Schools
Whiz Kid of the Week: Community Leader Jalen Haynes
Every Wednesday Patch profiles a really cool kid. Send your nominations to alanskontra@hotmail.com
Whiz Kids is a weekly feature in which Patch profiles an outstanding youngster or youth group. This week's Whiz Kid is Jalen Haynes, who is awesome because he's already a role model for younger kids in the community.
Whiz Kid: Jalen Haynes
Age: 17
Find out what's happening in Hobokenfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
School: Hoboken High School, 12h Grade
“I was surprised when they told me,” Hoboken High School senior Jalen Haynes said about earning the Leadership Award at the 2011 in February.
Find out what's happening in Hobokenfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The luncheon organizers honored Jalen for serving as a role model and mentor to younger children in Hoboken.
“I just try to help people,” Jalen said.
Jalen shows those younger kids a good example of a teen who can excel at a wide array of extracurricular activities. Born and raised in Hoboken, he's been playing recreational football in the city since childhood, and he has since matured into a star offensive and defensive lineman on the high school varsity team. He also plays center on the school basketball squad.
Jalen also actively participates in his school's very successful theater program, including acting onstage and building sets backstage. He's performed previously in Aida and Honk!, and will appear in the upcoming production of Hairspray this March.
“When I get up on stage, I'm nervous,” he said. “But I get to express what I feel through acting.”
In addition to athletics and theater, Jalen is also an excellent student. He currently has a 3.2 grade point average and is especially interested in math.
He's excited about attending college, and has applied to Monmouth, Drexel, Fordham, Towson and a few other schools. He wants to study sports medicine and physical therapy.
When he wants to relax, Jalen lift weights, hangs out with friends, writes and occasionally squeezes in some video games.
“Sometimes I think it's too much,” he said about his busy schedule. “But I love being active.”
Do you know a Whiz Kid, or even a whole group of them? Send any and all nominations to alanskontra@hotmail.com, and check back every Wednesday afternoon to read about some outstanding youngsters in your community.
