Get to Know These 2023 High School Graduates

By Katie Culligan

McLean Living speaks on behalf of our readers when we express our collective love for all of our 2023 SENIORS, who we celebrate as they reach the end of their high school careers! The 2022-23 school year bears witness to college admissions applications, military commitments and apprenticeships, final exams and graduations as they reach the pinnacle of this chapter of their lives. Their futures begin to take shape amidst the sounds of celebration and plans for their next steps, even as we all toast the culmination of their K-12 education.

We congratulate every single teenager from the class of 2023, and we know that they have accomplished remarkable achievements and overcome various obstacles throughout their school years. We could dedicate an entire magazine filled with their stories! Here are seven exceptional seniors from among many outstanding candidates:

Dia Aurora

A Top Tennis Trailblazing Scout

Dia Aurora is a 2023 McLean High School graduate who has notably won the Gold Award in Girl Scouts, was one of the first girls in our area to join Boy Scouts and has recently completed her Eagle Award project. She started a non-profit through the McLean Women’s Club, collecting feminine products for various charities to distribute to those in need. She is the captain of the regional champions varsity tennis team. Dia enjoys classical singing, classical dance and coding. She is currently working on creating an app that informs users how much carbon dioxide is released while driving. She enjoys gardening, baking, camping, skiing and daily meditation. In the fall, she will be attending Indiana University as a Finance major.

1) What’s something you’ve accomplished that you are the most proud of?

My relationship with my sisters. I have two sisters, one who is two years older than me and the other who is five years younger than me. We used to fight often and could rarely go through the day without arguing with each other. Now, we have the best experiences and I truly cherish the bond that I have created with them.

2) What has been your favorite moment of high school?

When I received the letter that I was accepted onto the Varsity Tennis team, during my freshman year. I have played tennis since I was six years old. My father was the first one to coach me and he worked extremely hard with me to get me where I am today in my tennis skills. He started learning tennis because of me and he is the reason why I was able to become a state champion for Virginia at age eight. Having our hard work pay off to join the tennis team truly filled my heart with happiness.

3) What is something you want people to know about you?

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I would like people to know that I am incredibly outgoing and find happiness in the smalljoys of life. I do not want to go out and spend money on impractical things. I would much rather go on a walk on the beach or enjoy nature.

4) What is your favorite thing to do in McLean?

My favorite thing to do in McLean is going to play tennis with my family.

5) Who is a teacher or faculty member that made a difference in your life?

My kindergarten teacher, Ms. Rucker, made a difference in my life by always believing in me. I was a year younger than everyone else in my grade and the school was debating on holding me a year back to be with classmates my own age. However, I wanted to continue on with my current classmates and Ms. Rucker was

Ethan Bhatia

An Activist with a Passion for Acting the teacher that convinced the school to let me go on and continue my school education.

6) What do you look forward to most in the next year?

I am looking forward to having new experiences in my freshman year of college.

Ethan Bhatia is a 2023 Langley High School graduate. He is the captain of the debate team, competing at the state and national levels. He is also an actor, participating in several Langley and out-of-school productions which also compete at the state and national levels. He’s been an active member and served in leadership positions for Langley’s National Honor Society and Model UN team. He’s interned at the county government offices and Community Living Alternatives. In the fall, he’ll be attending the University of Pennsylvania, pursuing a double major in Mathematical Economics and International Relations.

1) What’s something you’ve accomplished that you're most proud of?

My activism work with the Fairfax County Equity team. My sophomore year, I was appointed as Langley’s Student Ambassador Equity Leader (SEAL). I worked with county leaders and representatives from other schools to design a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) centered education policy. Some of the projects I worked on included making college readiness materials more accessible to lower income parts of the county, speaking to parents about how to introduce race-related topics at home, and consulting the superintendent’s office on making grading policies more equitable. One of the biggest projects I worked on was helping release a countywide mental health survey. We were able to present the findings of our survey at the FCPS equity symposium, and were able to get the findings of our survey incorporated in FCPS’ standardized wellness curriculums.

2) What has been your favorite moment of high school?

The first day of junior year we were all back from online school. After a year and a half of being cooped up behind screens, it was amazing. Everyone had a resounding sense of energy that I’d never seen before. The positivity was contagious.

3) What is something you want people to know about you?

I love being onstage. Acting gives me this unexplainable rush of energy: I go into almost a trance, and for those moments, forget all about everything else. Acting allows me to transport myself to a different world, change my personality, and become a new person. Through the stresses of school and life, I’ve found this to be a great escape for six years now.

4) What is your favorite thing to do in McLean?

Eat at Chesapeake Bagel Bakery. For as long as I’ve lived in McLean, it’s been a Saturday morning staple for me and my family. The bagels never disappoint, and the atmosphere is always so lively and positive.

5) Who is a teacher or faculty member that made a difference in your life?

Mrs. Broad, the AP English Language and Composition teacher at Langley is unquestionably a great teacher. She’s intense, but by the end, you come out a much more polished writer. Additionally, she was the one who helped me develop my personal voice. She encouraged me to take a leadership role in my advocacy work and validated my skills as a communicator. Her reassurance was essential in developing my confidence as a speaker and advocate, and really influenced a lot of what I did outside of school.

6) What do you look forward to most in the next year?

Living in a city. As much as McLean’s environment has shaped me, I’m really excited to move into the city of Philadelphia for college. Philly is always alive. That level of activity pushes me to work hard and I’m excited to explore the endless possibilities of the city.

Caroline