Matysh Garg is a senior of the class of 2024 at John F. Kennedy Memorial High School. He’s studious, athletic and a born leader who doesn’t back down from a challenge. Garg is in the National Honor Society, English Honor Society, Business Honor Society and is the president of the Spanish Honor Society. He played football in the fall of his freshman year but he knew by the spring that he loved tennis, the sport he would play all four years of high school. Matysh’s achievements allowed him to be accepted into the University of Pennsylvania, where he will attend next fall.
How did you first get involved in tennis, and what has been your most memorable experience on the team?
Matysh: I got involved with tennis my freshman year. I was planning to play football all four years but that didn’t pan out very well, so I decided to switch to tennis. I really liked it and I’ve loved it ever since. My most memorable memory is beating Metuchen last year. I was playing first doubles and the match won the game for the team.
As a member of the National Honor Society, what values do you believe are most important in academic achievement and community service?
Probably integrity and commitment and dedication. Knowing what you have to do and getting it done on time to the best of your ability.
What inspired you to become the president of the Spanish Honor Society, and how have you contributed to promoting Spanish language and culture within the school?
I became involved in Spanish when I was a freshman taking Spanish class. I made the decision to take Spanish 4 my junior year truly because I love learning Spanish and I’m passionate about learning new languages. Spanish is one of the most spoken languages in the world so I thought it was definitely important to know another language.
I promote the Spanish culture by speaking Spanish even to people who are trying to learn [the language]. I encourage them to take harder Spanish courses.
Balancing academics, sports, and leadership roles can be challenging. How do you manage your time effectively to excel in these areas?
Sometimes it definitely is hard. I try to take some time for myself and to make sure I’m not overextending myself. The most important thing is balance, and once you figure out the right balance of activities that are possible, you’ll truly become happy. That is probably what matters most when you manage your time.
Have there been any mentors or role models who have influenced your academics and extracurricular activities during your time in high school?
Mr. Graham, my economics teacher because of the fact he has influenced me to study economics in college. I truly wouldn’t be the student I am without him. He has taught me how to study and how to effectively prepare for tests, so that is something that I truly take from him.
It’s my understanding that your senior year gym teacher also has a big impact on you. What words do you have to say about Coach Henderson?
Coach Henderson? I love that guy. He’s so energetic and the energy he brings to gym class everyday makes me feel like I want to be there. I wouldn’t [want] to have gym class without him… I love having him as a teacher.
You got into the University of Pennsylvania which is one of the most prestigious schools in the country. When did you know you wanted to go to UPenn? Talk about your application process.
I found out that I wanted to go to UPenn my sophomore year. Freshman year I had no idea where I wanted to go, and I didn’t even know what college was, metaphorically. Once I started researching colleges, I decided to start close to home because I knew that is what my mom probably wanted. I decided to look at schools in the tri-state area and I found UPenn. I knew that I always wanted to go to a school where I could be challenged, and I could academically thrive in my career pursuits. I decided that the University of Pennsylvania was perfect for me being in an urban city with a traditional campus feel.
Through the application process, I took a long time drafting my essays which is probably what I feel helped me get accepted into such a difficult university. I rewrote my essay 10-20 times just to make sure I was really putting in my best work. That is what inspired me and helped me get into the University of Pennsylvania.
What advice would you give to underclassmen who aspire to achieve similar success in academics, sports, and leadership positions?
Never give up. There are definitely times in school where I wanted to take easy classes and slack off. It wasn’t really until I found a work-life balance that worked for me until I was definitely able to thrive. It’s all about finding that balance, and once you realize that you want to make something of yourself, you’ll learn to never give up and to keep trying, even if you fail. I’ve definitely had failures throughout my high school career, but it is really about what you take away from them that helps you grow.
How has being involved in these organizations shaped your overall high school experience and prepared you for future journeys?
It has allowed me to network with people and learn how to talk to different types of people. Not everybody is the same, people have different personalities, so being involved in a wide variety of extracurriculars helps me engage in meaningful conversations with multiple perspectives and personalities.
Now that your senior year is almost wrapped up, do you have any goals, either academically or personally, that you have for the final stretch?
Just to make the most of what I have left of high school and to forge new connections, and to make my old ones stronger. I truly want to leave high school with good relationships with everybody, and to make someone smile each and every day.
Looking beyond high school, how do you envision yourself continuing your involvement in academics, sports and community service at the University of Pennsylvania and even beyond?
Whether it’s spending hours in the library, or attending social networking events, or even grabbing a coffee with my professors or my friends, that’s mainly what I want to do going forward. I’ve learned how to make connections and build relationships with the people that matter most, and I just want to carry that forward with me. Strictly extracurricular wise, I want to keep playing tennis, I want to try new hobbies and even maintain some of my old ones.
