It’s been inspiring to read recent Eagle articles about Wichita’s outstanding graduating seniors, such as Ngoc Trang Nguyen, who four years ago didn’t speak English and today is among Wichita East High School’s 14 class valedictorians.
The prescription for her success: “I work hard,†she told The Eagle. One teacher described her as “inquisitive, deliberate, persistent.â€
Her favorite saying: “Impossible is nothing.â€
She plans to major in biochemistry and dreams of finding a cure for hemophilia.
Or consider Claudia Nieuwoudt of the Independent School, who also spoke little English when she came to Wichita as an eighth-grader. Three years later, she received the highest possible score on the Advanced Placement English test. She loves to volunteer, from helping rebuild hurricane-shattered homes in Louisiana to working as a translator in a hospital emergency room.
Fluent in four languages, she hopes after attending medical school to work with Doctors Without Borders.
What great role models for anyone, not just our young people. Wichita has reason to be proud of its academic stars. They’re clearly going places.
5 Comments
Ngoc Trang Nguyen, graduating senior at Wichita’s East High School, is a wonderful student with all the pluses, intelligence, work ethic, persistence, achiever … and a winning smile. Ngoc Trang, best wishes as you proceed with the next level in your educational pathway and hope you accomplish all your goals along the way.
Congratulations to these fine students, Wichita is very proud of you. May your futures be bright and filled with promise.
And the places they go will be away from Kansas.
Wow. More evidence of “our failing schools . . . “
“Impossible is nothing.”
There are many on this blog that would do better if they had her attitude.