Newark Teen Headed To Ivy League: 'I Took The YOLO Approach'

NEWARK, NJ — Janic Aguirre already speaks fluent Japanese, in addition to English. But that’s not nearly enough for the Ivy League-bound Newark teen, who is literally inventing his own language.

Aguirre’s predilection for linguistics is just one of many reasons why he’s earned his way into seven of the most prestigious universities in the nation – and been waitlisted for an eighth. Read More: Newark Student Earns His Way Into 7 Ivy League Schools

So far, the Bard Early College High School student has gotten acceptance letters from Harvard University, Princeton University, Yale University, Columbia University, Dartmouth College, Cornell University and the University of Pennsylvania. He’s waiting to hear back from Brown University, according to a statement from his alma mater.

“I kind of took the ‘You Only Live Once’ (YOLO) approach,” Aguirre said, explaining why he applied to so many schools.

“I thought this will be the only time I apply to college – so why not?” he added.

A first-generation college student, Aguirre said he’s been offered financial aid as part of his acceptances, which will help ease the stress of trying to figure out how to pay his tuition.

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Aguirre got a push towards his current plan to study anthropology and linguistics via his school’s Early College program, which gives teens a chance to explore their interests without taking on the price tag of college courses they may not need.

The naturally inquisitive learner has already dipped his toes into astrophysics, computer science and law. But it was his experience with Mayan epigraphy that really drove him towards his current career path, his teachers say.

“Janic is one of those people who just really seems to excel at everything he does,” said his professor, Joanne Baron, who recently counted him as part of her class on ancient Mayan writing.

“My colleagues and I actually had a bit of a competition to see who could get Janic interested in their specialty … and I feel like I won,” Baron joked.

Aguirre, who comes from a family of Japanese and Nicaraguan descent, is currently busy constructing his own language. He’s got more than 300 words in his lexicon so far, and is rapidly forging ahead with more, according to school administrators.

Carla Stephens, principal at Bard Early College High School, said Aguirre is constantly trying to “feed his passion for knowledge,” a big reason why he’s seen such rousing academic success.

“I can hardly wait to see the mark that he leaves on this world,” Stephens said.

Aguirre isn’t the only academic star at Bard this year. His peers have also notched a top-flight list of college acceptances, including local schools such as Bloomfield College, Caldwell University, Montclair State University and Rutgers University.

Meanwhile, other Newark public school students have earned their way into Ivy League schools, such as Science Park High School’s Azeez Richardson, who has been accepted to Harvard, and Temitayo Ojo of Central High School, who was accepted to Dartmouth.

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