By Lylyan Yenson
At school events, it’s a common sight to see people cheering and leading the crowd. While you may be lost in the crowd, you can always find October Senior of the Month Seraphina Nguyen sticking out.
You can always count on her to be shouting at the top of her lungs and rallying Barons together. Even when she’s not physically on campus due to COVID-19, she continues to strive and spread positivity among her fellow peers.
As Friday Night Live (FNL) president and part of the Associated Student Body (ASB) and Senior Class Commission, Nguyen works nonstop to create a friendly atmosphere for all Barons. She can recall how inspiring it was for her to see students planning Fountain Valley High School (FVHS) events behind the scenes.
“I always knew I wanted to be a leader at Fountain Valley,” Nguyen said. “I wanted to be part of that group of students, creating the Baron atmosphere one event at a time—whether it be through FNL, educating students of the negative effects of tobacco and substance abuse, or through ASB, creating and planning events for students.”
For Nguyen, the 2020 FNL Talent Show was her proudest accomplishment because of the effort she put into it. It was meticulous and demanding to organize, but seeing the contestants on stage and the students in the crowd made it worth every sweat and tear shed.
Her accomplishments aren’t restricted to school. Nguyen is part of Orange County Youth Council, where she advocates against tobacco and substance abuse and hopes to create a better society by educating her peers. This experience did not only help Nguyen advocate against substance abuse but also help her future aspirations.
“I was also able to shadow some health professionals this summer to learn more about their respective professions to see what my future career could look like,” Nguyen said.
Nguyen’s passions don’t just stop there. She plays the piano, guitar and ukulele. Although she was classically trained in the piano, she taught herself how to play the guitar and ukulele.
“My music allows me to express myself when words aren’t sufficient, and I can’t imagine life without it,” she said.
Nguyen credits her parents for inspiring her to become the student and leader that she is now.
“At an early age, they instilled within me all the qualities I possess today; and I’ve taken those qualities and have applied them to my academic studies, athletic adventures, and personal hobbies,” Nguyen said. “Now, whenever I am able to accomplish something, my proudest moment isn’t the moment of receiving the honor. It’s coming home to share the honor with them.”
When asked if she wanted to share one thing Nguyen automatically thinks of her life motto: “Live a life you’re excited about.” She follows this saying as she believes that no matter what difficulties you face, life moves on and you have to move on with it.
“This motto reminds me that happiness isn’t an option; everyone deserves happiness and excitement, and if the life you’re living doesn’t excite you, I think it may be time for a change,” Nguyen said.
Nguyen leaves FVHS with one final quote:
“All I can hope for is that my four years of involvement at Fountain Valley have enriched our campus and created different spaces of support, ultimately making the whole community of FVHS stronger,” she said.
