Rising Star Amy Zhou: A Student on the Path to Excellence

At the School for Advanced Studies, Wolfson Campus, academic excellence is the norm, but Amy manages to shine even brighter among her peers.

By Sheenu Gupta On Nov 15, 2024 Share with new partner:

If Amy Zhou’s only talent was her skill as a violinist, it would still be remarkable and impressive on its own.

“Being able to play music, like make music from my own hands, is just really beautiful, so I really love having that creative outlet,” Amy said.

Even if Amy Zhou’s talents were limited to her exceptional abilities in English and Language Arts, where she’s skilled enough to teach SAT prep classes, it would still be an impressive feat on its own.

“I hope that I can study literature because I think to me, art is incredibly powerful,” the senior at the School for Advanced Studies, Wolfson Campus, told us.

If Amy were recognized solely for her remarkable abilities in mathematics, that alone would be an impressive achievement.

“I think math to me is another form of art, really,” Amy said.

You’ve probably figured it out by now. This straight A’s student is at the top in everything she does.

“I think she’s a unicorn, I really have yet to figure out what she’s bad at,” said Martha Cabrera, who teaches AP English. “So that’s the thing, she checks off every box.”

Amy says she’s just trying to be the best version of herself.

“I think the effort is because I’m a bit of a perfectionist at heart so I really want to make everything that I do the best that I can possibly be,” Amy explained.

The School for Advanced Studies, though part of the Miami-Dade County public high school system, provides a college-level experience for its students, who are exclusively juniors and seniors. Upon graduation, these students earn both an Associate of Arts (AA) degree and a high school diploma. While academic achievement is the standard here, Amy still manages to distinguish herself among her high-achieving peers.

“She really, like, tries to get everyone involved in a group, she’s really social, extroverted, she’s really like a role model for me,” said classmate Dylan Rubio.

“She does certainly set the bar high for all of us,” said classmate Kayra Balci, agreeing with Dylan.

“I think she’s like, honestly, someone anyone can look to for guidance,” said Amy’s best friend, Sofia Garcia.

Amy was selected as one of just 12 Bezos Scholars nationwide—a prestigious honor. Inspired by this experience, she launched a project aimed at enhancing literacy skills for elementary school children, rallying her friends to join her in making a positive impact on young learners.

“Most of them are either from immigrant families like mine or low-income families where the parents aren’t able to help,” Amy said.

Amy has a deep understanding of the immigrant experience, and it serves as a powerful source of motivation for her.

“I do think there is a subconscious urge to excel and to prove that I do have a place in this country,” she said.

Amy has already proven herself in countless ways, and no matter which college she chooses, she is certain to thrive and achieve remarkable success there as well.