Avery Davis
Staff Writer
@avery2018
When he was young, Coppell High School sophomore Frank Zhang began to develop a unique skill: origami. As he got older, Zhang’s aptitude for the craft only grew, and he revels in the moments after completing a challenging origami model, despite the quantities of time and patience involved.
When did you first begin learning origami?
I started when I was 5, but didn’t get serious until I moved to Texas and started keeping to myself more.
Has anyone influenced you or mentored you in your craft?
I learned almost completely by myself, though a few people like [my friend and sophomore at Coppell High School] Michael He; and my sister introduced me to a few challenges or [challenged me] to go a bit further with certain projects.
What made you decide to explore origami and continue to pursue it?
It was mostly because my hands were always seeking something to do and couldn’t stop moving, [so] I decided to take it up as something for my hands to do. I enjoyed deciphering the steps and geometrical figures that came with the more difficult origami models.
What is your favorite thing about origami and what makes it important to you?
[It] gives me satisfaction when something beautiful is made or a challenging step is completed. Spending hours on the same process over and over again is all made worth it for that one moment of completion.
What is your favorite origami object to create?
My favorite origami object to fold would definitely be the rose. I can’t even remember how many I’ve folded when I was bored, and it’s challenging despite how many times I’ve folded it over and over again. It looks pretty too once completed.
How often do you practice or work on your origami skills?
I don’t really have a set pattern of practicing origami. It’s mostly on a whim, or when I’m bored and there just so happens to be a sheet of paper next to me. If I had to give an average, though, it would be about eight times a week.
Has your aptitude for origami opened any doors for you or given you any special opportunities?
The most noticeable effect on my life for origami would definitely be my ninth grade year in geometry class. Once I reached a certain stage, everything in geometry became a rerun of my origami models except for with letters and numbers being put in. I would occasionally try to write geometric proofs on rules and tricks I use for for folding certain proportions in origami and I had tons of fun with it. I actually held a small origami lesson before for two children with Michael He and it was a blast. Each time children came over and I was babysitting, I would fold origami with them. I also held a sale with my sister and [He] for our church and earned over $100 in sales.
