Attleboro Whiz Kid: Linda Nguyen

Attleboro Whiz Kid overcame adversity.

• Linda Thanh Nguyen
• Superintendent Challenge Award Winner
• Attleboro High School, Senior

Attleboro Superintendent Pia Durkin recently honored Nguyen with the Superintendent Challenge Award. Nguyen was bestowed with the honor because she is a student who has overcome adversity and is determined to succeed. It is also for being the first member of her family to graduate from high school.

Filled with pride, Nguyen accepted the award. She had a difficult time believing that, out of all the students at , she was selected for the award.  It took time for her to process the idea that she had been the one to catch the superintendent’s attention with her story and accomplishments.

It was the heartfelt, moving college essay of Nguyen's rough childhood and adoption, which captured the eye of Durkin. Nguyen shared her story not for sympathy but to inspire others. She wants people to know that when times get rough, “All you can do is hope for the better and make the most of it. From there, continue to work hard; and whatever dreams you have, don’t let anything stop you from fulfilling them.” 

In the fall, Nguyen will be attending Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences for Pre-med. Her determination to become a doctor comes from the influence of her mother. She would like to be a doctor because she wants to help people in every way possible and give them hope. Having lost her mother when she was nine Nguyen, along with her siblings, struggled seeing their mom sick and fragile. She would like to share hope with her patients and help them in anyway she can.

High school has been her most exciting accomplishment. She did not realize how much work she had put in and how much people actually appreciated it until scholarship night. “The night I received the award, I couldn’t have felt any more accomplished. I tried and tried, and after four years it finally paid off.” 

Graduating with an impressive 93.6 average, Nguyen strongly crossed the finish line of her high school career. Her advanced placement classes challenged and developed her mind. Her personal key to success is passion. Feeling motivated by passion Nguyen shared, “Passion drives ambition. When you love something that much, and you are passionate about it, that’s the motivation that will keep you going.”

Of all her academic and extra-curricular activities, she is most proud of her community service. Nguyen participated in the Leo Club, the Special Olympics and is a Junior Volunteer at l. Nguyen makes herself available to lend a helping hand whenever needed. She deeply realizes that not everyone has an encouraging emotional or physical support system, and she wants to spend her life offering pieces of herself to help others.