Emily Jong is a jack of all trades. You may have seen her doing laps around the school, flashing you a smile with the cross country team, or passionately playing violin with Enloe’s symphonic orchestra. From the arts, to sports, to being an academic weapon, in everything that Emily does her unrelenting kindness, passion, and positivity shine through.
Art
Emily is a self-taught artist, she’s been making art for as long as she can remember. She says her motivation to start drawing as a kid was that she “wanted to draw pandas,” her favorite animal. Her continued dedication to improvement and her passion for art has landed her in AP 3D design in her Junior year, and AP 2D design in her senior year, some of the most advanced art classes that Enloe offers. Additionally, she is the treasurer of the National Art Honor Society, or NAHS, where she attends board meetings and participates in volunteer opportunities related to visual arts. For Emily, art has always been an outlet for her ever-growing creativity and a way for her to express herself. “We’re so boxed in by what other people think of us, but I think art lets me step outside the box. What do I want to portray with my art? How am I going to show this to the world?” She says, “Art helps me feel more authentic.”
What makes Emily’s art really shine is “[She] can think about her on a much deeper level… she’s able to tell a story through her artwork,” Enloe’s Art Teacher Ms. Mann comments. Emily stands out in class not only for her talent but for how she treats fellow artists. “She’s incredibly creative and works so well with her classmates that she gives great feedback to them. She is someone classmates ask for help or advice. She leads by example by showing how much energy and hard work you can put into your artwork,” continues Ms. Mann.
Music
Emily has been playing the violin for 12 years. She was originally inspired to pick up the instrument by her sister. Upon starting at Enloe, she joined the chamber orchestra. She now plays for the symphony orchestra, the highest level offered at Enloe, as well as the Eastern Regional Orchestra for the North Carolina Music Educators Association. Emily says that her favorite part about orchestra is being able to spend time with her friends. After playing with the same people for 4 years, their bonds have strengthened as well as their sound.
Throughout her years in orchestra, Emily has grown as a leader and learned how to be more assertive. As a section leader, she is the glue that holds her section together. “She is respectful, hardworking, but most importantly, a vocal leader, and she has really grown into that leadership role over the years,” says Orchestra Teacher Ms. Ju, “Her first year she was a bit shyer, but now she’s much more vocal. [She’s] not afraid to voice critiques.”
Track
This will be her 4th year on the Enloe track and cross-country teams. During track season, she runs the 800, 1600, 3200, and the four by eight. “I like the camaraderie, it’s kind of become a family,” Emily says. She has been a friend and a mentor for her peers in track. Junior Sofie Engell says, “I learned a lot about strength and perseverance from [Emily].” She shared that Emily has helped her overcome her fears surrounding races. Specifically, at one of her first races, Emily reassured her by focusing on the positives, even though Emily herself was feeling nervous too. Emily’s focus on positivity is infectious, and her dedication to being genuine is evident. “My favorite thing about [Emily] is that she’s always herself. No matter what I say or what I do, I know that she’s gonna respond to me as Emily,” Sofie said.
After Enloe
Emily plans to major in political science to pursue a career in law. She came to this decision by asking herself, “How can I impact the world positively? What’s the fastest and easiest way to do that?” Her dedication to being a positive force in the world is just beginning, but she will continue to thrive after Enloe. “I know that wherever she ends up, she will make a positive impact on that community,” concludes Ms. Ju. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for this eagle scholar.
