Firmly gripping a polished naginata with both hands, Andrew Vodinh-Ho (12) lunges forward, face grim and unrelenting as he stares forward in concentration. His black belt, cinched around his waist, flutters in the wind — a hard-earned reward symbolizing his numerous years of martial arts mastery.

Andrew first plunged into the world of martial arts in elementary school and developed his skills up to his freshman year of high school. Soon after he completed his training and earned a black belt, his instructor encouraged him to assume a position of leadership and teach others at the academy; an opportunity which Andrew took up.

“When I decided to stop learning martial arts, my coach was trying to push me to become a teacher because I was quite advanced,” Andrew said. “I was scared at first because I didn’t think I would be able to lead as well as I could learn, but eventually I decided to go through with it and I’m glad I made that choice.”

From there, Andrew began to volunteer as an instructor for the martial arts academy, assisting people of all ages and backgrounds. Andrew draws inspiration from his mother in choosing to put his students and friends before himself. By teaching them not only the sport but also life lessons, he embraced his role as a mentor to others.

“My mom has been a big influence on me; she’s a medical director of behavioral health for the county and her work in the field has prompted me to be a sympathetic person and to try to help people whenever I can,” Andrew said. “Martial arts would be an example of that — when I’m teaching, I try not to just explain the techniques and forms but to also help my students become a better person.”

Andrew’s willingness to assist others carries over into his other extracurriculars, such as soccer. Although initially wanting to play in a more movement-based position on the field, he chose to step into the goalie position after the previous keeper left the team in middle school, sacrificing his own desires for the wellbeing of the entire group. Ever since that incident, he has been a proud member of the Harker junior varsity boys’ soccer team and treasures the time he spends on the field regardless of the varied emotions that come into play.

“There’s definitely a big rush of adrenaline and it’s very exciting, especially when playing in close games as a goalie,” Andrew said. “It’s nerve racking at times because often if you let the ball go, you’re going to be the most blamed on the team,” Andrew said. “Despite that, I try not to get angry at myself and instead have fun playing; that’s worked out pretty well for me.”

Close friend Akhilesh Chegu (12) observes his lightheartedness and ability to brighten the environment despite any obstacles that may dampen his mood during the time they spend together.

“Andrew is a generally nice person and is able to be empathetic and help others as well as not taking himself too seriously,” Akhilesh said. “He is not the type to be crushed by a singular event and he always makes some ironic joke to cut the tension; it makes everyone laugh despite the circumstances. I think that ability is really beneficial.”

Rohan Rashingkar (12), another of Andrew’s friends, agrees that his endless enthusiasm is always refreshing to encounter, especially after a long day filled with schoolwork.

“One unique thing about [Andrew] is how he is always able to lighten the mood,” Rohan said. “Whenever we’re stressed or if a conversation goes awry, we can always count on him to cheer us up. He’s that positive guy that you always want to be around.”

Additionally, Andrew’s consistent participation in such extracurriculars strengthened his ability to work with others in a team-based environment, both inside and outside the classroom.

“Andrew had a really good first impression on me; I thought he was a great team player because he was participating in all the field day activities with the others,” upper school economics teacher and Andrew’s adviser Dean Lizardo said. “Andrew is definitely the type of person willing to do what it takes to make the team successful; he’s like social lubricant. It’s always fun to have him [in advisory].”

At the end of the day, Andrew interlaces his love for martial arts with his desire to inspire others and help them adapt a more compassionate lifestyle.

“I generally wish people would care about others a little bit more,” Andrew said. “[In] martial arts, I try to teach our students the strength of character and how to become a good person in addition to developing their physical skills; I want to help them grow into better people because that’s what my coaches did for me when I was younger.”