Stats: 16, 12th grade at Huntington Beach High School in Huntington Beach, CA
Notable:
- Ranked one of the top 9% in California academically
- Nhan Hoa Health Clinic Internship Certificate
- Part-time Manager at a local jewelry shop
- Senhoa Appreciation Award
- National Honor Society (NHS)
- HBHS Environmental Green Team
- California Scholarship Federation (CSF)
- Amnesty International Club
- Key Club
Motto:
“Strong minds set the goal, hard work creates them.”
How it Began:
Jamie Van has a simple wish in life and that is to be remembered as someone who worked hard and had a good heart. At 16 years old, Jamie has already demonstrated that she’s diligent in her work ethic. She began interning with a jewelry shop in 2006 and was promoted to be a part-time manager three years ago. She’s also interned with the Nhan Hoa Health Care Clinic and been recognized as an Assistant Project Coordinator with the medical clinic’s non-profit MD100 Project.
Jamie doesn’t just end her service there. She’s worked with the Senhoa Foundation since 2009 to assist in their anti-human trafficking efforts, participated in several mission trips to Siem Reap, Cambodia to help teach, and earned multiple Senhoa Appreciation Awards for her community service.
What keeps her inspired? “The most inspiration in my life has been provided through the people I’ve met during my Cambodia trips with Senhoa. I really want to help vulnerable persons because I believe everyone should be at least happy and healthy,” said Jamie.
What’s Next?
Jamie has set her mind to work in the medical field to “continue lending a helping hand to others.”
Parental Guidance:
“I am proud of my parents because they came from such poor backgrounds and worked hard to be successful in their lives,” said Jamie.
She credits her dad for teaching her the best advice she’s ever received, which is the power of believing in oneself and importance of lending a helping hand. “If I believed I could do something, I could do it,” said Jamie.
Parent’s Perspective:
James and Jenny Van made sure they involved their daughter Jamie in their lives. “It could involve taking her to work or to school, but I wanted to make sure that I had some connection with my child and her activities,” said Jenny. She believes quality time is one of the most important parts of helping teens reach their potential.
Parent to Parent:
Jenny Van’s parents assured her that they’ll support her in anything she does, with one condition: “as long as you love and succeed in what you do [because] your success is our success.”
She believes their support allowed her the freedom to choose her career without any hesitation, which is why she offers this motherly advice to other parents:
“Do what you can handle and consider your child’s passions so that he or she may succeed.”