira:

That's good.

Mikayla Davis:

She doesn't typically fail.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Well that's good. The best attitude. Well, that's fantastic. All right, where next?

Mikayla Davis:

Let's do, what number was that?

Japhet De Oliveira:

That was 70.

Mikayla Davis:

73.

Japhet De Oliveira:

All right. Share something that you've had to unlearn in your life.

Mikayla Davis:

I guess my answer to that would maybe be trying not to disappoint people. So I've had to unlearn doing things or accomplishing things for others isn't necessarily fulfilling because you want them to think or see you a certain way. Unlearning that and instead teaching myself to do things for myself and for my own fulfillment.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yes. Hey, that's good. That's actually very deep. Yeah.

Mikayla Davis:

Thank you.

Japhet De Oliveira:

I understand. I mean, this is a struggle that I think all humans face ...

Mikayla Davis:

Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira:

In some shape or form. Yeah.

Mikayla Davis:

Throughout my life. I thought the value came from that feedback, that positive feedback-

Japhet De Oliveira:

The affirmation from others.

Mikayla Davis:

Yeah, exactly. Not all value is from that affirmation.

Japhet De Oliveira:

That's true. Yeah, that's true. Not all values from affirmation. I concur. All right. Hey, that's good. All right, when next, Mikayla?

Mikayla Davis:

Let's do 80.

Japhet De Oliveira:

80. All right. How would you like to change in the future? Go figure.

Mikayla Davis:

Yeah, I feel like I've answered this. I want to change the everyday mundane. I want every day to be exciting and a search for passion and fulfillment. I really think that that's what drives me every day to get out of bed and go to work or go spend time in the community. It's to better myself and to find what makes me happy and will sustain me.

Japhet De Oliveira:

That's good. I like that. Yeah. Good. All right. Where next?

Mikayla Davis:

82.

Japhet De Oliveira:

82. All right. If you could keep, this is fun. If you could keep only three possessions, what would they be and why?

Mikayla Davis:

So probably my car.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Okay, good.

Mikayla Davis:

I think that's an important one. I need it to go to work. I use it to travel to family and friends, so I definitely think I need that. Something more sentimental would probably be my sewing machine. I got my sewing machine from my boyfriend's mom and she used it to make his baby clothes. Oh, wow. If I can hang onto that forever, I will be so happy.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah, that's nice.

Mikayla Davis:

Yeah. And then the third possession would probably be my pets. Is that fair?

Japhet De Oliveira:

No, that's good. That's good. How many pets do you have?

Mikayla Davis:

So I have the dog and then I have a cat.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Okay. And do they get along?

Mikayla Davis:

We're working on it.

Japhet De Oliveira:

All right.

Mikayla Davis:

They get along better than I thought.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Okay. Well that's good.

Mikayla Davis:

It's going okay.

Japhet De Oliveira:

That's good. All right, where next?

Mikayla Davis:

85.

Japhet De Oliveira:

85. All right. Describe a role model you aspire to be like.

Mikayla Davis:

Maybe my father. He's extremely driven, hardworking, so I admire that about him. But he's also just, he always has a happy face on. He's always the life of the party, so everyone loves to be around. He truly has good intentions. So I think just, yes, if I turn out to be like him, I will be very proud of myself.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Oh, that's good. Does he know that?

Mikayla Davis:

I think so.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah.

Mikayla Davis:

I think so. If not, I'll make sure he gets the link.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah, get the link, exactly. And then he'll get to hear it as well. That's fantastic. All right, good. Where next?

Mikayla Davis:

87.

Japhet De Oliveira:

87. All right. When you are under incredible stress, what helps ground you?

Mikayla Davis:

Usually being outside. Yeah, hopefully by a body of water of some sort. Yeah, I love to be by a lake or at a beach, so if that's accessible in that time of high stress, I'll do okay. But otherwise, just a quiet private space where I can ground myself and have a second to breathe or meditate, all of those things I do regularly.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah, that's good. That's good.

Mikayla Davis:

Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira:

All right, we amazingly only have time for two more.

Mikayla Davis:

Okay.

Japhet De Oliveira:

So where'd you like to go with your last two numbers?

Mikayla Davis:

All right, let's do 90.

Japhet De Oliveira:

90. All right, here we go. Tell us about how you overcame a seemingly insurmountable obstacle.

Mikayla Davis:

I don't know that I faced an insurmountable obstacle. If I can bring it back to that college story and give it a positive spin. So I did end up getting into a really competitive college, and while I was disappointed I didn't get into the one of my dreams, I did get into one that I never thought I would get into. And so when I had that disappointment from the first no, getting that yes from the second college was

Japhet De Oliveira:

So good.

Mikayla Davis:

So good. It felt like, oh, I did it. Oh, I thought I failed. And actually, I succeeded better than I could have imagined, which was a really cool turnaround.

Japhet De Oliveira:

That's good. Are you thinking of going back to school and doing masters?

Mikayla Davis:

I am. Don't tell Dr. Herber.

Japhet De Oliveira:

And he listens to this episode and a master's in what area? Do you know yet?

Mikayla Davis:

So that's why I think, I'm trying not to speak it into existence yet, because again, I'm worried about pigeonholing myself or not exploring all of the avenues before I land on something that I truly am willing to 100% commit myself to. But we've talked about health and human services, so I have to do some digging and see.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Do.

Mikayla Davis:

Yes.

Japhet De Oliveira:

That's good. Fantastic. All right, Mikayla, we are down to the last number. Where would you like to go with your last number?

Mikayla Davis:

Let's do 95.

Japhet De Oliveira:

95. All right. Oh, tell us about how you see your faith and life intersecting.

Mikayla Davis:

Well, I wouldn't consider myself religious, but spiritual, and feel that outside. So having that place that grounds me in nature, that's where I think it actually comes from that spirituality aspect and feeling and recognizing that there's something so much bigger than you out there. And that really helps put things into perspective. So I think that's how they tie in together.

Japhet De Oliveira:

That's really good. Mikayla, it has been a privilege to be able to listen to you, to talk to you and connect, and thank you for taking the time ...

Mikayla Davis:

Thank you so much for having me.

Japhet De Oliveira:

And for the honesty, even with the phone.

Mikayla Davis:

Yeah, well ...

Japhet De Oliveira:

Hey, I'm excited for what's going to happen next, in your next chapter. So you'll have to come and tell us what you decided eventually to do, [inaudible 00:24:28].

Mikayla Davis:

I look forward to it. Yeah, thank you.

Japhet De Oliveira:

And I want to encourage people to do the same thing, sit down with a friend, ask them some questions. We learn, we become better humans for it. We are better for the entire process, right?

Mikayla Davis:

Yeah. Learn from each other. I think that's a great takeaway.

Japhet De Oliveira:

That is true. That is true. So God bless you and we'll connect with soon with everyone else.

Mikayla Davis:

Great. Thank you.

Narrator:

Thank you for joining us for the Story & Experience Podcast. We invite you to read, watch, and submit your story and experience at adventisthealth.org/story. The Story & Experience Podcast was brought to you by Adventist Health through the Office of Culture.