Senior Student Highlight: Sok Tan Yna

Sok Tan Yna (Academic 2022-2023) – Bittersweet goodbyes approaching​
Favorite Quote: “Stay away from those people who try to disparage your ambitions. Small minds will always do that, but great minds will give you a feeling that you can become great too.” — Mark Twain​

Meet Yna, one of our outstanding senior students.​

One interesting fact about Yna is that she likes to remain underwater because it gives her peace. During her free time, she enjoys baking and cooking because of the procedure and how she can create an aesthetic picture afterward. She also likes to read books. She feels transported to another world when she immerses herself in a book. The words on the page come to life in her mind, and she can imagine the characters, the settings, and the events as if they were happening right in front of her. With a movie, everything is presented to you visually, and you have no control over what you see or how you interpret it. But with a book, your imagination can roam and create your own pictures and sensations. Reading a book is like having a personal experience that no one else can share.​

Besides her study, Yan attends swimming lessons weekly to work on her swimming technique. One of her favorite memories is working on the Robotics project with her teammates has undoubtedly been the most cherished memory of her high school years. The project was a whole new experience for her and her friends since they had never ventured into the IT world before. They invested a lot of effort into their work, and she can still feel the rush they experienced as they hurried from class to the Robotics lab during the breaks. The excitement and pressure were palpable, but they knew that high school wouldn’t be complete without these elements. The joy they felt upon completing the project was indescribable, and it will forever hold a special place in her heart.

History course is one of the subjects that she enjoys studying because it helps her to learn a lot and instills many excellent morals. She also learns to value cultures, ideas, and traditions by studying the diversity of the human experience. However, Performance Task 1 of the AP Seminar subject presented her with the greatest difficulty because it pushed her to think creatively and devise a solution to a global issue. It also required her to conduct extensive research on her topic. Despite that, Yna told her that AP Calculus is one of the courses that help her develop her ability to think abstractly by dealing with invisible or immaterial ideas. This is a crucial ability that will benefit her in all aspects of her life. It also enables her to think more imaginatively and see things from a higher perspective. ​

As it is near the end of high school, Yna has been considering what she wants to do next. After exploring various options, she has decided that majoring in finance is her best path. She has always had a knack for numbers and a passion for investment strategies. Yan also wants to learn how to manage money, make smart financial decisions, and help others do the same. Thus, after graduating from AUPPHS-FA, Yna plans to attend a university with a strong finance program and immerse herself in the coursework and extracurricular opportunities. She would like to join finance clubs, attend networking events, and seek out internships to gain practical experience. Ultimately, Yna hopes to graduate from university with a deep understanding of finance and a solid foundation for a successful career. As a senior student, Yna’s advice for her juniors is “If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door” by Milton Berle.