Schools
In the Classroom and on the Courts, Pushing Herself to Excel
The opinions editor for Eagle Rock High's student newspaper holds a 4.7-weighted GPA and is a determined tennis player.
Whiz Kid's Name/Age: Elisha Marquez, 17
Whiz Kid's School:
Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Marquez holds a 4.7-weighted GPA in the current academic year, her junior year, and a cumulative weighted GPA of 4.3, placing her in the top five of her class at ERHS. She is in the midst of applying for summer schools at top-tier colleges and an engineering internship at the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab. She foresees a career for herself in international business. On her PSAT, Marquez scored in the 96th percentile.
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This year, Marquez is taking eight classes during regular school hours, besides adding two more on in the afternoons and one more on Saturdays as well as juggling five AP classes—English Language, Calculus AB, Environmental Science, US History, and Psychology. One of her non-AP classes is Journalism, in which she serves as the opinions editor of the school newspaper, the Eagle's Scream, as well as the resident Lakers blogger (“I’m crazy about the Lakers,” she says).
Marquez also is active on the field. She has been on the Junior Varsity Tennis Team since ninth grade. By her own estimate, she spends 30 hours a week during the season and eight hours a week off season on the courts. She also serves as a junior class officer and was the class treasurer in ninth grade.
Find out what's happening in Eagle Rockwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: Marquez’ method for success is working hard, pushing herself to excel. She is proud of her achievements, especially for being named the Valedictorian of her class in Middle School, and receiving the Gold Presidential Award, along with a letter from then-President George W. Bush. What also helps her, she says, is Jesus (she is a non-denominational Christian), and her parents, who “help her with everything” and have given her a “great home environment.”
Bonus Whiz Kid Info: A self-described “voracious reader,” Marquez devoured all the seven books in the Harry Potter fantasy novel series in just two days. She loves to sing, including in the school's concert choir. A Tagalog speaker, she emigrated to the United States with her parents from the Philippines when she was seven years old.
