From puzzle pieces to people

By Kylie Agno

From an early age, he understood how things worked—not just machines or math problems, but emotions. Jaden Ruiz Mahaffey (12), a former football player, has charted a different path for the future: an education in psychology. “I’ve always been talented at seeing pieces of a puzzle and manipulating it with my hands,” he explained. “Understanding small pieces and shapes and configuring [them] to make a functioning end product. I see myself and try to understand my own emotional and mental state. Seeing that it isn’t something that can simply be changed with a simple thought or mantra.” That same curiosity now fuels a deeper passion for Mahaffey: understanding the mind.

During his time playing football, introspection became a tool. It was a tool not just for understanding himself, but for seeing others more clearly. “I see myself and try to understand my own emotional and mental state, seeing that it isn’t something that can simply be changed with a thought or mantra,” he reflected. “Figuring out other people’s emotions came easier after that.”

For Mahaffey, empathy fused with extroverted energy and a love of science created a combination of staying grounded by being involved in the football team. “I’ve always loved science, and the brain is the most intricate part of the human body. It fuels passion and the ability to push forward, ” he explained. And for his career, he sees a future beyond passion and one of purpose.

“What’s the point of making other discoveries when we as humans don’t even understand ourselves?” he asked. “Our own bodies?”

“I just love the psychological process,” Mahaffey noted. Mental health, many advocates argue, is often underestimated—but it touches everything. “Mental health is just as important as physical health,” he said. “Somehow, people can be cured of cancer and get through chemo just by having a positive mentality. I’ve learned that I get physically sick when I’m in a bad mental state, and the opposite when I’m happy.”

That understanding became even more personal through volunteering, where he found joy not just in helping, but in connection. “I’ve always wanted to help others. It gives me a sense of purpose in my work,” he said. “Seeing people enjoy my service makes me want to work and feel fulfilled.” That fulfillment, he believes, doesn’t come from titles or paychecks, but from the impact actions can make. It’s about connecting, understanding people that makes the effort natural. “I want that encounter of joy, seeing that I changed someone’s perspective or experience,” he said. “When it comes to mental health, I understand others and their needs. I can connect with them and have that attachment that makes me want to work without the backlash of the labor.”

Those who work closely with him have noticed that same compassionate mindset, even if subtly. “Personally, I haven’t seen that side of him directly in action,” said one of Mahaffey’s former football teammates, Matthew Magnane (12), “but now that I think about it, I can definitely see it in the way he carries himself and interacts with the team. He’s thoughtful, patient, and really seems to listen—like he’s not just hearing you, but actually understanding where you’re coming from. It makes sense that he’s studying psychology; it kind of shows in the way he connects with people.” While Magnane knew Mahaffey primarily through football, longtime friend Oliver Hernandez (12) added on from his perspective about how friends see Mahaffey. “I’d say with no cameras around, he’s not a completely different person, I’d say he’s mostly the same because he never feels the need to portray himself differently when being watched. Is he a little more present when being interviewed and what not? Yes, but is he still bold and unapologetic, yes,” he said. “But he’s still a guy who’s generally funny, nice, and pretty outgoing.”

Mahaffey’s discovery from varsity football to the field of psychology is a power of curiosity and purpose. In the mind, there are still so many questions yet so little time to answer them.