By Brian Pham
As Avrena Ghatas’ final year of high school starts, she made the decision to take on new experiences and opportunities.
Ghatas joined Baron Banner this year and is currently a writer but plans to branch out more in the future.
“I joined [Baron Banner] because there are many different ways you can contribute to Baron Banner,” Ghatas said. “You can write and you can express yourself”.
Another way Ghatas wants to contribute to Baron Banner is with photography, which she has taken an interest in even before applying.
“I’ve done [photography] before Baron Banner. I just take random pictures but I liked how they turned out so I kept taking pictures,” Ghatas said.
Ghatas particularly likes taking pictures of sunsets and nature, but her love for sunsets and nature isn’t just limited to photography.
After picking up painting as a hobby during quarantine, Ghatas wants to be able to paint sunsets in the future and right now she has been practicing painting gradients which she can incorporate into her paintings.
“I just like how the sky can make different colors every day,” Ghatas said.
Outside of Baron Banner and an interest in painting, Ghatas joined several clubs on campus such as Red Cross, Save the Children and the California Scholarship Federation.
“I think Red Cross is the most interesting because you can do a lot for other people,” Ghatas said.
Ghatas not only volunteers through school but she also finds other ways to volunteer by herself. She has previously volunteered at the Fountain Valley Library.
Ghatas loves helping people and for this reason, she wants to pursue a career in the medical field. She is specifically interested in cardiac surgery right now.
She was inspired by Magdi Yacoub, an Egyptian-British cardiac surgeon. Yacoub founded a charity called the Chain of Hope, where children with cardiac conditions from war-torn and impoverished countries can be treated.
After high school, Ghatas plans on going to a community college and then transferring to a four-year university. No matter what path she chooses, Ghastas will find it by adventuring through new experiences.