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Connor Rothman

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Bio

“Despite everything, it’s still you.” I played the game Undertale when I was eleven years old, and to this day, that one line of text always begets potent feelings of self-reflection within me. The line comes near the end of the game, after traversing the underground world and facing countless monsters–ones that, despite having the option of violent slaughter, you can all befriend through kindness and compassion. The mirror’s text appears only on this pacifistic route, and is a line that, like many who played it, has stuck with me long after beating the game. As I’ve grown, my adoration for video games expanded to encompass various aspects of their development, including art, music, and coding. This passion initially manifested through creating fanmade music and concept art for projects I followed, with one leading to my acceptance into a group of game-modding teens self-titled “Team ShatterDisk” in 2022. Over my years with the group, I've developed the artistic skills and knowledge of tools to create mods fully on my own, including making a full-game mod of Undertale. The vision of creating a game has been a burning desire ever since my younger self read that one line of text, having only evolved since its conception, with one greater purpose in mind: I wish to complete the circle, to provide that character, scene, or story which others can connect with on a deeper, personal level. I want to make my own special text that someone can stick with them and help them to grow into the best version of themselves too; not unlike that young girl all those years ago.

Education

Portola High School

High School
2022 - 2026

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Bachelor's degree program

  • Majors of interest:

    • Computer Science
    • Human Computer Interaction
    • Mathematics and Computer Science
    • Computer Programming
    • Computer Software and Media Applications
    • Computer Engineering
    • Applied Mathematics
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Computer Games

    • Dream career goals:

    • Concessions Worker

      Wild Rivers
      2025 – 2025

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      VIVID (Validating & Including Voice in Diversity) — Contribute to group poster creations, conceptualize activities & theming for events, set up Queer Prom event, forge community among queer youth.
      2025 – Present
    Stewart Family Legacy Scholarship
    Exploring the impacts of science on our lives every day feels like watching a massive spider web of all the activities we do and devices we use: Everything is connected with each other. I have always viewed science and engineering as the dynamic duo of humanity’s technological advancements. No matter what you are interacting with, or what task you’re performing, there will be a link leading back to at least one of them. Many of these are more obvious; advancements in medical technologies are driven by discoveries in biology and chemistry, and shifts to renewable energy are predicated on information provided by environmental sciences such as ecology. However, the connections run deeper into daily life than I believe most people recognize. One prime example of this is the vehicles we use to travel every day. The production and optimization of fuels such as gasoline and diesel are influenced by chemistry, and the field can even be involved in protective paints for vehicles as well. Additionally, physics pairs with engineering to design aerodynamic structures for vehicles while still ensuring their safety. The same can be said for many other appliances, crafted with the science of their function in mind. Even devices as ordinary as a microwave use humanity’s understanding of physics and electricity to be designed to heat food of different types and qualities properly. Without the findings of countless researchers and scientists, much of the technology we utilize today would not exist—even the ones we perceive to be more mundane. These discoveries and inventions were spearheaded by scientists in the top of their field, and their leadership in directing projects and working to foster innovation allowed them to be utilized to the fullest. Science is one of the most prominent promoters of human-wide advancement, from technology and health to exploration and protection of our planet. Progression in technologies hinge greatly on the work that teams of professionals produce, and these leaders throughout the vast fields of science have the responsibility to lead their fields forward to new discoveries. Their revelations, and the changes they bring, will continue to create ripples that affect the way we interact with the world around us, and with each other.
    Connor Rothman Student Profile | Bold.org