Fall 2012 Issue - Colby-Sawyer College

“Every class I have taken has proved
helpful. I think I surprised some people.”
“I interacted with people
from all walks of life and
learned something from
every event,” says Nguyen.
“Team work was vital,
just as it has been with my
business projects at
Colby-Sawyer. You have to
figure out how to work
together. Because of my
liberal arts foundation I
could discuss art, history,
religion—everything that
ends up coming into
conversation every day—
with clients, my peers and
supervisors. Every class
I have taken has proved
helpful. I think I surprised
some people.”
Again and again Nguyen
heard that good grades do
not guarantee a job after
college—recruiters want to
see relevant experience.
“My internship is helping
me learn what to expect
after graduation. I’m
gaining experience in
almost every aspect of
business,” she says.
“I’ve had a chance to find
my strengths and weaknesses.
This experience
has helped me define my
career goals, and I have
a lot more confidence now.
I want to be a leader.”
Numbers make decisions,
which is why Nguyen loves
finance, and she wants to
leverage her interests to
help others succeed and
sustain economic growth.
With the Thomas Jefferson
Memorial looming behind
her and Marine 1 flying
low over the Mall, it’s easy
to imagine this determined
young woman will meet
her goals.
“I grew up in Hanoi, surrounded
by urban poverty.
I watched my mother, an
eye nurse, help a lot of
people, not only medically
but financially. It made
me wonder what I could
do to make people happy
and struggle less,” she
says. “After graduate
school, I want to work in a
fast-paced company while
I am young and have the
energy. I think my international
experience will
benefit a lot of organizations.
My ultimate goal,
though, is to create a fund
and help the homeless.
As long as I give my best
effort to everything I do,
I will have no regrets.”
Photo: Michael Seamans