Becton Regional is proud to announce Eric Jiang as January Student of the month.
Being named Student of the Month is a prestigious honor that recognizes a student’s hard work and dedication. With his involvement in numerous extracurricular activities, honors and advanced placement classes, and his admirable personality, it is no surprise that Jiang received this recognition!
Jiang’s list of classes goes on and on, emphasizing his desire to learn. Over his high school career, Jiang has enrolled in eight honors classes and eight Advanced Placement (AP) classes–Biology Honors, AP Lit and Comp, Italian 4 Honors, APUSH 2, AP CSA, APES and AP Statistic –just to name a few!
Beyond academics, Jiang actively participates in numerous school activities and clubs. He is a member of the Cross Country team, Debate Team, Winter Track and Field, National Honor Society, English Honor Society, Rho Kappa History Honors Society, Mu Alpha Theta Math Honors Society, Italian Honors Society, Student Council, Philosophy Club, CANstruction, Chess Club and Environmental Club. Despite his busy schedule, Jiang continues to excel academically while also finding time to work at his family’s restaurant, Hop Sing!
Reflecting on his self-managment, Jiang states, “I always try my best in everything I do to make it worthwhile to myself. I’m always committed to helping out my friends and classmates with explaining concepts and classroom assignments if needed.”
Jiang’s current English 12 AP teacher, Mrs. Kathryn Scalera–who also had him for English 10 honors–describes him as an exceptional worker who consistently demonstrates dedication and focus. “He always goes above and beyond and truly has an inquisitive mind for literature,” Mrs. Scalera commented. Jiang has continuously put in effort to succeed while holding a positive attitude to achieve success. According to Mrs. Scalera, he’s always the first one to raise his hand and encourages his classmates to participate in group discussions.
Mr. Giovanni D’Alia, Jiang’s Anatomy & Physiology teacher, highlights Jiang’s dedication to learning, stating, “His work ethic is excellent. He always completes his work on time, plays sports and supports his family bussiness. He is an excellent student ready for the next level.” He further adds, “He will be successful in whatever he chooses to do due to his analytical, motivated and accountable nature.”
Fellow senior and friend to Jiang, Tenzin Gungpa, also recognizes Jiang’s development. From the first time meeting Jiang to witnessing his progress in social skills, Gungpa notes, “He has grown out of his shell and become much stronger in both his social and academic abilities. He has become a much more versatile student-athlete and hopefully will continue to expand his skill set.”
Gungpa highlights Jiang’s continuous improvement, adding, “He has endless potential and gets better every day! His honesty and dependability also make him a great person because those qualities are not always easy to find in other people.” Gungpa also shares, “He is my best friend, and I hope for the best for him moving forward. I know he will succeed, and if he ever needs help, he can always call me.”
When asked why this accomplishment is important to him, Jiang attests, “I feel that the accomplishment itself took away the fact that I was once an introverted person. From the person who was silent for the first three months of school since I transferred to Becton, I’ve found a family here that I love and will always support. Throughout my short experience here, I’ve met lifetime friends that I look to for advice when I need it. Becton has brought me an entirely new perspective of the world around me; I see the world in a much broader perspective than before.”
Next fall, Jiang plans to attend Johns Hopkins University, where he intends to major in biology and computer Science, potentially exploring other sciences as well. He is inspired by the innovation and technology behind these fields and the opportunity they offer to improve human lives. Jiang enjoys reading articles about the latest ways to solve health problems and space exploration. He aims to earn both a master’s and doctoral degree, ultimately obtaining a PhD. He hopes to discover innovations in the medical field that can help extend human lifespans.
From his teachers to peers, no one is able to doubt that Jiang absolutely deserves the title of January Student of the Month!