Freshman Gregory Allen, sophomore Mia Dubac, junior Payton Engelhardt and senior Jazmin Fernandez
December has arrived for Mustangs of the Month.
The vice principals from each Clifton High wing have spotlighted four students who have gotten a head start on the latest activities on the campus, one from each grade. Jazmin Fernandez Senior Jazmin Fernandez is lucky to have two dynamic women in her life, at home and at school. She credits her mother as being her role model and Mrs. Frances Chiarelli of Woodrow Wilson Middle School for showing compassion and constant kindness in her social studies class. “My mother is my best friend and always will be,” said Fernandez. “She’s strong, both emotionally and physically, and independent. “Mrs. Chiarelli will forever hold a special place in my heart. She would always come to me and ask how things were going, reaching out when I needed it the most.” Fernandez has been busy for four years. She fundraises with the Key Club, participates in Drama Club plays and the scores strikes on the bowling team. “I’ve had to give up opportunities to focus on more important things,” she said. “A lot of young students struggle with time management.” Her closest friends are Natalia Elizabeth Ramos-Rosas, Maria Guerrero, Shadwn Moreland, and Gail Tajanlangit Fernandez refuses to let distractions inside and outside of the classroom stop her from pursuing her dreams. She plans on getting a nursing degree once her days as a Mustang are over.
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December 2018 • Cliftonmagazine.com
Payton Engelhardt Though adjusting to her new school during freshman year was a cause for stress and anxiety, junior Payton Engelhardt has since settled into a productive routine. She is now a student to watch for when it comes to social activism. Engelhardt is president of the Mustang Teen Institute, which works to promote a better work ethic and code of conduct in the student body. She’s a newcomer to the Heroes and Cool Kids Club, which provides peer mentorship from upperclassmen to freshmen and sophomores. And she participates in the E.R.A.S.E. Club, which stands for “End Racism and Sexism Everywhere,” which seeks to end all campus bullying. Engelhardt says her focus on helping others comes from her father, an emergency medical technician. “He travels around the world,” she said, “helping sick kids and adults, teaching about healthcare and medicine.” When not playing on the JV soccer team, Engelhardt hangs out with friends Khushi Patel, Adrian Matos and Jack Polanco. She wants to become involved in the medical field after graduation or perhaps become a lawyer. Her first college of choice is Rutgers, although there are a number of contenders. With her extracurricular activities and supportive attitude, it’s likely Payton will continue helping others in the future.