Gino An: Uses His Personality To Ace School, Tennis
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This week's Health Plus/NY1 scholar athlete has come a long way since arriving in this country just four years ago. NY1's Kevin Garrity filed the following report. Gino An began his high school career shortly after moving to the United States from Korea. He needed to learn English to keep up in class and, most importantly, so he could get to know his new classmates.
"I wanted to get along with them, but it wasn't easy because I couldn't speak English well," said An. "I still have an accent, but now I can get along with them because I found that if you are nice to people, they will be nice to you. So I'm getting along fine nowadays."
The senior takes a full load of advanced placement courses. His AP Psychology teacher says she believes his outgoing personality allowed him to adapt so quickly.
"He's very warm, friendly, open, outspoken," said teacher Mayra Rosa. "I'd say he's an extrovert, which is kind of unusual for someone who has not been here too long."
An has tried many sports, but his first love is tennis and he has elevated his game to play first doubles on the school team this year.
"His toughness, tenacity, he doesn't worry about who he is playing," said Athletic Director Arnie Rosenbaum as to why An is so successful. "I think with us being in one of the top divisions with Benjamin Cardozo High School, they get some very top play. And so when he goes out to play other teams, he has the confidence that he can play anybody."
"Gino's improved his game considerable since the beginning of the season," said Al Musaffi, An's tennis coach. "He's improved on his service game. And with his athleticism, he's been able to get many balls that other players aren't able to get."
When he's not working on his tennis game or cracking the books, An is volunteering as a tutor at his church.
"I help them with their homework and stuff," An said. "It's a Korean church and there are a lot of kids who came from Korean recently and don't speak English very well, so I try to help them with their homework and stuff."
An will head to Buffalo University next year, where he plans to major in pharmacology.
So for accomplishing so much with so little time in America, Gino An is the Health Plus/NY1 Scholar Athlete of the Week.