Getting to Know Salisbury Senior Jenny Phan
Jenny Phan always wanted to participate in a sport. However, her anxiousness and shyness got in the way.
But entering her senior year at Salisbury, Jenny felt comfortable enough to join the ladies tennis team.
“I figured it was now or never, and I am really glad I did it,” Jenny said. “I got to know the players on the team and it was a nice way to begin my senior year. I realized that life is too short to continue to be in my comfort zone and not push myself to be out there a little bit more.”
Tennis was just the start of a very busy final year of high school for Jenny. She is also a member of No Place for Hate, Student Government, Key Club and Students Taking Active Roles.
Jenny is vice president of the senior class and is actively involved in class advisory activities. She is currently managing social media for the class and putting together the senior video. Jenny also is a talented artist and is an avid music lover.
“I am always listening to music.” Jenny said. “A day never goes by when I don’t.”
Academically, Jenny is a fan of science and has taken three science classes from her favorite teacher, Mrs. Susan Wilson.
“Mrs. Wilson is so passionate, such a good teacher and cares so much about what she is teaching,” Jenny said. “Honors anatomy was hands-on learning, and I really enjoyed that.”
Jenny, whose sister Phuong graduated from SHS in 2012, always seems to have a smile on her face. She stresses the importance of being kind to others and values the relationships she has built at Salisbury.
“Jenny is very compassionate toward other students and is always concerned about the well being of others,” Mrs. Wilson said.
Jenny has attended Salisbury since kindergarten. She started at Western Salisbury and didn’t speak a word of English. Jenny is Vietnamese; her parents were born in Vietnam, were married there and moved to the United States 27 years ago.
By third grade, Jenny was so comfortable with English that she no longer took English as a Second Language classes. Jenny also taught herself how to read and write in Vietnamese.
“I sat myself down and opened a book; I was curious,” said Jenny, who has been to Vietnam three times. “I knew how to speak Vietnamese and eventually learned the alphabet and the sounds. It all came together and I was able to form words.”
As far as what will come next, Jenny has narrowed her college choices to West Chester University and Temple University. She plans to major in biology and possibly become an occupational therapist. Jenny is not in a hurry, however, for her senior year to end.
“I am going to miss the senior class since these are the people I have grown up with since we were young,” Jenny said. “It's exciting and scary at the same time to see everyone grow up and go our separate ways to pursue our passions.”
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