Student Spotlight: Yiyi Huang

The Dreamer and the Doer: Yiyi Huang

by Mahi Anand, 6th grade

“Quiet, confident, determined,” described Mr. Frances Cardone, the gym teacher of Explore Middle School. 

Everyone has good things to say about this young 6th grader with outstanding accomplishments.

Yiyi Huang, born in Singapore, and raised in Jersey City, has had a very strict yet beneficial upbringing. Her parents were extremely supportive and pushed her to be the best version of herself.

“They wouldn’t scold me for trying; they’d scold me if I weren’t trying,” she said. 

This drove her to work at her maximum potential.

Her most vivid memory of her childhood was back in 2021, when her mother used to sit down with her by the piano, during virtual school, every single time her zoom meeting ended.

“I would come back from school, eat a snack, play piano for three hours, eat dinner, and finally do my homework,” Huang said. 

She was extremely dedicated to her passion, and spent hours working on it, daily.

As she grew older, piano was no longer a passion, and she shifted her focus over to swimming. Today, she swims competitively, competing in many competitions, and sometimes, placing.

“I am a big bookworm,” she says, “and I’ve always had a passion for history; I especially loved Greek and Roman history and mythology. I’ve read many ancient speeches, including Demosthenes’ Third Philippic, the Melian Dialogue, the Mytilenean Debate, Brutus’ Speech (before he killed Caesar), and many more.” 

Huang spends 4 hours per week reading, and enjoys it very much.

Huang aspires to shoot for the stars, earning degrees from prestigious universities, and making an impact in the world.

“The most important lesson I’ve learned in my life is about stuff coming back to you (kind of like karma), she said. “If you work hard at something, you’ll gradually achieve things. Sometimes, if I hate something, I just think to myself, what is bitter now will be the happy stuff in the end.”

We all probably have the same question pondering in our minds. What shaped her into being who she is today? Huang said she owes all of her success to the discipline instilled in her by her parents.

“My parents pushed me to be the best version of myself.” Huang said.

Huang’s classmates seem to agree that her parents did a good job.

“She’s amazing. She is very kind. She is trustworthy,” said Nada Mehany, one of her classmates in Explore Middle School.

Published to the Wolfpack Press: November 13, 2024.