The gym was tense as the seconds on the timer dwindled down, inching closer to the end of the fencing match. With just seconds left on the clock and the crowd holding its breath, senior Ethan Wang sets his feet and stabilizes himself, carefully bracing for the final moves of the match. He analyzes his opponent, preparing strategically to catch him in a moment of weakness. He takes a step back, steadying his breath before lunging forward, his foil slicing through the air. The opponent dodges, but just a second too late as Ethan scores the final point of the match and secures his victory.

Since starting the sport at ten years old, Ethan has been fencing for seven years of his life. Although not his first choice for a sport, he turned to fencing after overcoming a significant basketball injury, a decision that would shape his teenage years by introducing him to a space where he could develop discipline and determination. At first, he remembers feeling discouraged at one of his initial tournaments, unsure that he would make any progress and intimidated by more experienced competitors. 

“Four years ago, I had a tournament,” Ethan said. “It got delayed, and I ended up making it pretty far. It was 12 in the morning. That’s the first time I ever stayed up that late. I ended up beating a couple of people that I normally wouldn’t. That motivated me for the next couple of years.”

It was through the friendships he formed with some of the other fencers that he regained motivation for not just the competition, but in his pursuit of the sport as well. 

Ethan has formed a community and grown to love fencing, which has become a key part of his life, going to regular practices and putting in the effort to beat his opponents during matches. Senior Jeffrey Zhang met Ethan in fourth grade during a class they shared, and the two have been close friends ever since. He highlights Ethan’s courage and individuality in fencing.

“It’s a unique, different sport,” Jeffrey said. “Not a lot of people choose to do it, I admire his bravery or his willingness to just go out of the ordinary and out of the box to play an unorthodox sport.” 

Through the years, Ethan has become an accomplished fencer, demonstrating that having an open mind can lead to unexpected success. Fencing has also given him opportunities to aid those around him, providing guidance and using his drive to make a positive impact.

Ethan regularly participates in public service and helps the community. Whether it’s organizing Christmas celebrations or cleaning up a garden, he finds ways to give back to his community and help improve the lives of those around him, regardless of how big or small the task.

“I coach little kids at the club, and that’s something I really enjoy,” Ethan said. “It’s nice to see younger versions of me when I was discovering fencing for the first time. It’s interesting to look back and compare myself to the kids now, and see how much I’ve grown.”

Both friends and mentors commend Ethan’s grounded and dependable nature. English teacher Susanne Salhab, who taught him in his senior year, reflects on an early experience with him in the school year, noting his dedication to the class despite many commitments outside of school. 

“Early in the year, we had an essay due and Ethan was absent, but he had submitted it even though he was ill,” Salhab said. “He always chooses integrity. It can be really hard to be true to yourself, especially when you have a lot of competing interests but Ethan does that really well.”

Senior Jonathan Wang, Ethan’s peer and longtime friend, met him in sixth grade. He appreciates Ethan’s ability to support his peers and his openness that is an integral part of their friendship and holds their group together. 

“He’s very down-to-earth and practical,” Jonathan said. “He’s someone who I can always run my ideas by and who’s really easy to communicate with, and who I can talk to about anything, regardless of how big or small it is.”

Ethan also enjoys watching movies, approaching each film with a curiosity for new perspectives. He appreciates the experience of going to see a new movie with friends or family because it creates shared moments to laugh and reminisce about later. For Ethan, movies are a way to connect with those around him, as well as find something to personally relate with. Among the many movies Ethan has watched, Good Will Hunting stands out as both a personal favorite and a representation of themes that resonate deeply with his own life experiences.

“My favorite movie is Good Will Hunting,” Ethan said. “It’s funny. I really enjoyed watching it. There were a lot of lessons that I took away from the movie about being grateful for the opportunities I have and making the most of life.” 

For Ethan, the movie reflects a mindset of ambition and making the most of everything that life offers, something he truly connects to. Similarly, he strives to take the challenges that come his way as opportunities, finding encouragement from the film to help him pursue his full potential.

Ethan’s commitment to making the most of his life extends to his aspirations to advocate for those who can’t. His brother, diagnosed with a condition called Fragile X, motivates Ethan to achieve his goals for the future. Fragile X affects brain development and his brother’s experience with Fragile X serves as inspiration and motivation for Ethan in his pursuit to major in neuroscience. He hopes to explore and improve his brother’s condition, striving to make a positive impact on those around him.

“I’m planning on doing research on the condition my brother has just to make the most of what I have and can do as well,” Ethan said. “Ultimately, what’s important to me is my brother, my relationship with him and his condition. As a career, I want to do research and study bioengineering so that I can help others.”