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Ethan Orchanian

3,555

Bold Points

2x

Finalist

1x

Winner

Bio

To achieve success, I strive to ameliorate myself both educationally and personally. I aspire to earn a 4-year degree and secure a career that pertains to science, research, writing, and design. In terms of passions, my adoration of genealogy takes center stage. I’ve invested countless hours preserving family stories, collecting photographs, contacting relatives, and scouring archives for my ancestors. Nevertheless, I too find delight in linguistics, photography and video production, graphics and design, technology and editing, art, and literature. From a young age, I’ve always felt a mix of obligation, pride, and ambition in meeting schooling demands. I've taken "advanced" classes for a handful of years and am now enrolled in AP, IB, College, and Honors courses. In addition, I've recently been accepted to the NSHSS. On a broader scale, I'm a true believer in world peace and universal social equality, and I seek the day where tensions domestic and abroad can be reasonably subdued. Socially-speaking, I always respect others. I try to be friendly and considerate to everyone I meet, and a general awareness guides my speech. I consider my character sentimental but realistic, ethical, and self-disciplined, and I own up to my actions and mistakes. I make it my mission to put forth my best self, and I do hope to leave an impression on the Earth.

Education

Ballston Spa Senior High School

High School
2020 - 2023
  • GPA:
    4

Central High School East and West

High School
2019 - 2020
  • GPA:
    4

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Bachelor's degree program

  • Majors of interest:

    • Genetics
    • Chemistry
    • Science, Technology and Society
    • Physical Sciences, General
    • Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians
    • Biology, General
    • Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
    • Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Science - Broadly

    • Dream career goals:

      Versatile - Researcher/Experimenter/Entrepreneur

      Sports

      Basketball

      2016 – 20171 year

      Baseball

      2011 – 20154 years

      Awards

      • Various Trophies
      • Honor of playing in a professional stadium

      Cross-Country Running

      2014 – 20162 years

      Golf

      2018 – 2018

      Research

      • Genealogy

        Independent Project — Researcher/Translator/Developer/Manager
        2017 – Present
      • Chemistry

        Rio Vista Middle School’s Science Department — Group member/Researcher
        2018 – 2019
      • Environmental Design

        Central High School’s Science Department — Project designer/Researcher - Incomplete due to pandemic
        2019 – 2020
      • Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering

        Liddell Elementary’s Robotic’s Team — Researcher/Builder/Coder
        2015 – 2017
      • Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research

        Rio Vista Middle School’s Science Department — Sole Researcher/Project Director
        2018 – 2018
      • History

        National History Day through Rio Vista Middle School — Developer/Manager
        2019 – 2019

      Arts

      • Ballston Spa High School’s Yearbook Club

        Design
        Ballston Spa High School's 2022-23 Yearbook
        2022 – 2023
      • Independent projects

        Photography
        2021 – Present
      • Central High School’s French Department

        Cinematography
        Short, student-produced film, French song competition - concert canceled due to pandemic
        2020 – 2020
      • Central Unified School District’s Band Program

        Music
        1st place in 2016 concert - assortment of pieces, National Anthem Recital at Football Stadium, Several in-school productions
        2015 – 2017

      Public services

      • Volunteering

        Independent — Tutor
        2022 – 2023
      • Volunteering

        FamilySearch — Independent Transcriber
        2021 – Present

      Future Interests

      Philanthropy

      Entrepreneurship

      #Back2SchoolBold Scholarship
      @echo_e.k.o Ask for help when you need it. Once passed down from a teacher to me, following this simple tidbit will make for an excellent start to the year. Students often fear that asking for help admits weakness and forfeits one’s academic independence, though it’s quite the contrary. Seeking help—whether from a teacher, peer, counselor, or other figure—builds a fuller relationship with your school community and attests to your investment in education. Noteworthier yet, requesting help is an enrichment opportunity. Whether you’re struggling with an academic concept or need clarification on a project or task, your advisors will be grateful to assist. And upon reaching out, you’ll feel refreshed and better prepared for the challenges ahead, especially the sooner you do so. Between the modes of in-person and digital communication, help is truly always accessible. Securing a relationship with school familiars early on, particularly teachers, proves vital, and there’s no wiser way than through inquiry. Plus, entering the year by taking authority over your schooling destines you to leave a positive, lasting impression that you can ride on throughout the school term. You’ve got this in the bag!
      Bold Legacy Scholarship
      Winner
      While visiting my great-grandmother’s headstone a couple of years back, I noticed a petite yet marvelous bench around the memorial garden’s edge. “Sit down and stay awhile,” its plaque offered affectionately. Intrigued, I learned the seat was dedicated to a kind-hearted, scholarly young adult whose life was regrettably cut short. Though we’d never met, I felt touched by the inviting granite slab and found solace in knowing that his legacy tangibly lives on. As I consider my image today, I dream of being known, being remembered. I wish to serve the world an invaluable gift: to make a scientific breakthrough, compose a breathtaking piece of literature, develop a technology that conveniences everyday life, and spread laughter and positivity through video and art, among other things. On a more personal level, I aspire to make friends and family smile and spread equality. Moreover, I aim to boost others through selflessness, compassion, and acceptance. I regularly compliment others and share with them, too, whether it’s advice and knowledge or a thoughtful gift. In the same regard, I hope one day to earn the finances to give back to the community; to fund environmental and human rights projects, feed tables, support local businesses, and clothe those in need. Such efforts don’t seek my glorification but rather yield warm fuzzy feelings inside. I feel empowered and driven to write my legacy to validate our generation and prove its invincible future. Some say villainous actions are the most infamous, but my footprint is to overturn that notion. As an avid family genealogist, discovering ancestors and relatives who were doctors, local heroes, veterans, and refugees has been inspirational. Hence, honoring them has become my lifelong mission. I can only strive to amount to their successes, perhaps having a petite bench of my own erected one day.
      Bold Listening Scholarship
      As a little tyke, I’d have the audacity to obnoxiously raise my hand during family dinners, itching to blurt out a silly thought reckoned within two seconds. By contrast, in recent years, I’ve realized how listening to others is far more crucial. In conversation, I do this conscientiously by maintaining healthy eye contact, affirming their thoughts with timely nods and expressions, and displaying a warm, open presence. I keep patience on my side and refrain from interjecting or redirecting the narrative toward myself. Furthermore, I match my volume, tone, and demeanor to theirs in hopes of making them feel as comfortable as possible. I employ this with everyone—educators, friends, family, and strangers alike. Essentially, I convey this methodology trilaterally to say, “you are understood, you are respected, you have my undivided attention.” A friend and I recently debated the execution of a COVID-19 mask protest at our school. Though we had differing views, we listened to each other’s reasoning with outstanding attentiveness and, in the end, calmly decided to agree to disagree. Simple as that. Plus, thoughtlessly shouting over one another is so unproductive! To me, active listening was made to be a symbiotic interaction. This is why listening is the gateway to honest, understanding conversation. The microphone must be bounced back between parties in a balanced manner. This idea is not exceptional but rather fundamental. For this reason, every great leader must double as an apt listener and thinker. Considerate listening allows an individual to be more mindful and sharper, building trust and friendship in any relationship. Most importantly, listening signifies learning. I myself am an auditory learner, so I thrive by listening to others—their stories, their hardships, their jokes, their suggestions—it’s unbeatable. Ultimately, it’s always best to listen to others because you never know when you’re losing out.