Many years ago, there was a very nervous fifth-grader getting ready to deliver a speech in front of her entire school, Windsong Intermediate. Just a few years earlier, she had struggled to speak at all in school as she dealt with selective mutism, a rare condition where children speak in some environments but not at all in others, so giving this speech was a very big deal. Her heart racing in her chest, she sought reassurance from her teacher Fariba Karjooy. Once she had comforted the anxious girl, Mrs. Karjooy left her with one thought: she needed to get used to delivering speeches because one day, she would be valedictorian. As fate would have it, Mrs. Karjooy was right.
Audrey Nguyen is the valedictorian of the Friendswood High School Class of 2022. The girl who was once unable to speak in school has gone on to hold multiple leadership roles on campus, perform with the Wranglerettes Drill Team as well as her ballet/dance studio, and radiates joy and positivity everywhere she goes.
“Looking back, I never would have imagined I would be where I am today,” Nguyen said. “FISD has challenged me but also supported me to help me grow, help me get out of my comfort zone as a kid and still now and I'm really grateful for that. When you overcome something, it makes [your accomplishments] a lot more rewarding.”
Though she may not have seen it in herself early on, Nguyen’s fourth-grade teacher Kathy McVey said she always knew Nguyen was special.
“As a fourth-grader, Audrey already just glowed with joy,” McVey said. “She always had a smile on her face and was a bright spot in my day, every day. She was smart and conscientious but even at nine years old, she had humility and never made others around her feel like she knew more than they did.”
She continued.
“I am so incredibly proud of Audrey's accomplishments,” McVey said. “I have to say I am thrilled, but not surprised at all, that she has earned this honor. I saw potential in Audrey even back then. I knew that she would do great things because of the joy that just exuded from her, but the fact that she paired that joy with diligent work, application and dedication is beyond amazing.”
That work ethic has served Nguyen well as she maintained the ability to enjoy her high school experience while simultaneously earning the top academic spot - not an easy feat.
“I really didn't want to compromise anything,” Nguyen said of not giving up her extracurricular activities to focus solely on academics. “For example, I thought I would have to give up Wranglerettes but I decided to make time because I love dance too much. It is all about budgeting your time and being willing to sacrifice a little bit of yourself for doing the things that you are passionate about.”
Though she did well balancing her time, Nguyen could have never predicted that time would stand still when the COVID-19 global pandemic hit during her sophomore year.
“It was really crazy because we left for Spring Break and did not come back,” Nguyen said. “Because my mom is a doctor and we did not want to risk her having to stay home from work, I stayed home for the first quarter and at first I thought it would be nice, but I definitely would not repeat the experience. You do not realize [the value of learning in person] until it's gone.”
Returning back to school following her stay at home was the best part of her high school experience, Nguyen said.
“It made me appreciate so much more how much I like being in person and how much I like talking to others,” Nguyen said. “Being able to accomplish that as a community in coming back from that has to be the biggest highlight.”
One day, Nguyen plans to be on the frontlines of healthcare, aiming to earn her Biosciences degree with a concentration in Cell Biology and Genetics from Rice University and eventually become a pediatrician.
“I would love to help kids, including those with my condition,” Nguyen said. “Not only will I see the kids for check-ups but I will be seeing them from birth to being a teenager. Pediatricians deal with not only the physical but also the mental; they are checking up on what is happening in your life. I want to be that someone for children, just helping shape them and hopefully making an impact on their lives.”
McVey said she has no doubt that Nguyen will continue to make an impact.
“My hopes for Audrey in the future are for her to be happy and to continue to make others around her happy,” McVey said. “I hope that she can find her true passion and use it to make a difference in the lives of others around her no matter where she is or what she does.”
Reflecting on her time in high school, Nguyen said she wanted to give advice to other students who are working towards earning a top placement.
“Just roll with the punches,” she said. “If you have a failure, if you don't do as well as you want to, don't let that hold you back from trying even harder.”
In just a few short days, the girl who was once unable to speak in school will stand on stage under the lights of Grace Community Church, look out into a blue sea of her peers and their families and deliver a speech that is sure to reflect on what was and inspire what can be: that is her legacy.
Congratulations, Audrey!