In the bustling hallways of Bronx Science, where academic rigor meets extracurricular excellence, graduated senior Jayden Lin ’25 has carved out a reputation as someone who not only participates, but leads. From organizing hundreds of student volunteers to conducting cutting-edge research, Lin’s high school journey exemplifies a delicate balance of diverse interests, leadership responsibilities, and personal growth.
“There’s a lot you can do,” Lin reflects on the Bronx Science experience. “You need to judge what you are capable of. Be mindful and intentional with your time.”
This mindfulness has allowed Lin to excel in multiple domains while maintaining his academic standing at one of the nation’s most competitive specialized high schools. His approach to high school isn’t about checking boxes; it’s about building meaningful experiences that align with his strengths, passions, and values.
A Leader Among Leaders in NHS
As Vice President of Organization of the National Honor Society (NHS) at Bronx Science, Lin helps oversee an organization with more than 500 members. NHS serves as both a distinguished honor society and a service organization, providing volunteers and tutoring services to the school community.
“I help to run the Bronx Science chapter,” Lin explains. “I help manage service events, do logistical work, and help things run smoothly in the background for NHS.”
Lin’s journey to this leadership position was driven by his desire to optimize systems and leverage his organizational talents. He recognized that service work, especially at this scale, benefits from structure and foresight—skills that come naturally to him. “I wanted to become more involved with the school via my logistical skills,” he said. His passion for volunteering, which he developed through Boy Scouts, made NHS a natural fit for his skills and interests.
Building Both Devices and Community in Science Olympiad
Science Olympiad (SciOly) represents another arena where Lin has found his stride and deepened his scientific curiosity. This team-based academic competition features 23 rotating events, with members typically specializing in multiple areas. Lin’s events are wide-ranging and include Environmental Chemistry, Write It Do It, Detector Building, Robot Tour, and Optics, showcasing his intellectual agility across disciplines.
But Lin doesn’t stop at competing. He also heads the Logistics and Marketing departments for the Bronx Science team, responsibilities that include managing the team’s digital presence—most notably the @bxscioly Instagram account—and designing promotional materials for recruitment and community engagement.
“I got involved in SciOly because I wanted to get more involved in a community of people who enjoy solving problems and immerse myself in an environment of inquiry,” Lin shares. “I found my ability to do logistical work well through Science Olympiad and it’s what I’ve been doing for a bit now.”
The collaborative nature of Science Olympiad—balancing engineering precision with teamwork—has given Lin a practical outlet for his passion for systems-thinking. He’s helped organize internal team workshops, mock competitions, and onboarding for new members, ensuring the team runs with efficiency and camaraderie.
The Great Outdoors: Boy Scout Leadership
Perhaps no activity better illustrates Lin’s long-term commitment to leadership and service than his involvement with Boy Scouts. As Junior Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 253, which serves the Flushing, Queens community since 1991, Lin serves as a crucial bridge between youth members and adult supervisors. His responsibilities include advising younger Scouts, organizing camping trips, and ensuring safety procedures are followed during outdoor activities.
“I help manage tasks on both sides of the leadership team,” he says of his role, which builds on years of scouting experience that began in elementary school.
The outdoor aspects of scouting particularly resonate with Lin. “I love the outdoors, camping, and the activities we do outside,” Lin said. “I particularly have fun making gadgets out of wood and rope, lashing them together to create useful structures to use in camp.”
His scouting adventures have included high-adventure activities like rappelling and shooting sports, providing valuable experiences beyond the classroom environment.
Research: Bridging Theory and Application
Lin’s academic interests extend into the realm of research, where his curiosity and methodical mindset converge. At NYU, he works on civil engineering research focused on improving steel beam modularity, a niche area that could lead to more sustainable, easier, and affordable construction methods. This research taps into both his engineering interests and a broader concern for environmental sustainability.
Simultaneously, Lin participates in Bronx Science’s rigorous Math Research program. Under the guidance of Dr. Vladimir Shapovalov, he has developed and submitted independent research projects focused on machine learning applications in urban sciences—an emerging field at the intersection of data science, city planning, and sustainability.
“I highly recommend research since I have also met a very supportive community,” Lin advises. He credits fellow researchers like Jonathan Iskhakov ’25 and Miranda Zhao ’25 as supportive friends who have enhanced his Bronx Science experience.
Finding Balance Through Personal Interests
Despite his packed schedule, Lin makes time for personal interests that provide necessary respite from academic and leadership demands. He enjoys grand strategy games, particularly Civilization 6—a game that coincidentally features in the musical repertoire of the Concert Band in which he participates.
“It’s really fun to play a full game of Civ 6 (which can be an entire day long) after a long week of tests or getting work done,” Lin notes, highlighting the importance of leisure activities in maintaining balance.
The Secret to Managing It All
With such diverse commitments, one might wonder how Lin maintains his equilibrium. His answer is refreshingly straightforward: prioritize sleep.
“Not sleeping is going to make your work less efficient,” he cautions. “Try to sleep by a set time every night even if you have work.”
Lin also emphasizes the importance of organization and realistic self-assessment. “Organize if you need to, but I would say studying less for a test and sleeping more might even be more useful sometimes,” he suggests, challenging the common high-achiever tendency to sacrifice rest for additional study time.
The metaphor he references—”drinking from out a firehose”—aptly describes the overwhelming nature of opportunities at Bronx Science. Lin’s approach is to be selective and purposeful rather than attempting to do everything.
Is This Path For Everyone?
Lin’s diverse portfolio of activities raises an important question for younger students: should they follow a similar path of extensive involvement?
His advice suggests a more nuanced approach than simply accumulating activities. The key seems to be finding genuine interests and approaching them with intention rather than simply padding a resume.
“Try to have fun, and you’ll do great!” Lin encourages, suggesting that enjoyment should be a criterion when selecting extracurricular involvements.
For Bronx Science students feeling the pressure to excel in multiple domains, Lin’s example demonstrates that success comes not from doing everything, but from doing selected activities with purpose and passion. His strategic approach to time management, emphasis on sleep and self-care, and focus on community building across his various pursuits all offer valuable lessons for navigating the demanding yet rewarding Bronx Science experience.
As Lin prepares to transition to college, where he plans to pursue civil engineering while maintaining his computational interests, his high school legacy offers an instructive blueprint for balancing ambition with achievement, leadership with learning, and service with self-care.
“Be mindful and intentional with your time,” he reiterates—advice that transcends his individual experience to benefit any student seeking to make the most of their educational journey.
“Try to have fun and you’ll do great!” said Jayden Lin ’25.