By Anh Thu Truong
Driven. Creative. Kind.
These are three words that junior Kailyn Huynh emulates throughout her life and encapsulates in her spirit. Kailyn’s calming persona, yet enthusiastic drive for her passions is well evident in her day-to-day life.
Whether she’s being president for Peer Assistance Leadership (PALs) at Fountain Valley High School, attending a Model United Nations conference or simply watching her favorite film, Ratatouille, Kailyn is best at translating her interests into helping her community and those around her.
A key part of her involvement on campus has been being an active member of Baron Banner since her freshman year. Huynh’s dedication to photography inside and outside of school has earned her the position of Co-Photo Manager.
For some, photos may just be mere images pasted onto a screen, but, for Huynh, photography is a language that can be shared to tell stories. Her passion for photography started in her middle school years, igniting an interest in film photography and curating images that reflect the endless nature of her creativity.
“The biggest part of photography for me is just being able to capture moments in my everyday life in an unconventional or unseen way. You could take the same image a thousand different ways,” Huynh said. “There’s so much to experiment with editing, composition and coloring, so I’m always learning something new.”
Huynh’s talents extend beyond just the lens; she has a strong passion for writing and journalism, which she hopes to pursue post-graduation.
“Writing is so powerful that if you can learn to use it correctly, the limits are endless,” Huynh said. “I just really want to connect with the student body and show them that.”
Huynh’s athleticism is proudly presented through her role on the varsity basketball team, where she finds purpose in playing in a competitive team environment. Although she notes taking a break from playing her freshman year, returning the following year with renewed energy was one of the best decisions she’s made.
Outside of school, Huynh notes her biggest role model as her mother, who has been a huge guiding force in her life.
“I’ve learned so much from her. I find her way of living so inspiring, she taught me to put in the work now so you don’t have to later,” Huynh said. “She tells me to be light-hearted and to not take things too seriously. Sometimes in life, we get too wrapped up in our issues, and we don’t focus on what truly matters.”
Huynh’s journey is filled with purpose and drive to keep on being involved with her community, to not only strengthen Baron Banner — but the world around her.
While studying, she listens to jazz, finding comfort in the slow rhythm and soulful beat. In her free time, she also listens to R&B — mainly Dominic Fike.
All of Huynh’s unique interests and traits do not diminish her value in Baron Banner. She is an outstanding member of our paper and she can’t wait to start writing.