‘Unsung Hero’ At Livingston High School Inspires Community

LIVINGSTON, NJ — A local student recently earned a well-deserved tip of the hat as an “unsung hero” of Livingston High School.

The Essex County School Boards Association (ECSBA) is shining a well-deserved spotlight on some humble-yet-inspiring young people as part of its 2024 Unsung Heroes awards, which were done in partnership with the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA).

The annual recognition ceremony – now in its eighth year – pays tribute to students who might not always be in the spotlight, but whose presence is a “beacon of inspiration and strength.”

“These students have demonstrated exceptional character through overcoming adversity, providing quiet leadership, and achieving personal and academic success against the odds,” the association says.

This year’s honorees include Alina George of Livingston High School.

According to the ECSBA, here’s a testimonial about this standout student’s contributions to the community:

"Alina is kind-hearted, wise beyond her years, understanding, and genuine to the core. Alina is a “mother-figure” to many of her friends. She puts others first, regardless of her own circumstances, as she believes that she can endure any issue and even take someone else’s discomfort (if she can) because she doesn’t wish to see another human hurt. Livingston HS is truly blessed to have someone like her in our school. Many younger children in our community and in her local church look up to her because of her genuine character, behavior, and maturity. Alina has a way of understanding people, regardless of their age, background, status, etc. She respects everyone and takes the time to observe and listen to their concerns. She genuinely cares and acts appropriately when necessary. Her church was undergoing some construction to fix a large hole in the wall due to a storm and funds were depleted. Alina asked her Priest if she could hold a bake sale to raise money to put towards the cost to repair the wall. Alina carried the mindset, “What can I do for you?” She was able to raise $800 towards the repair, and she was honored for her incredible efforts. During the summer months, she was head of her local church's vacation bible school song/dance program in which she worked with a group of children teaching them religious songs and prayer. She planed and orchestrated every choir practice as well. Alina speaks three languages, English, Malayalam, and Spanish that she practices each Livingston High School Livingston Public School District Alina George day throughout her daily life. Alina puts her religious beliefs as her priority after education and family. She is humble, respectful, thoughtful, and overall, just a great person to be around. Alina’s career direction/area of study is medicine, and she aspires to be a physician. From a young age, Alina has been exposed to the medical field through television, volunteering countless hours at her father’s pharmacy, conducting her own medical research, and reading about patient care in the United States. Alina shared, “When working with patients, it is the healthcare provider’s responsibility to ensure their patient has an advocate willing to help them, teach them, and fight for them. This was especially observed through the Covid Pandemic and the importance of community and the sacrifices of front liners. Being able to care for someone at some of their most unsure, scary, and lowest moments is what the true purpose of service is in this field.

"Alina is an active member of the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists where she had the opportunity to introduce and hold “Q&A Sessions” for guest speakers at their conferences and she led the session with perfection. She is passionate about healthcare because she is passionate for patient’s rights and their overall wellbeing, not just medicine. She has a desire for seeking change in certain aspects of the medical field such as patient advocacy, healthcare costs, and women’s health. Her first-hand experience working at her father’s pharmacy, which is in a lower- class area, she has seen firsthand how customers fight to get their necessary medication with insurance companies and sometimes even doctors. Alina had the opportunity to take medical leadership classes with the Envision NYLF Medicine Program that was held from July 16-24 in 2022. In this program, she was taught first aid, medical terminology, CPR, and triage skills along with lectures by mentors of a variety of specialties in medicine. Throughout her high school career, Alina had the chance to become an impactful part of many clubs, organizations, and even sometimes events, performances, etc. Alina is a young woman her spends almost every moment of her time bettering herself and the individuals around her. Her zest for life and learning are unbelievable. She is rather unique in her approach to life, as she tries to fill each moment with a fruitful experience, and she is not engaged in an inner batter concerning her self-worth or exterior image. She possesses a strong self-concept and is unwavering in her values and integrity to herself and her commitment to others."

“It is our pleasure to pay tribute to these extraordinary students who have inspired us, brought joy and hope to our schools, helped guide other students, and taught us all the most important lessons in life –the importance of determination, courage, kindness and perseverance,” NJSBA executive director Timothy Purnell said.

“These students embody the spirit of resilience and dedication that often goes unnoticed,” agreed Reginald Bledsoe, president of the Essex County School Boards Association.

“Their stories are not just inspiring; they are a testament to the power of tenacity, kindness, and hard work,” Bledsoe added. “They are the unsung heroes who make our schools a better place daily.”

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