The Encinitas Chamber of Commerce recognized Jenny Ryu (12) with the December Rising Star of the Month award.

On campus, Ryu serves as president of the Biomimicry, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship (BIE) Club and TPHS Biology Olympiad, and is a violinist in the Jazz Band. 

“I feel incredibly honored,” Ryu said. “Initially I was actually called on by the campus supervisor during fifth period, during lab assistant, and I had no idea what’s going on. I just heard that I’m going to the principal’s office … When I got there, I was delivered the news, and I was glad to find out. It was really unexpected, but at the same time, I feel like [it was] more meaningful because I’ve never had the award in mind. So with that, as I do the things I do … [I was] recognized for making a change to our school and our community, so I’m grateful for that.”

Ryu’s nomination for the award was a joint nomination by Administrative Assistant Nancy Cieply and AP Biology, Biology: The Living Earth teacher and BIE club advisor Julianna Newell.

“Mrs. Newell was able to provide academic information and details that she was familiar with, and I was able to offer four years of getting to know this student as she spends time with me in the mornings,” Cieply said.

Cieply and Ryu met when Ryu transferred mid-freshman year. Noticing Ryu was lost, Cieply helped Ryu find her physical education class.

“I said, if she needed any help — I know she’s new to the school, it’s a big school, there’s a lot to learn here — I would be here as an available resource,” Cieply said. “And so she came back, and when she had questions, she’d come back, and then she asked if she could do work in the morning at my desk right here, and I said, ‘anytime.’”

The two got to know each other since “most mornings she’ll come in and say hello and spend some time studying,” according to Cieply. 

“Over time, I was able to learn how dedicated she is to her coursework, how motivated she is to do well in things, and by that, she volunteers, she’s in the jazz band, she maintains a very rigorous schedule here at Torrey Pines, she started a club,” Cieply said. “As I’ve learned about all those things over time, the combination is what motivated me to nominate her, because she is so many things, but the most important thing is she’s humble. And, had I not had the opportunity to really get to know her. I don’t think I would have known any of this background.”

The inspiration for Ryu’s Biology Olympiad came from wanting to “develop a place where people who love biology can gather, learn from each other and also be able to use those skills in various ways outside the classroom.” Ryu decided to establish the club even after being told it was “useless” and a “waste of time” since preparing for the United States Advanced Biology Olympiad (USABO) is largely an individual pursuit.

“I thought that there’s something really valuable in doing something together instead of individually,” Ryu said.

Anecdotally, Ryu shared how she believes “there are values in learning about how other people think and what they think about, instead of just focusing on [her] opinions,” which comes through in her participation during Socratic seminars. 

“I’m often the last one to speak in Socratics, because I’m too busy listening and kind of observing the different thoughts and playing with them in my head,” Ryu said. “But I’m kind of proud of that and that I grew into a person who doesn’t look from one eye, but from a whole point of view.”

This sense of togetherness came through in her speech, which District Superintendent Anne Staffieri asked for a copy of, at the Encinitas Chamber of Commerce’s monthly breakfast on Dec. 3.

“I said that, you know, stars emit light by themselves, but I felt personally that I’m more like a moon, where I reflect light that comes from stars in my solar system,” Ryu said. “And I said that those stars are my teachers, my family, my friends and mentors. And I talked about what kind of interactions had grown me into this person and into a person that can reflect light to the community.”

Newell and Cieply also spoke at the ceremony.

Secretary of TPHS Biology Olympiad and BIE club Jay Nam (10) described Ryu as “really smart and kind” and someone “who really cares about other people” and remembers “detailed parts of each person.”

“As I got to know her more, I realized how busy she was,” Nam said. “She does a lot of things … But then she does everything so well.”

To Nam, Ryu is a “great friend,” “great club president” and “great person.”

“I really admire her, and she’s kind of like my role model,” Nam said. “I think she created a difference in people, I want to say, like me. [She] inspires, motivates people to get better at what they’re doing.”

Club members and Cieply expressed the bittersweet sentiment of looking forward to Ryu’s “next chapter,” but also missing her after graduation.

“She has her quiet confidence, her humble approach to all things, and she’s very driven in the most positive way, but does not draw any attention to the successes that she’s had,” Cieply said. “I hope that I can be a supporter for any student here, and I really enjoyed being a part of her journey. I do try to meet a lot of students and spend time getting to know them, but with 2600 plus students here, it’s difficult. And I’ll miss her next year.”

Before graduating, Ryu wants to make sure the legacy of her clubs will continue.

“Even after I graduate, I want this community to thrive, because I know that there are really valuable people here,” Ryu said. “So by preparing the club to be able to survive after my departure, I’m trying to establish a place where future generations can come in and still be able to innovate and share inspirations from each other.”

Ryu is not just proud of her academic success.

“It’s not the A’s, it’s not the GPA, it’s not the how many clubs I’ve started and how many extracurriculars I do, but rather, how true I was to each thing,” Ryu said. “I could just do things on the surface level and call it a day. I could do it by completion, but I seek more growth than I would gain by [completing] it. How much I would grow by putting all of my effort into the things that I do.”