Ethan Geary is not only an exemplary student-athlete, but also an exemplary person. He has racked up an astounding amount of academic and athletic achievements while maintaining strong and healthy relationships with those around him, both inside and outside Metuchen High School. His commitment, passion, and dedication are second to none, and he proves that hard work pays off.
One of the most important aspects of Ethan’s life is certainly soccer. He started playing soccer about twelve years ago, beginning with recreational soccer, and he has shown absolute devotion ever since. Ethan has played club soccer for ten years and is currently playing for Real New Jersey, a club team based in Medford, New Jersey. One of his favorite memories with this team was during his 2024 season, where at the last game of the season, his team was one point behind the second-place team. Winning this final game would allow them to enter the playoffs, an astounding accomplishment that only 32 teams in the US achieve. Further increasing the stakes, the team Ethan was playing against was his former team from Bethesda, Maryland, and making it to the playoffs would be a first for his current New Jersey team. Ultimately, Ethan’s team was able to pull ahead and secure a spot in the playoffs, making this one-in-a-lifetime game a highlight of Ethan’s soccer career.
Seeing as he plays at the highest possible level of youth soccer in the US, Ethan has faced various challenges and struggles and had to bear the responsibility of performing with such high stakes. However, this journey of ups and downs has made him a better person and strengthened his relationships with his teammates. Soccer is incredibly important to Ethan, and it has built a strong community that he believes has helped shape who he is.
I was fortunate to have Ethan in both his sophomore and junior years. He is a personable young man who always has an infectious smile on his face and who brightens the room as soon as he walks in. He never passes my classroom without a wave and a warm “Hi, Mrs. Wag!", and I always enjoy our chats about school, soccer, and friends. Teaching is a profession that requires a lot of heart and dedication, and hearing that a student like Ethan was accepted into MIT is exactly what makes teaching so rewarding. - Mrs. Wag
Ethan has recently committed to MIT, an amazing college that gives him the chance to play soccer at the collegiate level. MIT has the perfect combination of both an incredible academic program, where Ethan can continue to pursue his academic goals to the fullest, as well as the opportunity to continue his soccer career. Ethan’s college process was unique because it began about 2-3 years ago, due to the goal of pursuing soccer at a collegiate level. He had to begin contacting coaches and asking them to watch his games and tournaments before other students even began to consider college options. Ethan was already offered the opportunity to play soccer at MIT before he began his application process, but he still needed the academic merit to be officially accepted. While the process was still long and tedious, Ethan was able to get a response from MIT before submitting the rest of his applications, lifting the pressure and stress of college submissions and securing his future at MIT.
At MIT, Ethan plans to major in chemical engineering. Sparking this interest was an eye-opening experience at a Rutgers University summer program, where he had the opportunity to tour Bristol Myers Squibb, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. He was able to converse with the company’s chemists and chemical engineers and observe their day-to-day lives. Many of the chemists at Bristol Myers Squibb were devising technology to discover new chemical routes for pharmaceuticals and medicines, a process that Ethan became very interested in. He hopes to do something similar in the future, as he’s interested in developing new medicines and chemical reactions that target different areas of the body and have the potential to cure diseases. The amazing work Bristol Myers Squibb was doing and the company’s energizing environment captivated him. This experience ultimately shaped Ethan’s future and inspired his intended major.
Ethan, I am sad to see you go but happy to know you made it through your first milestone. I will miss our little chats and yelling at you to get to class on time. Farewell to one of the most amazing students I could ever ask for. May you be victorious in all domains of life. La señora Ortega siempre va estar aquí para ti. Buena Suerte en la universidad. - Ms. Ortega
While simultaneously playing a collegiate-level sport and studying chemical engineering may sound impossible to some, Ethan is no stranger to balancing academics and athletics. Currently, Ethan has an extremely busy schedule with an hour-long commute to and from his club soccer practices. However, overcoming this struggle has helped him become more efficient when it comes to schoolwork throughout the day and at home. It did lead to some stress and late nights, but it has also taught him how to better manage his time and has helped prepare him for his collegiate future.
Despite having to juggle many activities outside of school, Ethan is also an integral member of the MHS community. He is an essential part of both the Science Team and the Math Team at MHS, as well as a member of SNHS. Ethan has also been able to create very strong connections with many of his teachers, including Ms. Ortega, who took him under her wing and has been a huge source of support throughout high school. Similarly, Ms. Wag has been extremely supportive. English had never been Ethan’s favorite subject, but Ms. Wag was able to make English class fun and even convinced him to take AP Lang his junior year. Along with Ms. Ortega and Ms. Wag, Ms. Wang was a huge part of Ethan’s high school career. She helped him find his love for chemistry, which has become a large part of his life. Ethan shouted out a few friends as well, markedly Cole Clendenny, Danny Galligan, and Luka Novkovic, who have helped him find balance throughout high school.
I met Ethan in eighth grade after we both tried out for the middle school soccer team. Ethan was an immediate standout, both as a player and as a person. Since eighth grade, Ethan has remained as one of the most dedicated people I know. Whether he is in the classroom or on the soccer field, Ethan is always the hardest worker and is completely deserving of continuing his academic and athletic career at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Outside of his education and athletics, Ethan is among the kindest and most supportive people. He is the first person I turn to for advice, positivity, and laughter. Ethan has made a significant impact on many lives, and I know he will continue to do so throughout his future. - Danny Galligan
Throughout his life, Ethan has been greatly inspired by his parents, specifically by their hard work and dedication. Though he clearly values these traits, Ethan has discovered the importance of finding a work-life balance to improve stress levels and increase motivation. It’s important for everyone, especially those in high school, to take a page out of Ethan’s book. Ethan offers us a few pieces of advice, saying, “Don’t try to control the uncontrollable,” and emphasizing how we all should try to reduce our stress. Once you're able to accept that you can’t control everything, you can focus all of your energy on what is controllable. Ethan is an exceptional student and athlete, wise beyond his years with an unmatched determination and a remarkable work ethic. While Ethan’s journey is only just beginning, the incredible impact he has left on MHS will not be soon forgotten.
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