Jessica Li, Extraordinary Student
By: Edwin Tan
What does it take to be a student
extraordinaire? Certainly, not just top grades or leadership.
Or extra-curricular achievements, for that matter.
It’s a wonderful combination of these, and more. Take 16 year-old Jessica Li of
Langley High School
in McLean, Virginia.
The culmination
of Jessica’s achievements is her acceptance to the National Society of High
School Scholars (NSHSS), a society that–in the words of chairman and founder Claes Nobel, of the Nobel Prize family –"recognizes
the top scholars in the nation and invites only those students who have
achieved superior academic excellence." She added, "Jessica is now a
member of a unique community of scholars, a community that represents our very
best hope for the future."
Jessica juggles
challenging classes and extra-curricular activities--from National Honor
Society to challenging the Model UN to figure skating. This past academic year,
she enrolled in three difficult Advanced Placement (AP) classes as a junior to
gain a headstart on college-level work. Two is the
average number of APs most juniors take. Those who elect three often favor a course in a department
unrelated to English and History.
When asked about
her rare choice of two history classes, Jessica explained, "I felt that by
taking three AP humanities classes, I could further explore my affinity for
literature as well as both world and U.S.
history." How rigorous are AP classes really? Said
Jessica, "I read 20 to 25 pages of text every night for each history class
along with other work. English homework usually consists of writing and
reading, which varies from 10 to 70 pages per night."
As a member of
the National Honor Society, as well as three other honor societies, she spends at
least 20 hours on community service and tutoring. "Sometimes I wish I had
Hermione’s Time Turner," she said, referring to the Harry Potter heroine
with a laugh. "It’s tough just getting five to six hours of sleep on
school nights."
Like many of her
high school peers, Jessica also joins clubs such as Model UN and foreign
language groups. She also formed a club that advocates smart exercise.
"Smart exercise teaches people of all ages to achieve their physical
fitness goals and obtain the results they want without over- or
under-exercising," Jessica said.
She added: "For example, many people who desire a
six-pack perform 100 sit-ups a day. But research has shown that sit-ups are
actually one of the least effective abdominal exercises and that strength training
is much more beneficial if done every other day. The club, which I named the
Fitness Association, works to debunk such myths so people can make the most of
their time and energies."
Jessica didn't
stop there. In October 2005, she discovered something else lacking in her high
school - an English Honor Society. "I noticed every department within the
school had its own honor society except English," Jessica observed. She
talked with Helen Croce, a good friend and classmate. Along with their dedicated
sponsor, Ms. Aubrey Ludwig, they launched the English Honor Society in May.
Indeed, Jessica
has contributed much to her school. But life for her by no means involves
school only. Outside Langley,
Jessica enjoys acting, singing and figure skating. A late starter in all three
activities, Jessica nonetheless proved herself within a short period of time.
Within eight months, she passed eight standard United States Figure Skating
Association (USFSA) tests–a feat that fewer than five skaters in the entire
nation have been able to do. Jessica ascribes her impressive accomplishments to
her supportive mother and her own passion.
Starting only in January, Jessica
has learned songs of Celine Dion and her favorite,
Dutch singer Dominique van Hulst. Mary Ann Redmond,
her former voice instructor, said Jessica "sounds as good as the record
now, we just want to make her sound better." In acting, Jessica displays
talent as well. She made the final cut for several independent feature films
and face model searches. She is scheduled to appear on local Philadelphia
cable this month on Dream Today, Star Tomorrow, patterned after Jay Leno’s The
Tonight Show, to promote upcoming talents.
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