Although she is an extremely talented artist, senior Christina Zhang feels as though she best represents academics in the branded AAA Excellence boasted by Buford High School.
“Academics have been a key factor in fueling my pursuits toward becoming an engineer. The AP STEM courses especially have brought out a curiosity towards existence and creation that have fueled my interest in engineering,” Zhang said. “Of course, the arts play a role as well, as drawing and painting serve as a medium to express my thoughts and interests for the world to see.”
And her accomplishments in high school are certainly something to brag about. Daughter to Jianfeng Zhang and Ping Ye, Zhang boasts an unweighted 4.0 GPA and will graduate in May with 13 Advanced Placement courses under her belt, along with seven dual enrollment classes, which earn her college credits. In addition, she earned an AP Capstone Diploma for her AP Research course and will graduate as an AP Scholar with Distinction. She is also a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist and earned her certifications as a Patient Care Technician and in Basic Life Support. She is also ranked in the top five students of the upcoming graduating class.
In addition to her impressive academic resume, Zhang manages to find time to participate in extracurriculars at Buford. She is the founder and president of the Buford Newspaper Club and helps at the school’s writing center. She is also a member of the National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society (NAHS), Mu Alpha Theta, Health Occupations Students of America, or HOSA, and enjoys playing the piano, reading, biking and photography in her free time.
“The most influential activities at BHS for me have been the Newspaper Club and NAHS. They both provided so much insight into different communities within the school, from the arts to journalism to athletics to academics, and have also helped me understand what it means to be a leader,” Zhang said. “These two clubs have connected me with people I never would have met otherwise, and I think such a connection is something truly valuable.”
Equally impressive to Zhang’s academic accomplishments are her artistic talents. Zhang placed first in the Buford Art Show in 2024 and placed second in category in 2023. She lettered in visual arts and took AP art for two years, scoring a perfect five on the AP exam. Zhang also served as vice president of the NAHS before becoming the president for the current school year.
“Funnily enough, it was my love for Pokemon as a child that incited a lifelong pursuit of art. I still enjoy Pokemon, however silly that may seem,” Zhang said. “I also really enjoy painting cats. They’re my favorite thing to paint.”
Stephanie McHugh, Buford’s visual arts and AP studio arts teacher, praised Zhang and her work ethic, as well as her vision for art.
“Christina is a talented and dedicated artist who strives for original and thought-provoking works of art. Her creative process demonstrates a maturity and grasp of knowledge far beyond her years. Not only does she excel at art making but is a strong academic student representing the top of her class,” McHugh said. “Christina’s AP Studio portfolio work currently focuses on mob mentality and its effects on individualism. It has been an honor to be one of her visual art teachers over the last four years. The growth I have seen in her work from freshman year to senior year has surpassed any of my expectations.”
Upon graduation in May, Zhang plans to attend college and major in engineering.
“After graduation, I plan on going to college and majoring in mechanical engineering, a field that supports both my STEM- and art-oriented mindset,” Zhang said. “I hope to bring inventions into the world that will ease the burdens placed on people, even if it is just by a bit.”
While humble in speaking of her high school accomplishments, Zhang recognized teachers who impacted and inspired her to be her best.
“Coach Wentzler helped me recognize a love and curiosity for science I hadn’t yet discovered in my sophomore year. Mrs. MacAdam showed me the joys of learning and how math can power the world around us, fueling my desire to pursue engineering,” Zhang said. “And Dr. Simmons, my AP Research teacher, was essential in teaching me to understand how to continue learning about the things I love.”
Zhang also hopes to inspire her classmates and underclassmen to take chances and avoid becoming bystanders in their own lives.
“No matter how silly or mundane an idea seems, if it is within reason, take initiative and do it. Many of the best things I’ve experienced during high school are things I never would have thought I would be doing, if I hadn’t taken the first step in trying to begin with. I wasn’t sure I could start a newspaper club, but I tried anyway, and now it exists. In sophomore year, I thought that I would hate painting, but now I have a painting hanging in the school hallway,” Zhang said. “Sometimes, it’s better to try your hand at things that you think won’t work out than to sit and wonder what would have happened if you had simply attempted them.”
