On the basketball court, he was the main center who led the team to two championships; on the cycling trip from Wudaodao to the coast of Haihe River, he led the cycling club to draw a different map of the city; in the photography club, he is the "Commander of Light and Shadow" who founded the club from scratch and led a team of 30 people to make progress together.
In the band rehearsal room, he's the guitar boy obsessed with chords; In the lab, he's a “geek boy” working on methanol engines. On the Farragut campus, it's hard to define Justin Tihaynin by a label, he says: “Growing up: rejecting labels”.
「Justin」
Farragut Class of 2025
Reaped acceptance to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign!
Finding more
suitable soil for growth
Five years ago, Justin stood at a crossroads in education. Under the traditional public school system, he felt that it was difficult for him to get full play for many of his interests, “I love photography, basketball, guitar, and I'm curious about mechanical engineering, and when education is measured by standardized yardsticks, the limited amount of time outside of the classroom makes it difficult to pursue these hobbies, and I can't be ‘seen’ in my strengths '.” Justin recalls.
● Justin and his classmates
It was this desire for diversity that ultimately led him to Farragut.” This place not only allows, but encourages students to explore different possibilities.” Justin said. Farragut's flexible curriculum, rich club activities, and educational philosophy that emphasizes personalized development provide him with an ideal environment to grow. He looks forward to a broader world where he can explore unknown possibilities.
Building your own learning maps
After joining Farragut, Justin felt like he was in a fertile soil, absorbing all kinds of nutrients like a sponge. In terms of basketball, Farragut's strong sports atmosphere has helped him take his game to the next level. One fierce game after another not only improved his competitive level, but also cultivated his teamwork spirit and perseverance. Every victory is a testament to his hard work.
“Friendship Basketball Tournament”,
March 2025
Under his leadership, the cycling club has grown and diversified its activities. From initially organizing students to ride on Tianjin's main roads, to later exploring more unique routes, Justin has continued to challenge himself and let the club members appreciate the charm of cycling.
His experience with the photography club was even more rewarding. When he started the photography club in the first semester of eleventh grade, there were only eight members, but everyone was enthusiastic. As time went on, the club expanded rapidly and the number of members soared to around 30. Faced with the sudden pressure, Justin didn't back down, but actively thought about how to better manage the club. He meticulously planned every activity, carefully prepared every photography class, and tried his best to make every member gain something from the society. In the process, his organization and scene control skills have been greatly improved.
Selected Photographic Works
The band experience is equally indispensable. Farragut integrates arts education into every detail - professional music classrooms, experienced music teachers, and carefully configured instruments of all kinds combine to build a strong artistic atmosphere. Here, Justin's love for the guitar grows day by day. After class, he always immerses himself in the music space to practice over and over again - from the initial raw chords, to the smooth single solo, under the attentive guidance of his music teacher, he breaks through step by step, and eventually grows up to become a confident guitarist playing on stage. The band experience not only enriched his after-school life, but also allowed him to find a lifelong way to express his emotions in a rich arts education environment.
“With Physics Teacher Kevin and Classmates”
Academically, Justin's engineering interests are well supported. Kevin, his physics teacher, made a point of opening up his lab to him when he discovered his passion for mechanics.” From the very first model of a methanol engine to the later automated control system, Justin has shown an amazing ability to learn.” Mr. Kevin commented. These projects not only allowed Justin to reap the third prize of CTB, but also became the most distinctive endorsement when he applied for college.
“Certificate of CTB Competition”
From Multiple Attempts
to Specialized Focus
Studying at Farragut has allowed Justin to grow and transform. With his hard work and excellent overall quality, he has gained olive branches from several universities, such as:
1. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, UIUC
2. Northeastern University, NEU
3.The Ohio State University, OSU
4. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Rutgers
5.The Pennsylvania State University, College Park， Penn State
6.University of California, Merced, UC Merced
7.University of California, Riverside, UC Riverside
He was particularly excited about his acceptance offer from UIUC.
Throughout the college application process, Justin always wanted to demonstrate his love of engineering. As early as ninth grade, at the suggestion of his college guidance counselor, he began planning his academic interests. Through independent research, he completed a small project on his own about an engine: from purchasing the parts to assembling it by hand, he finally succeeded in building a methanol engine. This unique experience not only strengthened his interest in the field of engineering, but also became a highlight of his college application with the help of the guidance center.
Justin did not choose UIUC's Systems Engineering program by chance. The Systems Engineering program integrates various fields such as computer engineering and mechanical engineering, which satisfies his desire to explore different engineering fields. In his view, engineering is not one-sided, but an organic combination of multiple disciplines. Just as he used Legos and computer programming to make models move as a child, the systems engineering major allows him to integrate different knowledge. In addition, the systems engineering program provides a business education that helps him achieve a well-rounded career and builds a solid foundation for his future career path.
Now Justin is about to embark on a new academic journey. Growing up in Farragut's diverse and open environment, he has used his experiences to illustrate the true meaning of education - not being defined by labels, exploring the unknown, and discovering infinite possibilities through experimentation. From the music stage to the engineering lab, the school has always encouraged him to follow his heart's love and cultivate an interdisciplinary vision. I believe that the genes nurtured at Farragut will help him shine in the field of systems engineering.
He said: " Thank you Farragut School for teaching me friendship, understanding, community, kindness, youth, optimism, and unity. ”
Article | Brand Promotion Department of TFS
Image Credit | Justin
