When first stepping into high school, what were your expectations? Were they met or did you realize you were completely wrong? Minh Nguyen, a senior at Paint Branch, quickly discovered that high school wasn’t “like the movies” he’d seen. If Minh wanted to describe Paint Branch in three words, he would use “chaotic, messy, and dramatic.”
Now that he’s a senior, Minh is getting ready to graduate and set off into the real world. On a scale from one through ten, he would describe his excitement about life right now as a 7.5. He feels nervous because he has to become more independent and “won’t have someone to hold his hand.” But, simultaneously, he’s excited because he gets to gain more freedom. Minh, who says if his life were a song it would be titled “A Mess,” describes his life as being unpredictable and that he navigates it with an openness to embrace the fun and chaos. To help him decompress from the pressures of senior year, he loves to listen to his new favorite artist, Laufey, whose soothing voice induces a sense of peace.
Growing up, Minh was a Nickelodeon kid. His favorite childhood shows were iCarly, Victorious, and SpongeBob SquarePants. He loved the musical aspect of Victorious, inspiring his first dream career of becoming a singer. If he could give his younger self one piece of advice, he would simply say, “Go for it.” To him, it’s important not to hold yourself back and to live your life to the fullest. He doesn’t want to have any regrets in the future. This means fully enjoying his favorite seasons, fall and winter, which is a time he looks forward to each year. He enjoys these cool seasons because of the lack of insects and the long walks in the fresh, calming weather.
If Minh had to choose between living in a crowded and bustling city or a quiet and empty countryside, he would pick neither. “The countryside doesn’t have anything around it while the city has too much around it,” he says. Instead, his ideal place to live would be a balance of both. While Minh wants a suburban lifestyle for his day-to-day, he would love to travel to the tropical island of Bora Bora. He wants to experience staying in the famous bungalows which are directly above the lagoon. Swimming in the crystal-clear water and scuba diving down to the vibrant coral reefs are experiences he’s most excited for, as they offer a chance to fully explore the adventures Bora Bora offers.
After Minh graduates, he plans on heading to college to pursue a bachelor’s degree in social work. Currently, he’s in the process of applying to several universities and aims to get into his top schools, Berkeley or UMBC. As his backup plan, he plans on going straight to Montgomery College. He says, “No way I’m going to graduate college with debt.” Determined to achieve his academic goals without being burdened by loads of debt, he ensures that his financial stability remains a top priority throughout his years in college.
By: Rayisa Islam
