Be an NCBA Star Student – Get Good Grades, Get Involved, Give Back

Since 1984, the NC Bankers Association Foundation has awarded nearly $1.5 million in college scholarship funds to more than 120 high school seniors with a parent employed by an NCBA member bank. Last year’s recipients were Anna Holt Basinger of New Hanover High School in Wilmington, now in her freshman year at the University of Virginia; and Jefferson’s Lane Miller, an Ashe County High School graduate in his first year at Duke University. This year’s application window opens soon, so continue to watch this space for details. As we ramp up for the 41st year of the scholarship program, we are highlighting the 2024 finalists in our Star Student Spotlight. This week, John Sullivan, Senior Director of the NCBA’s Future Bank Leaders Program, spoke with Chip O’Buch from New Hanover High in Wilmington. Now a freshman at UNC-Chapel Hill, he is the son of Melissa O’Buch with Live Oak Bank.

 

John Sullivan: You’ve excelled in so many different areas. Academically, you were ranked in the top two percent of your high school class. You were a member of the National Honor Society, Beta Club and Student Council. Athletically, you ran varsity cross-country all four years – including two as captain – ran varsity track for four years and swam on the varsity swim team for three. You even found time to tutor elementary school students. How did you find the energy for it all?

Chip O’Buch: It’s hard not to get burned out because sports is physically draining and school can be mentally exhausting, but I figured out how to make it work. With swimming I would push myself really hard in the pool to take out my stress, then afterward I was ready to put mental energy into my school work. I would get tired, but when you’re consistently going from one to the other like that, you don’t have time to focus on anything except making sure you’re taking care of the things you’re supposed to.


JS:
You’ve never lacked for confidence, for good reason, yet some of your classmates thought you were arrogant and selfish. Now you’re more humble. What was it like to go through that process?

CO: I was arrogant and selfish, always comparing my grades and achievements to everyone else. Things changed in my junior year of high school. We were in English class and the teacher was plotting a curve on the board of all the test scores. I always had a lot of self-confidence, so I asked loudly, “what did I get?” He said if he told me he’d have to tell everyone else too. Thirty of my classmates were in the room and every single one of them wanted me to do poorly. They were hoping I got a bad grade. That was an eye opener because I realized that’s not the person I want to be. That’s when I began to work on being more humble.


JS:
Do you put a lot of presssure on yourself?

CO: I wouldn’t say pressure – my parents definitely wanted me to do well – but I’m self-driven, developed my own habits and work ethic because I like to compete and challenge myself.


JS:
If you could give advice to your middle school self, what would it be?

CO: Don’t be so obsessive and don’t be so worried about comparing my grades to other people’s. It’s ok to help if they ask, but do it for the right reason, not because it proves I’m smarter than they are.


JS:
What do you see yourself doing in 20 years?

CO: I’ve been fascinated with being a dentist since I was eight years old. My aunt is a dentist and I was able to shadow her and I really enjoyed it. Then I shadowed an oral surgeon in our town and enjoyed that even more. Now that I’m older I’m more aware of other career opportunities, but I’ve never doubted that dentistry is what I want to do. I’m still fascinated with it.


JS:
Time for the Rapid Response Round. Favorite color?

CO: Carolina Blue.


JS:
Cat or dog?

CO: Dog.


JS:
Beach or mountains?

CO: Oh, that’s tough. I can’t say mountains just because I love the beach so much.


JS:
Read a story or write a story?

CO: Read a story.


JS:
New York City or Los Angeles?

CO: New York City. It’s more condensed and more interesting.


JS:
I wasn’t aware of your career aspirations before this interview, but I’ll ask you this question anyway. Which scares you the most, public speaking or going to the dentist?

CO: (chuckling) I’m not afraid of going to the dentist since I want to be one, so I guess public speaking, but that’s not really much of an issue, especially if I’m prepared or presenting on something I know.