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Eden Olivia Ohayon

Biography

Highlights of Young Scholar Experience: Through the Foundation’s Advanced Mentorship Program, Eden was able to work with professional actors and drama instructors at locations around the U.S. and in Europe. Theater is her true love and the many summer programs allowed that love to deepen. She attended sessions at UCLA and Yale University and spent two summers in France at the Acting Abroad Summer program. As one of her advisors said: “Eden approaches theater as an actor, a writer, a director, a producer and excels in every role.”

Profile: Some high school seniors slack off their final year. But not Eden who enrolled in six Advanced Placement classes at Palm Desert High School in her native California. A talented young actress and budding playwright, Eden hopes to hone those theatrical skills at Yale. Eden has always loved education and the process of learning. She always took classes that challenged her to see the world in a new way. She also has a genuine curiosity about the people around her. Perhaps that desire to soak in knowledge is why her drama instructors feel she’s a natural to succeed in that field. Eden isn’t a “go with the flow student.” She often goes against the grain if she thinks she’s in the right. “I didn’t choose my extracurricular activities in high school based on what I thought would look good on a college resume. I participated in activities that stimulated me, that stirred a passion within me,” said Eden. By the way, those six AP classes . . . she aced them all.

Inspiration: Eden’s mother and aunt are the two most important people in her life. But as far as her future in theater, Eden is quick to praise Emily Firth, an instructor from her time in the Acting Abroad program. Ms. Firth, Eden said, “worked tirelessly to bring out the best artist in me.”

Aspiration: When asked what the future holds for Eden, there is no hesitation in her response: Theater. Be it as an actor, a director, producer, or playwright. Broadway is in this Scholar’s future.

Making a Difference: Eden said there were no words to describe the feeling she had after the curtains had closed on her production of Periscope, a play she had authored as part of her mentorship project. Witnessing her artistic vision come to life was a humbling and joyous experience and she said she felt she “would burst with joy once I received the audience’s feedback.” When some of the spectators told Eden that they saw themselves on stage, she said she knew that she had done “something honest, something true. And that was all I had ever wanted to achieve.”

Accolades: Both in and out of the classroom, Eden has been recognized for her scholarly, theatrical and volunteer abilities and activities. An honor student at Palm Desert High School she also received the Youth in Philanthropy Award for her service to the Pegasus Riding Academy for the Handicapped. Her junior year she was named Most Charismatic Speaker as part of the Youth & Government program, won a Gold Medal in the National Latin exam, and received the Harvard University Book Award.

Interesting fact: Eden loves to write. Poetry, letters, short stories. “Sometimes I just scribble, but I love to write.”
 

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