Most seventh graders are still figuring out who they want to be. For Nate Nzinga, that process is already well underway — and the clarity with which he speaks about life, family, and community sets him apart. A percussionist, a choir member, a future student council hopeful, and a young man with an eye on architecture, Nate embodies the best of Monmouth-Roseville’s values: curiosity, respect, and character.

Nate admits junior high has brought a new level of responsibility. “Keeping up with papers, notes, and assignments — it’s a lot,” he says. But he doesn’t complain. In fact, he thrives on the change, filling his schedule with band, choir, and student council, leaving little room for study hall.

Music is one of his main outlets. As the only percussionist in the sixth-grade band last year, Nate learned a wide variety of instruments, preparing him to step in wherever needed. “Junior high is when you start to zero in on one or two instruments,” he explains, “but I’ve learned a good variety.” He recently visited Monmouth College and marveled at instruments like the vibraphone. “There are some really cool ones,” he says, his enthusiasm evident.

Ask Nate about his future, and he answers with the thoughtfulness of someone much older. “Maybe architecture,” he says. “I like math, and I’m pretty good at it.” He hasn’t ruled out other possibilities, but the way he lights up when talking about algebra and problem-solving suggests a mind eager for challenge. “Some kids were exhausted from algebra classes already, and I thought, ‘They have algebra classes?’ I got excited about it,” he laughs.

At the center of Nate’s life is his mother, Haley, the social worker at Central. “She’s special because she always takes time out of her day to really know what I’m up to and to just be kind,” he says. “We get each other. It’s a bond, and it’s special.”

He also credits his youth pastor, Jon, with being a role model. Their relationship goes beyond Sunday mornings. “We bond over Jesus, and we get together outside of church too,” Nate explains. “He’s close to me.” That combination of family and faith has given Nate a grounded perspective and a deep well of empathy for others.

What makes Nate remarkable is not only his talent or ambition, but the way he talks about character. “The biggest difference you can make is the difference you make in people’s lives through respect,” he says. “It doesn’t take an act of Congress to make somebody’s day. Simple things, like saying hi in the hallway, really build up into character.”

When pressed, he explains further: “Character isn’t performative. You don’t put it on for someone. You just are. And it shines through in everything you do.”

It’s the kind of wisdom usually found in adults reflecting back on their lives, not in a seventh grader just beginning his.

Nate is proud to call Monmouth-Roseville home. “It’s special because of the history and the beautiful community,” he says. He points to the diversity and the acceptance he sees around him. “When you get Monmouth-Roseville on something, they push the extra mile,” he adds.

He’s also struck by the district’s mosaic of languages — 26 spoken in all. “I didn’t know there were that many,” he admits. “That’s something beautiful here. Everyone from different walks of life — it makes this community special.”

Nate laughs when he talks about his younger sister, Zoë, a fifth grader at Central. “She’s a goober — but she’s my goober,” he says. It’s a typical sibling bond, filled with teasing affection, but Nate’s words carry the same warmth he shows when talking about his mom or his community.

Nate’s favorite place in school? The library. “I love reading. Every day is an opportunity to learn new things and make a difference,” he says. For a portrait, he suggests being photographed surrounded by books — a perfect symbol of the curiosity and character that define him.

For a young man just beginning junior high, Nate Nzinga already understands what many adults spend a lifetime learning: that character is built in the small, daily choices to be kind, to be curious, and to invest in others.

And if his story is any indication, the future of Monmouth-Roseville — and wherever Nate’s dreams take him — is in very good hands.