Justin Wang ’25: Growing in Excellence and Virtue

A gemstone sparkles more brightly the more facets it has and the more smoothly each facet is polished. Justin Wang ’25 has spent his time at Strake Jesuit working a dazzling array of facets, both academic and extracurricular, to a mirror-smooth finish, allowing him to reflect the values of the Jesuit Graduate at Graduation and direct his light for the good of others.

While I have only gotten to know Justin this school year in my AP Language class, I find I cannot move around campus without finding him pursuing excellence on many fronts. His consistently high grades across the board in maximum-rigor coursework testify to his indisputable academic talents, but while his work in class is top-notch, his schoolwork is sandwiched between hefty extracurricular commitments.

His bracing daily schedule begins at 7 AM with orchestra practice, and Justin admits that it takes sustained discipline and commitment to “make the incremental refinements to grow as a musician” while knowing that his classmates are still in bed. But now, second chair viola with his senior year still ahead of him, his commitment has borne much fruit. It was no small feat to make the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Symphony Orchestra in his sophomore year, since Strake Jesuit competes chiefly against highly competitive schools, including Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, and he has also made the Texas Private School Music Educators Association (TPSMEA) All-State Orchestra all three years of high school. But reluctant to brag, Justin instead brims with enthusiasm about the opportunity to perform the concert in Dallas each January, which provides the “rewarding experience to play alongside highly talented musicians from all across the state.” Back at SJ, Justin has cherished his time getting to know and express a wide repertoire of music, from beloved holiday classics like Sleigh Ride to Dvorak’s Slavonic Dances, savoring the unique nuances each piece offers. His conductor, Mr. Guillermo Hernandez-Ching, celebrates how, beyond his musical talents, Justin brings much to the table with his “keen, observant” insights and amusing sense of humor.

Reaching the afternoon and Quiz Bowl practice, Justin perks up anew. “I am more awake at 3 PM than 7 AM,” he jokes before offering a characteristically mature reflection: “Quiz Bowl is a powerful opportunity to develop the Grad at Grad tenets of intellectual competence and openness to growth.”

While he joined as a novice his freshman year, he benefitted much from the mentorship of upperclassmen like Kile Stenoien ’22 with their encouragement to commit to long hours of study: “Just as I am grateful for their care in helping me improve, I aim to enable our current underclassmen to fulfill their potential.” Now the captain of the team and a member of the A-team, Justin practices intentional leadership, recognizing that while each member brings their own talent, only by working together and listening to each other can they meet with success: “As captain, it is my job to support and uplift our team, particularly when they mess up. Everyone is fine when we do well, but it is when we are tested by adversity that we can grow in resilience and learn to lean on each other.” According to William Condron ’26, a rising star on the Quiz Bowl team, “Justin is great: he’s dedicated and approaches everything with the interest of the team in mind.” Dr. Max Maier, the Quiz Bowl head coach, speaks to his success and leadership on the team: “Justin has emerged as a bona fide leader in Quiz Bowl. Thanks to his excellent work ethic and enthusiasm, the team is poised to make a run for important championships in the months ahead.”

If his days were not full enough, he finds the time to moonlight as a reporter, covering the beat of the football team for MAGIS, the school newspaper. All over the SJ community, Justin enriches us with his care and focus, honing and employing his talents for the benefit of others. “The biggest part of the Grad at Grad to me is open to growth. As a freshman, I never thought I would be quiz bowl captain, successful in orchestra, and covering the football team, but being willing to challenge myself along the many routes Strake Jesuit offers has helped me become a more well-rounded person.”