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For many college freshmen, moving away from home comes with a mix of freedom and uncertainty. For 18-year-old Zaya Wade, that experience has included learning how to navigate life without the daily presence of her parents, Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade. Speaking recently at the second annual Translatable Ball, the young activist and college student reflected on what her first year away from home has been like.

Zaya, a freshman in college, admitted that the transition has not been easy. While she described being away from her family as “really hard,” she also said the experience has pushed her outside of her comfort zone. According to Zaya, college has helped her become more confident when meeting new people and encouraged her to build connections independently. “I think that’s what college is about, just connection,” she said to People while discussing how she has grown socially during her time on campus.

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The event at which Zaya shared those comments was connected to Translatable, the nonprofit organization she launched with her father. The initiative focuses on creating supportive spaces for LGBTQIA+ youth and has become a major part of her advocacy work.

Beyond her studies, Zaya has continued to build a public profile as a model, speaker, and advocate. She has also worked with major brands, including Tiffany & Co. and Dove, while using her platform to speak about transgender visibility and acceptance.

As she settles into college life, Zaya said her father offered some practical advice before she left home. “My dad told me not to mess it up, that he is paying tuition, and it is expensive,” she joked.

She added that her current focus is balancing academics with personal growth, saying she wants to better understand herself as she moves into adulthood. “I’m just trying to focus on doing my classes, but also having fun and understanding more about myself,” she explained.

Zaya has spent much of the last several years in the public eye. She first came out publicly as a transgender girl in 2020 at age 12 and has since become one of the most visible young advocates for LGBTQ+ youth. In 2023, a Los Angeles judge approved her legal name and gender change, officially recognizing her as Zaya Malachi Airamis Wade.

Throughout that process, both Wade and Union publicly supported her, often speaking about the importance of affirming and protecting transgender children.