Ambition Carries Rian Cruz to Success
Rian Cruz is a teenager who sets high goals and isn't afraid to work hard to achieve them. The Huntington High School senior is filled with ambition and it's carried him to the doorstep of Hofstra University, where he will begin studies this fall in biology on a full scholarship. He eventually hopes to go to medical school and become a pediatrician.
Mr. Cruz has no difficulty expressing himself. He takes pride in all of his accomplishments, which have been steadily piling up. He speaks of "wanting to better myself and break barriers and stereotypes." None of this has come easy or without sacrifice. The senior has chosen a challenging set of courses for his final year of high school and is taking delight in all they have to offer.
"I grew up without a father, but I did not become a rebellious person," Mr. Cruz said last week. "I instead chose to better myself with academic achievement." Among the courses on his schedule are Advanced Placement Spanish and AP Economics. The teenager takes his studies seriously as demonstrated by the perfect attendance he's had for the past three years.
Mr. Cruz's high school experience has been multi-dimensional. He's was recognized with Pride Awards for his strong performance in African-American Politics and Forensic Science courses at Huntington High School. He participated in an evening economic forum with classmates and teachers that focused on the financial crisis that swept U.S. and world economies. "I involved and motivated the audience so they could understand why the solution my team thought was best to fix our fiscal crisis is to make a new system," he said with excitement. "We were really radical."
A Distinguished Senior
Mr. Cruz was one of 63 "distinguished seniors" honored at a dinner late last week in the Huntington High School gym. He took pride in the recognition because "it shows how determined and hardworking I am," the teenager said. Mr. Cruz is the only African-American member of this year's Spanish Honor Society at Huntington.
"Rian works so darn hard," said AP Spanish teacher Mercy Peña, who is the Spanish Honor Society's faculty advisor. "Spanish is not his native language and he tries very much to get top grades. He has a bubbly personality and is loved by his peers. He's sweet, incredibly funny and has a beautiful, positive disposition. I love having him in my class."
"He is a young man who during his high school career has always been well prepared and eager to learn," said Bernadette Walsh, Huntington's college counselor. "Rian is a bright and intelligent student and it's always a pleasure to be in his company. Teachers describe him as a highly detail-oriented student who exhibits passion and enthusiasm in the classroom."
Mr. Cruz keeps up with a busy schedule in and out of school. He has volunteered at St. Hugh's Church in the Sunday school program and also in the soup kitchen. "He has a sensitive perspective, an empathetic ear and is respected by all," Mrs. Walsh said.
Plans Include Medical School
A career as a doctor seems to be the perfect fit for Mr. Cruz. "He is excited about starting a new chapter in his life," Mrs. Walsh said. "Rian is a young man who is invested in his own growth: academic and personal. He radiates enthusiasm and is a student who will continue to blossom."
"Rian is a role model to students that come from similar backgrounds and proof that if you take the right path, you will reach the highest goals," Mrs. Peña said.
A student in the district since kindergarten, Mr. Cruz particularly enjoyed high school courses in global history, U.S. history, African American politics and chemistry. He cites social studies teachers Lauren Desiderio and Jordan Gould as among his favorites.
The teenager said he will always remember performing in Play Fest as a dancing cockroach and his science department chemistry award. "I think those two highlights show that I have a fun but also have serious aspect to my personality," Mr. Cruz said. He chose to attend Hofstra University because it recently opened a medical school and he wants to be a doctor.
Less than two months before he becomes a Huntington High School graduate, Mr. Cruz has advice for incoming freshmen: "Stay focused on school and do not get distracted. It's important to pay attention and learn as much as you can so you can apply everything you learned to the real world."