Jaden Armenta never imagined that moving from California to Texas would open the door to a world where he could truly express himself in school. Now a 7th grader at Johnson Middle School, Armenta is flourishing in the Gifted and Talented (GT) program, where he’s found the freedom to explore his passions and develop his talents beyond the classroom. For Armenta, being in Irving ISD’s GT program means having the space to express himself without limits.
“I enjoy being in the program because you can truly express yourself,” he says. “With the research projects, you have a bit more freedom.”
Outside of academics, Armenta has a deep passion for music. His love for the piano started when he was around 11 years old and was inspired by the musicians at his church. With encouragement from them, he learned to play and eventually developed an appreciation for other instruments, picking up the violin when he joined the orchestra at Johnson. This year, Armenta also tackled a research project that shed light on an issue many overlook – noise pollution. His interest in the topic stemmed from its significant impact on humans, animals and the environment. During his research, he was surprised to learn how noise pollution interferes with so many things in our ecosystem, including the bird mating process.
“Just like we (humans) don’t like our neighbors making noise – animals don’t either,” Armenta says.
To make his presentation engaging, he incorporated an eye-catching visual that he designed and used other real-world examples to connect with the audience. Armenta made a point to highlight how noise pollution affects students in school through distractions like loud music, talking and outside noise – making it harder to concentrate and learn in class. He heavily credits the GT program for helping him grow as a researcher and student.
“Each time I improve on my research projects, it helps me grow and express myself,” he adds.
Armenta’s future is bright, and his ambitions extend beyond environmental advocacy. While he plans to continue raising awareness about noise pollution, his ultimate goal is to become a middle school principal, shaping the next generation of learners, just as educators have shaped him.
As Gifted and Talented Awareness Week shines a light on the achievements of students like Armenta, his story serves as an inspiration to his peers and a testament to the power of GT services in schools. To learn more about Irving ISD’s Gifted and Talented & Advanced Academics offerings, visit IrvingISD.net/GT.
