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s e r v i n g tay l or , ol d f or g e , moosic & surrounding areas triborobanner.com |march 30. 2017
A benefit vendor/craft fair is in the works at Riverside High |PAGE 10
A former teacher returned for a special lesson |PAGE 12
Old Forge fifth-graders graduated the DARE program |PAGE 14
LEARNING TO BE AMERICAN Vietnamese student spoke no English when she arrived By Josh McAuliffe
been living here for several years. “Her grandmother wanted the famsPeciAl To The TRiBoRo BANNeR ily to have a better life, so she sent for them,” said Old Forge Elementary School Huynh “Quinn” Nguyen spoke not a learning support teacher and district syllable of English upon first arriving in Northeast Pennsylvania from her native public relations coordinator Gina Aldrich. At first, Quinn had a difficult time adVietnam in 2015. justing to her new surroundings. Because She’s come a long way since then. of the language barrier, she struggled to Now a senior at Old Forge Juniorform friendships and get acclimated to Senior High School, Quinn is fluent in English and fully immersed in American the school curriculum. “She had to come here and learn culture as she plans to embark on the everything from scratch,” Aldrich said. “I next phase of her young life. was trying to put myself in her shoes. My Quinn will graduate from Old Forge God, what would I do?” in June, and from there plans to study With a lot of hard work and motivacommunications at Penn State Univertion, though, Quinn’s English markedly sity. Before that, she intends to take an improved and in turn opened her up intensive English as a Second Language to a much more satisfying high school (ESL) course at Marywood University that will only further enhance the already experience. Currently, she’s organizing a impressive strides she has made with the clothing drive as her senior project at Old Forge. The cause is near and dear to her, language. considering she relied on donated cloth“I think I’m doing good,” said Quinn, 17, during a recent interview. “I think it’s ing upon first arriving in the borough. “She’s doing just about everything been a big thing for me. At first, I didn’t independently now with very little supknow anything.” Renee Halbig, Quinn’s ESL teacher at port,” Halbig said. Today, Quinn’s life is much like any Old Forge, backed up that assessment. other normal American teen. She works “Absolutely. She’s very highly motipart-time as a cashier at Ray’s Supermarvated,” Halbig said. ket in Old Forge. She’s learning to drive. Quinn arrived in the United States She’s psyched about opening her first on a visa two years ago along with her parents, older sister and younger brother. checking account. And she recently attended Old Forge’s semi-formal dance. While her parents went to work in LanShe likes to shop at local malls and caster, Quinn and her siblings moved in prefers the mix of seasons here to the with her grandmother, who had already more tropical climate of Vietnam. On the music front, she’s a fan of Eminem and Lady Gaga and can’t wait to attend her first concert. While she still eats plenty of traditionTS_CNG/TRIBORO/PAGES [T01] | 03/29/17
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Huynh “Quinn” Nguyen will graduate Old Forge this spring.
al Vietnamese meals at home, she loves the school cafeteria chicken and is privy to the joys of McDonald’s and Burger King. And what about Old Forge pizza? “I love it,” Quinn said. “All these things we take for granted, she’s excited about,” Aldrich said. In addition to her fellow Old Forge students, Quinn has formed friendships with Vietnamese students from other local school districts. Those connections,
along with her strong family bonds, ensure her cultural ties will remain intact. Further down the road, Quinn has designs on becoming a professional event planner. Meanwhile, she fully intends to become an American citizen. Given her work ethic and determination, there’s no reason to doubt her. “She’s exceptional,” Halbig said. “A lot of students come and go, but I suspect she’s one I’ll stay in touch with for many years to come.”