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Kids On The Move - Ray Wang
08/30/2011 - By Paul Williams
SPELLING IT OUT
When Ray Wang won the regional spelling bee in March and qualified for the Scripps National Spelling Bee semi-finals, it wasn’t the first time that the 14-year-old Holmdel resident achieved first place in a state competition. Success is nothing new to this multi-talented William R. Satz graduate, who has amassed over a dozen first-place finishes from various extracurricular tournaments, spanning everything from athletics, music, math, science, and now spelling. His achievements at the spelling bee were just another example of Wang challenging himself, and excelling. “I’m mostly challenged when I go out of my comfort zone. My parents are an internal impetus. They are the ones who usually set the goals for me, and then I go off and achieve those goals as best I can,” Wang says. And it was his parent’s reaction that stood out the most to him when he won the regional spelling bee. “I remember thinking in my head, ‘I did it,’ and then my dad stood up and looked really excited. My goal was to make to national TV, and I knew then that I had achieved it.”
In the two months leading up to the semifinals, Wang spent 12 hours on the weekends studying etymologies. He made it to the second round of the semi-finals, and said he enjoyed the entire experience of the one-week trip. “Bee Week” included a barbeque, several ceremonies, and a visit from former Jeopardy champion Ken Jennings. “Jennings gave us an inspirational speech about the value of knowledge, and told us that we were all there because of our hard work.”
Wang had those values ingrained in him long before he heard Jennings’ speech though. Ever since he started playing the piano when he was 4 years old, he set out to master every hobby he took an interest in. Recently, Wang received the top score in the tri-state area at an Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music audition, and passed the highest- level test by the internationally renowned organization. “It’s a very comprehensive test that encompasses music theory, as well as a judged performance of your chosen classical instrument,” Wang says. By completing Grade 8, Wang can now become certified to teach piano, but indicated that he is now taking on the challenge of learning how to play a new instrument. “I don’t think I have future plans for piano. For my high school career, I will consider playing trombone.”
Wang will be attending Holmdel High School as a freshman this fall. In middle school he placed a high priority on maintaining an off-the-charts GPA (4.45), and participating in as many auxiliary programs as he could. He was a member of National Junior Honor Society, and was on several science Olympiad teams, for which he also won awards. He is aiming to sustain his academic and extracurricular success throughout high school, and is already off to a roaring start. He read a college level biology book over the summer to prepare himself for the high-school Olympiads. Wang also enjoys public speaking and plans on joining the debate teams and model U.N.
In addition to his academic and musical prowess, Wang has also competed in, and won, several state tournaments sanctioned by the United States Tennis Association. “I’ve played tennis since I was eight years old. It’s always been a joy to have some athleticism. I play a lot with my older sister, Lucy, and my dad.” Despite boasting several tennis championships, Wang modestly said he is looking forward to just trying out for Holmdel’s team.
When you consider how extremely well-rounded Wang has proven himself to be, it’s no surprise that he thinks the word “erudite” describes him the best. “It’s all about hard work. I need to set my goals very high, and I need to motivate myself. Once I have a goal there’s nothing that can stop me from getting there. I also have a great work ethic. I strive to be the best, and always look to overachieve in everything I do.”
Wang has shown that he has a very strong understanding of what it takes to succeed in many facets of life. And he appears to have another goal in the back of his mind that he is working toward, too. “When I retire, I might travel around the world,” he says. That’s not something you hear from a 14-year-old very often; but in Wang’s case, one of a highly intelligent and focused teenager, he may very well be working toward that goal right now.
STATS
FAVORITE RESTAURANT
TGIF
FAVORITE MUSICIANS
Antonio Vivaldi, Bill Watrous
FAVORITE MOVIE
“Transformers”
PET PEEVE
People who are too pompous
THREE PEOPLE YOU’D LIKE TO HAVE DINNER WITH
Barack Obama, Mom, Dad
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