Manhattan High Science Olympiad — a club predominated by upperclassman — has had a refreshing twist in their usual membership.

Alice Le has taken the title as the only freshman on the team: a seemingly unheard of situation.

Le has been an active member of Science Olympiad since middle school, when her Gifted coordinator introduced her to the middle school version of the club. Since then she has pushed herself to overcome the disadvantages presented by her age to continue doing what she loves: science.

“Most people I think… just sit down and take the test because they have the intelligence to do so,” Le said. “I knew I was at a disadvantage so I studied a lot.”

Le credits her acceptance into the highly competitive club to the upperclassman who mentored her during her middle school years and into this year.

“I had gotten like tips and advice… from my upperclassmen while I was still in middle school about the format of the class,” Le said. “Those tips really helped me get in.”

Le stands by that her age and the excess of knowledge that comes with it does not affect the team’s dynamic, rather strengthens the bond between the members.

“Our team is really strong no matter… what age difference we have,” Le said. “I think there’s a lot to learn from the upperclassmen and underclassmen so I really enjoy that aspect.”

While Le has already pushed boundaries just as a member of the Science Olympiad, she is also highly advanced in her regular education, spending the majority of her days at West campus taking classes like Pre-Calculus, Genetics and Chamber Orchestra as well as competing in Scholars Bowl and Robotics in addition to Science Olympiad.

Though her schedule is that of an advanced student, Le remains humble, in fact she doesn’t even consider hers;ef advanced, but rather curious and in thirst for knowledge.

“I’m just average,” Le said. “Albert Einstein gave a good quote, ‘I have no special talents, I’m only passionately curious,’ and I think that applies to me.”

Even while she doesn’t exactly consider herself one, Le still advocates against the stereotypes placed on advanced students.

“I think there’s always a stigma against the ‘advanced’ students and I don’t like that,” Le said. “I think socially it’s kind of difficult… people might perceive you to be arrogant or something that you’re not.”

As just a freshman, Le is already accomplishing goals some upperclassman don’t ever even compare to. Her continued pushing of boundaries has ushered in a new era for underclassmen to strive for and be more.

“One of my biggest goals in my high school career is to inspire someone as much as my upperclassmen have inspired me,” Le said. “I think.. my constant pursuit of improvement…has helped me a lot just to help me strive the best I can be.”