ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, January 13, 1997 TAG: 9701150003
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: Extra Credit
Name: Thuy Doan
Age: 16
School: Martinsville High School
Year: Junior
What she's done for others: For the past two years, Thuy has been reading twice a month to children waiting either to be treated or accompanying family members in the emergency room at Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County.
As part of the Children's Reading Program, a pilot program of the Blue Ridge Regional Library, Thuy offers children - and adults, if they like - a chance to relieve the tension and boredom of the ER.
``Some kids are just sitting there - sometimes they're watching TV. I've never had a kid say he'd rather watch TV" than read a book with her, Thuy said. ``Sometimes I read to one kid, sometimes to several.''
Thuy initially got involved through the Key Club, a service organization at her school. She has continued because ``I love kids and I love books. It's fun to just read to the kids. I feel like my time is spent well.''
Thuy escaped from Vietnam by boat with her family when she was 2 years old. She learned English after migrating here. ``I understand how difficult it is to learn the language. I really am glad for the teachers who helped me. And I'm glad to be helping these kids. Sometimes they learn new words.''
``Thuy was one of the first to volunteer'' for the program, said William Peterson, director of Literacy Volunteers of Martinsville and Henry County. ``She's so proud that she has learned the language well and can read to children who are under high stress.''
Thuy recently was named the Virginia winner of the Horatio Alger Award for juniors, given for ``service to mankind.'' Along with the award, she received a $5,000 savings bond.
``You can't help but love her because she's so outgoing, always putting others' needs in front of her own,'' said Bronte Tatum, a guidance counselor at Martinsville High School. ``She has made a commitment to serve others. I couldn't begin to tell you all the clubs and organizations she's involved in.
``Thuy's the caliber of student everyone wants. We love to see students who achieve and give back to others. That's characteristic of Thuy. She's a quiet hero who doesn't look for applause.''
School activities: Thuy is tied with five others for first place in her class and has a 4.0 grade-point average. She is a member of Key Club, Interact (similar to Big Brothers/Big Sisters), SAVE International Club (an environmental group), the yearbook staff, Mavahi News (a closed-circuit TV school news show), National Honor Society and Math Ace team; was in the Student Government Association; and participated in school plays this year and last.
She received the Big M award for maintaining a 3.7 or above grade-point average every year since fifth grade and the school's academic award since ninth grade for keeping a 3.5 or above average.
I would like people to think of me as ...: ``a role model. There's lots of opportunities that you can take advantage of. Since coming from Vietnam, a country where you couldn't have this kind of life, I've learned not to take a lot of things for granted.''
In my free time I like to...: ``go out with my friends. I love watching movies. I love going shopping. I'm like a freak with clothes.''
What I'd like to change about the world: ``I would like to change all the violence. I wish people would realize we shouldn't be into bad stuff.''
What I'd like to change about myself: ``I'd like to be taller. I'm probably around 5-1. Otherwise, I like who I am. I've done a lot of good things in my life. I see that I can be somebody when I grow up.''
Most important issue facing teen-agers today: ``Peer pressure; getting drunk and doing drugs and smoking; kids let their friends influence them.''
The toughest lesson I've learned so far is...: ``I've learned to be myself. When I was younger, I cared too much about hanging with a popular group, but I taught myself a big lesson. I'm much happier now.''
My major goal in life is...: ``to have a successful career and marry and have one or two kids and live happily ever after.''
Person I most admire: ``In a way, my older sister, Thao. I've always admired her because she's always been so motivated. She won a full tuition scholarship to UVa and won other scholarships. My parents are really proud of me, but they expect a lot of me, too; she set the standard.''
Best advice I've received was ...: ``when I had low self-esteem, that I'm one-of-a-kind. Just be yourself and everyone will love you.''
My dream date: ``He's not too tall, pretty cute, curly hair. He'd have to be sweet, be a friend. We have to trust each other, be able to tell each other anything.''
Future plans: Thuy wants to attend the University of Virginia ``because my sister goes there. I think I want to be a radiologist or psychologist. Maybe engineering. I just want to help people.''
LENGTH: Medium: 92 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ``I love kids and I love books. It's fun to just read toby CNBthe kids. I feel like my time is spent well,'' says Martinsville
High School junior Thuy Doan. color.