Jannel Marroquin Quietly Excels in School & Sports

Jannel Marroquin is a distance runner so she has a great deal of patience. It’s helped her develop an ability to focus on her goals. The Huntington High School junior has compiled an almost breathtaking academic record while participating in all three sports seasons as a Blue Devil athlete.

Ms. Marroquin has many fans among the high school’s faculty. Her work ethic is impressive by any measure and her desire to be all that she is capable of being is obvious. She is quietly excelling in both school and sports.

“A coach who has helped guide me through high school would be Ms. [Sarah] Hall,” the teenager said. “The relationship that we’ve built over a short period of time has really impacted me for the better. When times get tough she goes out of her way to listen and share her advice on anything I need to talk about. A teacher who has impacted me has been Mrs. [Deborah] Beck. She has been a compass for my future. I see her passion in biology every time she teaches and it has translated to me. I have found a passion for biology and I believe that it’s the right path for my future.”

In the second marking period, Ms. Marroquin’s academic grade average exceeded 103. “As of right now, I do not have a certain college in mind, but I do have an idea as to what I want to major in; biology,” she said. “My interest in the science field has been amplified this year due to actually taking AP Biology. Going beyond just majoring in biology, I would like to also get a degree in teaching. I would like to become a biology teacher because being able to teach kids about a topic I enjoy, would check a box in my life. Along with becoming a teacher, I would also like to coach cross country and track. Since both sports have been prominent factors in my life, I would like to stay in that environment once I’m older.”

Ms. Marroquin runs on the Blue Devil varsity cross country, winter track and spring track teams. She has been inducted into numerous academic honor societies and participates as a member of the high school’s environmental club.

“To my friends and those around me, I look very relaxed and as a student that excels in my studies,” Ms. Marroquin said. “While that may be true, to some extent, I also see myself as uptight and very strict about my work. Having hobbies is important, but involving myself in activities is essential to my identity. Although things can get overwhelming, I’m the type of person that doesn’t stop until I finish my obligations.”

The teenager’s social circle resolves around close friends and family members. “I value amicable relationships, so having a small circle around me where I can share goals and experiences is very substantial,” Ms. Marroquin said. “I like to stay healthy and active in hopes of challenging myself and finding something that helps me grow as a person. Something that can serve as a way to better myself is a prominent factor in decisions I make.”

Ms. Marroquin is taking classes in Advanced Placement Biology, AP English Language Composition, AP US History, Pre-Calculus Honors, Spanish IV Honors and band. “Some of the courses I enjoy the most are AP Biology and Pre Calc because they serve as a challenge that will make me a better student,” she said. “I love taking classes that will challenge me because once I finish them, I know I am capable of more.”

The teenager spent last summer training for cross country and track and spending time with family and friends. Ms. Marroquin doesn’t particularly care for traveling, preferring instead to stay close to home. “I feel comfortable in a place that I know,” she said.

Ms. Marroquin has strong opinions and she isn’t afraid to share them. “My experience at Huntington has been favorable,” she said. “I love how it has so many options available for its students, including clubs and sports. Every year there seems to be a change and it's always for the better.”

The teenager said she “doesn’t know” where she will be a decade out, “but I hope that I will be doing the things I love,” Ms. Marroquin added. “Hopefully, I will be teaching and coaching, while also finding some time to run half and full marathons.”