Science, humanities, or sports? For Woody Ye (12), this is not a question but rather a perfect balance that he tries to achieve in his life. He credits his passion and appreciation for both logic and creativity to his parents.

“My family influences me the most. But like it’s on two different spectrums,” he said. “My dad influences me more over the artistic side. On the other hand, my mom influences me more for discipline and taught me more about my behavior, manners and the practical side of my personality.”

Growing up in China in his early years, Woody fondly remembers his drives to school with his dad as some of the happiest and most influential moments. It was on these rides that they discussed everything from philosophy and literature to science and politics. In fact, Woody’s artistic path first sparked here as he accompanied his father, an artistic choreographer, on museum exhibitions.

“Now, I like to go to the museum and see what everyone does in the exhibit, and that really motivates me and inspires me,” Woody said. “Gradually, I realized that a lot of my passions in films and in art were thanks to my dad actually.”

Woody was able to continue pursuing this passion once he arrived at Harker, through classes like Cinematic Arts and Film Study and by showcasing his films in class projects, as well as in debate and for his team’s volleyball senior night.

“I needed some way to express myself and by making short movies, that’s how I do it,” he said. “I really love the visuals I do and how vibrant they are. I want to show in my movies my cultural influence and my artistic freedom. It’s super cool to see that my work influences people and shows other forms of art expressions.”

It is the artist in him that has the ability to see deeper meaning in the simple things in his life.

“I went to Costa Rica with Harker and one night we were at the camp, I looked up and saw a star,” Woody said. “I mean in a developing country with air pollution and all that, it’s cool that you can see the light in a struggling country, and I realize that every place in the world is not all that bad.”

While his artistic side allows him to appreciate the philosophy in the sublime experience of stargazing, his scientific mind seeks to find solutions to the practical problems.

“Actually, because it was a place that is developing with pollution, I realized I wanted to help in the environment too, which also brought me to material science,” he said. “I love putting things together, which is why I want to pursue material science and engineering.”

Ultimately, whether it’s his zeal for science, arts or even sports – it’s often about being in the zone and putting forth his best effort, because if he is not all in – he is out.

“It’s all about instinct. I ask myself – how passionate are you about whatever I’m doing, would you do anything for your family, friends, or teammates on the court, would you take risks, take dives, do all that for your family, for the people watching? If I answer ‘no’ to any of those questions, I’d stop what I’m doing and re-assess my decisions,” he said. 

For Woody, it is all about having different passions and combining them to become a multidimensional person. A person that can apply ideas from one facet and fluidly weave them into other aspects of life.