Each month, the principals of Gilroy and Christopher high schools choose a total of four students (two from GHS and two from CHS) to spotlight. GHS senior Thao (Nicole) Nguyen, 18, is this week’s Student of the Week.
What inspires you? My mom is my greatest inspiration. She is the one person who sees my full potential, and she pushes me beyond my limits to ensure that I will make every single one of my dreams come true. We fight a lot over how strict and rigorous she can be, but in the end, she never fails to inspire me to be the best I can possibly be.
What is your favorite subject in school, and why? Although I was never awesome at it, I would have to say that Spanish is my favorite subject. I started studying Spanish in 7th grade at Solorsano, and as a junior I was in AP Spanish 3 with Mrs. Freiburg, who was my teacher for two years. She really opened my eyes to the language and culture, which has inspired me to be an exchange student when I go to college. And because of her awesome teaching skills, I’m a candidate for the Seal of Biliteracy.
If you had the power to change one thing in the world, what would it be? The price of education. Everyone in the world deserves a chance to create something greater for themselves, and they shouldn’t be barred from obtaining an education and reaching their dreams because they can’t pay for it. Every child deserves the opportunity to learn to read, every teenager deserves the opportunity to understand, and every adult deserves the opportunity to realize they want something more out of life. Education is a key element to solve the problems we have, whether it be starvation or ignorance. With schools, we can open people’s eyes to the world of opportunity, to show that you can be something better and that you can also help others be better.
Plans after graduation? My dream school is Berkeley, but I’m not exactly sure of my plans after high school yet. I recently found out that I have been accepted to UC Irvine as a political science major, and now I’m just waiting to hear back from the other schools that I applied to. Being an exchange student would be awesome too.
If you could go anywhere, where would you go? Bali, India.Â
Name one big challenge in your life right now:Â Being patient for all the acceptances and/or rejections from colleges. I need to know NOW.
What is your dream job? Being Pocahontas at Disneyland or doing something that pays me really well to travel around the world.
If you were stuck on a deserted island, what three things could you not live without? My retainers, my MacBook, and recordings of every episode of “Man Vs. Wild.”
Favorite book: It’s a tie between “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Bronte and “East of Eden” by John Steinbeck. Both are so dark and enthralling, and I would highly recommend them.
Something that makes you smile: Justin Bieber.
