What is your background?: My name is Phuong Tran, but others also know me by my nickname Lena. I attended high school at Cedar Valley Christian School located in Cedar Rapids. Currently, I’m an international student at Kirkwood and will be graduating in Spring 2023. I’m from Saigon, Vietnam. My family members in Vietnam include my dad, mom, little sister, and Lucky, our dog.
What brought you to Kirkwood and why?: Kirkwood staff visited my high school a few times and informed us of what Kirkwood is about and the benefits we will get from attending Kirkwood. The visits of Kirkwood staff have helped me a lot, but I didn’t really make up my mind until further chatting with my counselor, where he advised me to attend Kirkwood for its variation in programs and its affordability.
What is your program of study and what interests you about it?: I am currently working toward an Associate of Science liberal arts degree. I decided on Liberal Arts because I will need to transfer to a 4-year university after graduating from Kirkwood. Majoring in Liberal Arts is a great way for me to fulfill my pre-med courses at a more reasonable price. I plan on taking Psychology for my bachelor’s degree and applying to med school after graduating.
Are you involved in anything off campus?: I do volunteer for some events near where I live, which is Marion. Besides that, I am also involved in field trips and volunteering for events hosted by the Global Learning Office.
What do you do for fun?: I usually annoy my loved ones for fun. My love language is physical touch and quality time. Therefore, I usually find reasons to annoy those I love and spend time with them. When having lots of free time, I usually call my family members across the globe, cook and do self-care.
Where do you see yourself in five years?: In five years, I hope to see myself working hard in medical school and preparing to be a pediatrician. While attending medical school, I will be involved in many volunteering activities to further contribute to the community that I am living in. Other than that, I will be spending time keeping in touch with my loved ones while getting closer to my life goals.