Eva Cheng

“Curiosity is important because interacting with the world is required to live a fulfilling life. Without that, it’s easy to fall into a state where you don’t have desire to do anything. Being actively curious is being able to go out and explore the world on your own no matter what it looks like: picking up a hobby, meeting people, physically going out, continuing to investigate the things you’re passionate about,” Ethan Liu (12) said.

The commutative property: one of the first ideas students learn in math class. A plus B is equal to B plus A, A times B is equal to B times A; this is the natural way things are. But what happens when A times B does not equal B times A? This question opened the doorway to a multitude of bizarre impossibilities that enraptured Ethan Liu’s (12) mind, driving the research project on non-commutative algebra he presented at the 2024 Joint Mathematics Meeting, the world’s largest international conference of mathematicians and professionals.

“Starting from a young age I was drawn to fun math problems, especially the tricks you can do with math that I never thought of in school,” Ethan said. “One of the first ones that drew me in was the difference of squares, which to me was like ‘Wow, that’s something I wanna know more about. Why does this happen and are there more things like that?’”

Fascinated by its infinite possibilities, Ethan quickly fell in love with math, enrolling in problem solving competitions throughout middle and high school and pursuing research projects exploring abstract algebra. Instead of having a clear trajectory, the opportunity to delve deep into specific subjects kindled Ethan’s enthusiasm for math, his mind constantly at work puzzling out the most obscure solutions. 

This potential sparked his interest in unsolved problems, driving Ethan to investigate two research projects, participating in MIT Primes, a math research mentoring program. As president of Math Club and an accomplished math researcher, Ethan’s interest does not stem from awards or position. For him, the joys of math lie in the continuous exploration of the subject’s nuances and the triumph of unraveling its secrets.

“Curiosity is important because interacting with the world is required to live a fulfilling life,” Ethan said. “Without that, it’s easy to fall into a state where you don’t have desire to do anything. Being actively curious is being able to go out and explore the world on your own no matter what it looks like: picking up a hobby, meeting people, physically going out, continuing to investigate the things you’re passionate about.”

Always thinking beyond the surface level, Ethan’s desire to learn more and discover the root of every problem inspires those around him. Close friend William Zhang (12) enjoys Ethan’s open-mindedness and lively spirit in all parts of life.

“A lot of times when I’m having conversations with Ethan, he will think of something, and he’ll go, ‘Oh, what if we did this,’” William said. “And then we try it, and it’s always a process to lean on him with things I probably wouldn’t have experienced. I like how with him, I get to talk about a lot of different things, serious or not, and he still thinks about all these things with the same depth.”

Ethan’s inquisitive nature extends beyond math, prompting him to challenge himself in different ways. Whether it is physically, by participating in cross country, or emotionally, by deciding to audition for Downbeat in his sophomore year, Ethan’s curiosity has fostered a growth mindset and eagerness to acquire new skills.

Searching for a new interest to assuage the monotony of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ethan signed up for singing lessons on a whim, discovering a love for music and performing arts. Upon returning to school for his sophomore year, Ethan joined the Bel Canto choir, before becoming a part of Downbeat the following year, embracing his newfound community in singing in the group.

“What makes singing special for me is being able to create a harmony with other people,” Ethan said. “An individual voice sounds good, but there are limits to what kind of music you can make. But once you add two people together, there’s harmonies you can do. It’s almost like it was intended for singing to be done together.”

The community aspect of performing built Ethan’s appreciation for the art, inspiring him to challenge himself in ways he never tried before. Despite feeling less experienced and skilled than the rest of his peers, Ethan auditioned for this year’s school musical, “The Wedding Singer,” setting aside his previous fears of judgment from his peers.

“I didn’t know what I was doing, and still I was able to throw my lack of ability to the winds and just ‘be goofy,’ in an intentional way,” Ethan said. “It’s very rewarding, it takes a lot of courage, but in the end it’s worth it because it’s more valuable to me if I step out of my comfort zone and do this.”

Ethan’s excitement for performing along with his persevering attitude landed him his first ever part in a musical production, as a featured dancer, which continues to push him to overcome discomfort. With his adventurous spirit and eagerness to try new things, Ethan spreads his exuberant nature to his peers. Close friend and fellow Downbeat member Ian Ogden (12) admires his unwavering dedication and desire to set a positive example for others.

“Ethan is always putting 110% of his effort into everything, even during warmups,” Ian said. “He’s always very enthusiastic about everything, and he’s always like the loudest one. He has a very big presence.”

Through performing arts, Ethan learned to embrace his own identity and express his true self, lessons which shape his actions across all aspects of his life. Upper school Spanish teacher Abel Olivas, who has been teaching Ethan since sophomore year, appreciates how Ethan’s unrestrained character radiates on those around him.

“Ethan is just very much himself; not at all concerned that people will either find him eccentric or make fun of him,” Olivas said. “And people enjoy it. It helps the rest of the class also relax and enjoy themselves.”

Eager to seek out new ways to grow, Ethan’s persistent attitude and rejection of shallow explanations reflect his overarching principle of truth. Whether it means asking for help on a difficult math project and accepting that he does not know all the answers, or staying true to himself in pursuing his genuine interests, Ethan believes that success depends on living sincerely. 

“One of my most important principles is honesty: being honest not just to others but also to yourself,” Ethan said. “Those two work together. If I am purposefully dishonest to someone else or not holding myself accountable, it may not have immediate consequences. But by supporting and rewarding that bad behavior, I’m lying to myself on top of actually lying to other people, and that is something that I avoid.”

Additional reporting by Grant Yang.