A math phenom, a celebrated artist, a varsity swimmer and water polo player, a Latin and Greek scholar, a Harvard Book Prize winner—what an amazing group of teens, right? Wrong. That list describes just one of our 2024 Teens to Watch. Andrew Tu, the teen in question (the question being: How on earth?), might feel special for the mention here, but honestly, all of these ten superstars are a multihyphenates of mind-boggling proportions. And not only do they do it all, they do it all with heart.
They build computers from scratch, start robotics clubs for younger kids and help the elderly with tech tasks. They go to Juilliard on weekends, break Guinness Book records and raise tens of thousands of dollars for children in need. They conduct sophisticated scientific research with college professors, publish in scholarly journals and break down barriers in sports.
In short, they give us hope. Read on to be reassured that the future of our community and the planet is in good hands.
AYUSH MAINI
Rye Country Day School
Agraduate of both Rye Country Day and Juilliard’s Pre-College Conservatory Program, Ayush Maini has more skills and experience than most people gather in a lifetime.
On a cross-country train trip, Ayush met a manager for RSE Corporation, a civil engineering firm in California. Ayush so impressed him with his knowledge of trains and transportation that the conversation led to an internship at RSE.
“As the legend goes, my gramma gave me one of those wooden trains when I was three,” says Ayush. “I never grew out of it.” At 15, he was the youngest intern RSE ever hired. He spent three summers there. “I’ve had the opportunity to work on projects from California High-Speed Rail to electrification for CalTrain to various projects for Metrolink,” says Ayush. “In transit nerd circles, we talk about a lot of grand, hypothetical projects, but gaining an understanding of actual processes has given me a more complete understanding of what’s possible.”
But Ayush is still drawn to pushing the limits of possibility. He holds a world record in the Guinness Book for the fastest time to travel to all New York City Ferry Stops (seven hours, 19 minutes, nine seconds). Part of his motivation was raising awareness about eco-friendly modes of transportation.
Ayush has been playing the violin and piano since the age of four or five, and, “over the years, I picked up viola, cello, flute, trumpet and percussion,” he explains. He spent his weekends in New York studying percussion at Juilliard for three years during high school and graduated from their prestigious pre-college program.
“Collaborating with such insanely talented musicians has been one of the greatest experiences of my life,” he says. Senior year Ayush served as assistant conductor to the RCDS string orchestra and was a member of the acappella group The WildScats for three years. He also was the announcer at RCDS basketball games.
In seventh grade, Ayush founded Children Helping Children, an organization that puts together an annual benefit concert featuring performances by children benefiting other children in need around the world. “Over the last five years, my colleagues and I raised over $75,000 for both global and local organizations, growing from a small event space to renting out the Museum of Contemporary Art,” says Ayush, who was inspired to give back by the experience of having his best friend in kindergarten diagnosed with leukemia.
Q&A
WHAT IS THE GREATEST CHALLENGE YOU HAVE OVERCOME?
My greatest challenge, but also my greatest opportunity, has been studying at Juilliard. My colleagues are some of the most passionate and empathetic people I have had the privilege of working with. But carving out your own niche and reminding yourself that you deserve to be there as much as everyone else can be tough.
WHAT WOULD YOU TELL YOUR FRESHMAN SELF?
Your darkest moments might not precede the brightest lights, but they’ll teach you not to squint when your moment comes. My point here is that your worst moments don’t necessarily mean the greater moments will be greater, but they’ll give you the perspective to appreciate those moments.
WHICH TEACHER HAD THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON YOU?
Without a doubt, a mentor of mine who wears many hats, from choral director to chair of the music department to my advisor: Ms. Mary Marcell. In the classroom, Ms. Marcell inspires with her boundless energy, and I’m truly grateful for the tremendous opportunities she has given me—from being the school orchestra’s assistant conductor to being the first student to conduct a professional orchestra. Beyond the classroom, Ms. Marcell has profoundly shaped my character, reminding me to always choose kindness, debating difficult decisions with me, and always being the first to toss me a lifeline when I’ve fallen.
WORDS TO LIVE BY?
Thomas Wilkins, one of my favorite conductors, gave a talk at Juilliard about living life with intention, and I think that’s incredibly applicable, both within music and life.