As he prepared to start grade seven at prestigious Upper Canada College, local Scarborough youth Ethan Williams, 11, had some advice to offer other kids embarking on their own education adventures: “work hard, be consistent and focus.” Ethan, a well known community volunteer, was not only accepted at the highly competitive all-boys private school in the Forest Hill neighbourhood of Toronto, but he also earned a full scholarship.
Carol Thompson of the C.O.A.C.H. Foundation in Scarborough recently sponsored Ethan with a $10,000 cheque. Thompson told MPulse Scarborough that she first met Ethan last year when he was hosting the Family Stage at the Taste of Lawrence Festival, a volunteer job he’s held for the last three years. “I was immediately struck by the way he carried himself,” says Thompson. “Even at just 10 years old, he presented himself with such confidence and grace that I knew there was something special about him.”
A former student at Bond Academy in Scarborough, Ethan skipped a grade early in his schooling and now is ready to prove to his new teachers and classmates that even though he’s a year younger than his peers, he’s “ready to make his mark” at the school.
Ethan says he wants to be a leader and have an impact as he follows his dreams to eventually study aerospace engineering and become a
pilot. He told MPulse Scarborough that his favourite subjects are math and English. He’s a member of the Scarborough Chess Club and a Pathfinder with the Toronto East Seventh Day Adventist Church. With his church Ethan participates in many community initiatives including food and toy drives.
Both Ethan and Carol Thompson spoke about the importance of encouraging other Scarborough kids to seek out opportunities and work hard.
Ethan says his favourite saying is, “Do your best and God will do the rest.”
Thompson believes that “investing in young people is one of the most powerful legacies anyone can leave behind…If given the opportunity, I would be honoured to continue sponsoring more children and helping to unlock their potential.”
