Linda Nguyen, 17, was named David Douglas High School's 2009 Rose Festival princess. She plays violin, is in the National Honor Society and hopes to study pharmacology. (Photo by Doug Beghtel)
By Lisa Grace Lednicer | OregonLive
PORTLAND, OREGON – A raucous reception greeted senior Linda Nguyen, 17, as she was crowned David Douglas High School’s Rose Festival princess Tuesday.
“I just wanted to say thank you to David Douglas,” Nguyen said, slightly breathless, as she clutched a bouquet of roses after the announcement. “I’m so excited to have this wonderful, crazy adventure.”
Nguyen, who speaks fluent Vietnamese, is the only daughter of Nho Nguyen and Hoa Bang and came to the United States when she was 4.
“This moment is still very, very surreal,” she said, describing her emotions after her name was called. “It’s so amazing.” She said she’s wanted to try for Rose Festival princess since her freshman year at David Douglas.
Her hobbies include playing the violin, Scottish fiddling, jazz and teaching Vietnamese traditional dance.
She’s been a student research assistant at Oregon Health Sciences University and is senior class president at David Douglas. As for her future, Nguyen is waiting to hear if she’s been accepted to Oregon State University, where she wants to pursue a degree in pharmacology.
Age she’d like to be: “I really like the age I am now. You’re mature because you’re going to step into college, but you’re still a kid and still have fun.”
Place in Oregon she loves: Heppner, which she visited on a class trip. “The town is so friendly and everyone is so connected. All the students know each other and look out for each other.”
Advice to a younger sibling, if she had one: “Come to high school and be yourself, and look for things that interest you. David Douglas is so huge, it’s really important to be passionate.”
Class that surprised her: Psychology. “I thought the ’soft sciences’ weren’t intellectual, but after taking it I was wowed by it.”
Her most valued possession: Her violin.
Her secret vice: Procrastination.
What every person her age should know: How to be happy.
What’s next: A queen will be crowned June 6 before the Grand Floral Parade.
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