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Jinzi Zhang

Biography

Highlights of Young Scholar Experience: Florida resident Jinzi Zhang took part in many educational and social opportunities because of her Young Scholar status including a month at Harvard University as a research student in psychology, a martial arts program in California as well as various mathematics camps. But the experience that may well shape Jinzi’s life and career and one she’ll remember forever happened during the annual Scholar summer reunion in 2010.  At the reunion the famed author, businessman and Army veteran, Wes Moore, addressed the group and spoke of the people in his life who wouldn’t give up on him, who wouldn’t let him fail.  Jinzi vowed that day to be that person in other people’s lives.  “I want to be that special person for other people.” 

Profile:  Jinzi is a very spiritual person.  The young lady who was born in China and came to the U.S. when she was eight years old is active with the Phillips Academy’s Andover Christian Fellowship and she hopes to be a theology major in college.  Mindful of how her civic responsibilities can interact with religion, Jinzi said she hopes someday to live her beliefs and make a difference in the lives of others.  In her last semester at Phillips, Jinzi is enrolled in a course titled “Religious Responses to Poverty” where she studied about the Catholic Worker movement, Zen Buddhists and the non-violent work of Mahatma Ghandi.  At Phillips Jinzi served as President of the school’s Energy Resources Awareness Council, was Vice President of the Andover Philanthropist Society and was a four-year member of the school’s band, orchestra and chamber music ensemble. 

Inspiration: There is a teacher at Phillips Academy named Donald Barry.  His bio, simply states: “Don Barry loves a good math problem.”  And his students love him.  Mr. Barry helped Jinzi navigate the first days and months of her enrollment at the prestigious New England prep school.  “He showed me that I needed to change my attitude toward learning ...I learned from Mr. Barry what it means to learn and enjoy true learning.” 

Aspiration: In college Jinzi would like to study religion and learn more about the theories of solving poverty. 

Making a Difference: Jinzi spoke very little English when she arrived in America shortly after the turn of the century.  And throughout her first three years of high school she continued to struggle, especially with her writing.  “Senior year I decided that I wanted to learn how to write a good essay before graduation no matter how much work it took. I talked to my English teacher and my adviser to set up a plan. My teacher helped me to learn to love the process of becoming a better writer.” The hard work paid off for Jinzi who is now getting high marks on her essays.  “But now when I get my essays back, I don't look forward to the grades but the comments from my teacher about how I can improve.” 

Accolades: A Chinese martial arts champion, Jinzi has won various awards in competitions sponsored by the U.S. Kuo Shu Federation. 

Interesting Fact: Jinzi shares a birthday with her sister who is eleven years younger.

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