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Schools

Whiz Kid Jordana Cepelewicz

The "apprentice" writer who is anything but a novice.

Jordana Cepelwicz, a senior at , is this week's Whiz Kid who seems to do it all and do it well to boot.

Academics? Check! She is a Connecticut Governor Scholar and participated in the Connecticut Science Fair where she presented a research project about dry-cleaning fluids and their toxicity level for people who get clothes dry-cleaned.

Sports?  Got that covered! She was on the GHS varsity tennis and cross-country teams.

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Gives back to community? No problem. Co-President of Habitat for Humanity and works with an autistic boy as part of a Friendship Circle.

Extracurricular Activity? Simple. Co-Editor-in-Chief of The Beak, the GHS student newspaper and she does peer tutoring.

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This soon to be GHS graduate will attend Yale University in the fall. And, by the way, she loves to write having written poetry and short fiction including having a piece published in the literary magazine "The Apprentice Writer." She also likes to run, ski, read and play the piano.

Let's learn more about Jordana:

1. Who is your hero?

I have many heroes in my life, both real and fictional, who have influenced the values and perspectives I hold dear. I would have to say, however, that the person I consider to be my greatest hero is my paternal grandfather. A Holocaust survivor who lost most of his family in the ghettoes and concentration camps of Poland, my grandfather was, years later, willing and able to tell me his tale.

Unable to attend high school or college because of the war, he nonetheless offered me an incredible education. He taught me through stories, speaking not only of the atrocities that shadowed his memory, but also of tolerance and equality, kindness and generosity, diversity and open-mindedness—principles that have come to guide and mold me. This rare form of learning forged a personal connection between me and my past. It bound me to my people, to the meaning of being Jewish, and it ignited my desire to accrue more knowledge to blossom and flourish. Even though my grandfather passed away about three years ago, I feel that his words and the lessons he taught me have immortalized him.

2. If there was one thing you could change about your school, what would it be and why?

I think Greenwich High School is incredible, offering countless opportunities to learn and achieve. One aspect of the school that can be considered to be either a vice or virtue is its size; its community consists of an especially large number of students, teachers, and staff. This has made it rather difficult to foster a close sense of community in the school. Greater school spirit would allow better connections to be formed between everyone, and would help create an even more powerful and effective place of learning.

3. If you had the day to yourself, what would you do?

I would first either swim or go running while listening to my favorite music, then sit down to read an interesting novel and write a short story or poem. Afterwards, I would go for a drive and explore a quaint town or landscape I had never visited before, especially somewhere with high places and beautiful views. Next would be hanging out with family and friends, and then a good night’s sleep.

 4. If you could be a character in any book, who would you be and why?

I would want to be Billy Pilgrim (never mind the different gender) from Kurt Vonnegut’s "Slaughterhouse Five." Not only is the novel one of my favorites, but Billy possesses the ability to transcend both space and time as he ventures in his mind to Trafalmadore (the planet of fourth-dimensional creatures who can simultaneously see past, present, and future). He gains an enlightened understanding of the human condition that permanently alters his vision of society and its various functions and shortcomings; and he approaches these issues with an open mind and a profound level of comprehension. I would hope to achieve such a sense of “higher knowing.”

5. What is your favorite place in Greenwich and why?

My favorite place is . Not only is the scenery gorgeous, but it also evokes a relaxing atmosphere where I can never possibly get bored. I often run there, especially during the cross country season; and the beach offers a beautiful place to swim or rest. The shells that wash up to shore, the different trees, the sand, the water — even during the winter, this place is beautiful, capable of making a lasting impression.

 

As far as lasting impressions are concerned, this young "Renaissance" woman has certainly accomplished that!

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