SANTA CRUZ — Although throughout their education, many students may eventually label themselves either a “math person” or a “language person,” nearing graduation from Santa Cruz High School, senior Chanya Nguyen still sees herself as both. “I really love every single subject,” said Nguyen. “I don’t remember any class that I didn’t completely fall in love with.
I’m going to miss high school so much. I absolutely loved every class I’ve ever taken.” Nguyen had a full slate of extracurricular activities through her high school career that included membership in clubs on both sides of the brain such as the Women’s Honor Society, Poetry Club, and the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math or STEM Club and the newly-formed Women in STEM Club.
Through the Women in STEM Club, Nguyen and her clubmates also organized fundraising activities and talks featuring women in various scientific fields. “We started the Women in STEM Club at the beginning of this year,” said Nguyen. “We just wanted to have a space where we could help make the resources to enter STEM fields more accessible because we know there are a lot of students who don’t really know how to get involved or reach out to find resources and we wanted a community where we could work together and make that happen.
” Having started high school during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nguyen was motivated to reach out and connect with others even more so after the hybrid learning experience ended and scho.
