Amy Nguyen
Quick Facts
Age: 20
Pronouns: she/her
Major: Psychology
Other languages: Vietnamese
Transfer Institution: Associate of Arts DTA, Bellevue College
“Civility means having respect, consideration, and kindness for all individuals, as well as promoting equality by recognizing the inherent worth and rights of everyone, regardless of who they are.”
Service & Work:
Lakeridge Lovebugs Daycare (Assistant Teacher) Jan 2024-present.
Aim Star Learning (Certified Behavioral Therapist) April 2022-Jan 2024.
Boys and Girls Club (Youth Development Professional), October 2021-April 2022.
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church (Piano Player Volunteer) dedicated 800+ hours, Jan 2016-present.
Awards & Honors:
Alfie Scholarship
Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
Amy’s Story
I am a first-generation American, born and raised in Washington my entire life. My mom and dad immigrated to the U.S. from Vietnam in the 90’s, eventually meeting each other in Washington and having 2 children, me and my younger sister. They had to start their lives from scratch, learning a new language while simultaneously attending school in a foreign climate. I was fortunate enough to have a quality education through my parents’ hard work, but I understood that this was not the case for many other families. Knowing that education was often a privilege, not a right, I worked hard to get good grades. My parents instilled in me a value for education, as well as an understanding of why it was so important for every person to have a quality education. They wanted to give me the life that they couldn’t have in Vietnam, and I am forever grateful to them.
However, my school life was not without challenges. I remember feeling frustrated at myself due to my inability to focus. Not understanding why I struggled, I began to accept this as my personal flaws, blaming myself for being lazy, unmotivated, and stupid. Even though I valued education, I started to dread school because of how unsuccessful I felt.
Finally, I got my ADHD diagnosis at 16. However, it was too late as it had already worsened to the point of interfering with my studies. I found myself struggling emotionally, which only further exacerbated my academic struggles. I felt that my current struggles could’ve been mitigated had I gotten proper resources and accommodations to discuss ADHD as a child. Then, COVID-19 hit which compounded my struggles. After dropping out of college twice during this period, I ended up putting school on hiatus for 2 years, working full-time and working to improve my mental health.
During those 2 years, I worked as a Certified Behavioral Therapist, where I worked with children on the spectrum. There, I found immense fulfillment as I worked to give the children skills to navigate life. Seeing their improvement made me realize that this was my calling. It made me realize that I wasn’t made up entirely of just flaws, and that I had gifts and strengths that I could contribute to the world. On top of that, knowing that I was laying the foundation for these children’s future successes was something that resonated with me deeply; I want to give these children a different educational experience than what I had experienced as a child.
I finally felt ready to go back to college in 2023, but this time, I had a clear purpose and a strong desire to advocate for disabled and marginalized youth.
Being selected for the Alfie Cohort 9 showed me that my commitment to improving marginalized youth's lives mattered and highlighted the urgent need to address the lack of resources and education for their futures. All these experiences have led me to want to become a pediatric occupational therapist, so that I can continue to empower our marginalized youth with the skills needed to navigate their futures.
Mission:
I believe children are pivotal to our society, as they will eventually grow up and step into our roles. It is crucial that we guarantee every child’s success by providing equal opportunities. Unfortunately, those from diverse or disabled backgrounds are often let down. This is why I aspire to become a pediatric occupational therapist, a goal that I feel fits perfectly with my aspirations to see every child succeed. I want to equip these children with the skills and resources they need, opening doors to achieving diverse goals and milestones throughout their lives.
Goals:
My goal currently is to obtain my Bachelor of Arts, majoring in psychology. Afterwards, my goal will be to pursue a career in pediatric occupational therapy. My first time working with children was back in high school, where I had gotten an internship and worked with young girls in a math summer camp. This had revealed my natural affinity for working with young children as I loved seeing them succeed and grow, but also in establishing a connection with them. It was during this experience that I realized my calling in being the person to assist children in achieving a successful future.
Eventually, I will return to school to get my master’s in occupational therapy before applying for my license. At the end of my educational journey, I am confident that I will positively impact the lives of numerous children and families, empowering them to attain the successful futures that they all deserve.
