Clifton local, Juliana Irizarry, is a determined young woman whose passion for self-betterment has her pushing her educational limits! This member of the Academy of Medical Arts does it all. Her greatest desire is to take advantage of every opportunity and to pursue the ultimate goal of excellence.

Juliana is well on her way. This 2nd in Command and Chief of Staff of PCTI’s NJROTC spends a great deal of her time dedicated to guiding all 314 members of the JROTC unit. Her hard work and individuality has earned her acceptance into the Leadership Academy and recognition as both an Honor Cadet and a Distinguished Cadet, an award she received twice!

When asked about her involvement in the program, Juliana had this to say, “I originally became a member to work on my public speaking and communication skills. I’m always looking for ways to improve myself. Then I fell in love with the call to honor, courage, and commitment that a cadet represents. I know this is what I want to do with my life.”

Juliana’s ultimate dream is to be accepted into the Naval Academy where she will pursue a career as a doctor, more specifically a Psychologist. In the meantime, she’s focusing on immediate goals. Juliana has achieved the tremendous feat of ranking in the top one percent of her class with an astounding 4.3 GPA. She has earned these honors with the help of a rigorous course load of four AP classes, three college classes, and six honors classes. In addition, Juliana is also involved in numerous PCTI activities. This includes HOSA, ERASE, Drill Team, and National Honors Society, among others. She was even selected as a participant in New Jersey Girls State during her junior year at PCTI.

Outside of school, Juliana enjoys a host of other hobbies. She is an avid reader and even finds the time to train in Tae Kwan Do, Hapkido, and Braziian Jiu Jitsu!

When asked what advice this bright bulldog had for others, she said, “Do your best and focus on your education. If you can make it happen, you’ll make it happen. Don’t make excuses and above all else be true to yourself!”

Those are sound words of advice from a bright young woman. Congratulations Juliana, your educational enthusiasm will pave the path to success!

Highlights