Quiet until you get to know him, Jalen Pearce is funny and kind, making him a cherished student and teammate at RMA. Jalen joined us in the first grade, and Ms. Hines, who has dedicated over twenty years to RMA as a Kindergarten assistant, is Jalen’s grandmother, so Jalen is truly part of the RMA family!

I personally know Jalen as a fellow athlete who embodies leadership and determination. Jalen is quite the successful athlete; he has played basketball (as a guard) as well as participated in track and field all four years of Upper School. Jalen especially shows his versatility as an athlete in track and field because he participates in both racing and jumping (the long and high jumps). His time playing sports has given Jalen what he says is his most enjoyable experience at RMA so far: qualifying for states in track and field and winning second place in the high jump. (In fact, he expects to win the top spot for high jump this upcoming spring!) Although he does run some individual races (the 100-, 200-, and 400-meter), he is truly a team player, running in three relay races (including the 4×100, 4×200, 4×400), and this year, he is taking Weightlifting and Sports Management to make sure he is a successful, focused athlete prepared to help his team.

Being a student-athlete at RMA means dedication to not only sports but also to academics. Currently, Jalen is taking Marine Biology, English 12, and Algebra III/Trigonometry. Due to his hard work and excellence, he earned a spot on the honor roll freshman through junior years and was also awarded Academic Excellence in Spanish II and in European History in tenth grade. Also worth noting is that Jalen was awarded most improved in English 9, which shows resilience and a desire to always raise the bar and challenge himself! 

In addition to “book smarts,” Jalen has some awesome creative talent–check out his senior parking spot, which depicts the album cover of Lil Uzi Vert! He is currently nurturing this talent in Mrs. Hunter’s Ceramics class. “This is Jalen’s first year partaking in Ceramics and is absolutely killing it; he is showing promise, talent, and creativity,” she says.  

After school, Jalen spends quality time with his family and friends by participating in activities they can enjoy together. One of these is basketball, which he has loved since he was just four years old because it lets him connect with others. (Jalen’s favorite celebrity is Lebron James since he is one of the best basketball players of all time.) Another of Jalen’s hobbies is mechanics: he loves spending time with his father working on an old truck and learning from his dad. In fact, when Jalen was younger, he aspired to be a racecar driver or a racing engineer. Those dreams led him to play fantasy F1 racing games, and he’s seen a lot of success there.

Jalen is currently working on applications to Winston-Salem State, ECU, and Fayetteville State. He plans on majoring in Sports & Exercise Science to become a physical therapist and pursue his passion for sports, even if it means not actually playing or racing. Not one to stop just because he already has a job and one degree, once Jalen becomes a physical therapist, he also plans on pursuing a degree in mechanics because of his interest in cars. With this kind of determination and broad interests, we’re sure that Jalen can achieve whatever he puts his mind to!

Get to Know Jalen:  

What is your favorite movie series?

• My favorite movie is any of the Rush Hour movies.  

What is your favorite movie or go-to song?

• My favorite songs are “Forever Ever” by Trippe Redd and “20 Mins” by Lil Uzi Vert.   

What will you miss about RMA?

• I’m definitely going to miss playing sports with friends.

What is your favorite school event? 

• My favorite event at RMA is senior night and sports games.

What is your favorite food? 

• My favorite food is Philly cheese steak pizza.

What is your senior advice? 

• That as long as you listen to your teachers and be kind, only good things will happen to you.