Going into high school, senior Jenny Le set a goal to be able to make new friends and to be a “social butterfly,” she said. Le found herself at La Salle because her parents were searching for a strong education close to home. 

“I was kind of shy at first, just because I had never been to a private school before,” Le said. “I feel like I was kind of out of place at first, but as I warmed up to [La Salle], it was really nice.”

The pandemic was something that Le feels took a large toll on her education and her overall high school experience. Le was not a fan of online school, as she felt that it wasn’t taken as seriously as in-person education. However, as the world slowly rids itself of the obstacles the pandemic has put up, she has been able to focus on her social goals more. 

Le’s favorite class this year is Leadership, where she finds herself loving the large yet close community that the classroom environment fosters. 

“We have freshmen that are in there and I feel kind of like an older sister to them,” Le said. “It gets me more connected to the community.” Le said that the Leadership class plans numerous events, social activities, and service opportunities around the school. 

Le attributes her academic success to her ability to plan and manage her time. Her Honors Pass, a study period for seniors, allows her to complete the majority of her outside school work before she leaves for the day. If she finds herself with additional work, Le will set a strict deadline for herself to be able to complete her school work and balance her other extracurriculars. 

Beyond her high school education, Le aspires to pursue an education in law. Specifically, Le is interested in international relations but finds joy in political science as a whole and any means of social debate. Her sophomore year Speech and Debate class, taught by Mr. Doran, sprouted her interest in debate. Her interest in political justice and immigration law was sparked by her parents’ journeys to the United States as immigrants themselves. 

“My parents are both immigrants from Vietnam, and my dad had a hard time coming over here because he escaped Vietnam, which was illegal,” Le said. 

Her father’s trip from Vietnam to the United States consisted of multiple segments. Following Vietnam’s transition to communism, when Le’s father was 21, he took a boat from Vietnam to Indonesia and lived there in a refugee camp for approximately six months. Le’s father was later sponsored by a church in Portland and was able to go to the Philippines in order to learn English and more about American culture before coming to America. Le’s mother took a similar journey from Vietnam to America, as she was also sponsored by a church and went to the Philippines before arriving in the United States. 

“I think that everyone deserves to have a chance to live a good life filled with opportunities,” Le said.  

Although Le’s views and her parents’ views might not always align, Le appreciates how her parents have influenced her life. She looks up to both her mom and dad for inspiration and guidance in her life, as she says she knows that they only want the best for her. 

“They’re really strong and patient and I really admire that,” Le said.