DATE: Thursday, November 13, 1997           TAG: 9711120121

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 03   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: THUMBS UP 

SOURCE: BY SHIRLEY BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   87 lines

EMILY ESMAILI VOLUNTEER WITH OPERATION SMILE, HONOR STUDENT

Less than a month ago, Emily Esmaili rocked and comforted a small child in the post-operative area of a hospital in Yasathon, Thailand.

Emily held the tiny girl as she regained consciousness after a team of doctors with Operation Smile had performed surgery to correct her cleft palate. ``I formed a bond with particular kids there,'' said Emily, a senior at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy. ``I watched the whole surgical process. You know their life has changed forever, and to be a part of that gives you a really good feeling.''

Over an 11-day period, Emily and another student from Greensboro, N.C., set up a playroom to entertain children awaiting surgery. The two students also visited schools in the area.

``We taught dental hygiene to 4- and 5-year-olds and passed out toothbrushes,'' she said. ``They had never seen a toothbrush.''

A member of the school's Happy Club, 17-year-old Emily volunteered to accompany the surgical team on the overseas trip. She submitted an application, wrote an essay, and was granted her request.

``Earlier, a friend went on a mission trip, showed slides of China, and that peaked my interest,'' said the soft-spoken teen. ``I love children, and there are lots of underprivileged children in Thailand. I went into the recovery room and held several babies until they woke up from the anesthesia. In one week, 162 children had corrective surgery.''

The daughter of two physicians, Emily has chosen to enter the medical field, as well. Her parents are Dr. Hossain Esmaili, an anesthesiologist at Southampton Memorial Hospital in Franklin, and Dr. Haydeh Esmaili, who is in private practice with the Suffolk Psychiatric Group.

Emily's 19-year-old sister, Emma, attends Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pa. and her youngest sister, Melody, is a fourth-grader at N-SA.

``I guess my mother has influenced me some,'' Emily said. ``I want to go into psychiatry or do research in alternative medicine. I'm fascinated by the power of the mind.''

Emily has already begun to prepare for her career in medicine. A National Honor Society member, she was a participant this past summer at the 1997 National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine in San Francisco and attended the 1997 World Affairs Seminar at the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater. In June, she also participated in the 1997 Mission Training Workshop and Youth Leadership Conference, which is affiliated with Operation Smile, at Princeton University.

Emily is gaining experience working one night each week as a receptionist at the Suffolk Psychiatric Group, and working afternoons and weekends as a volunteer at the Obici Hospital psychiatric ward. She helps with clerical duties and has observed occupational therapy.

``I play the piano and dance with the patients,'' she said, smiling.

Recently, Emily was nominated to compete in the national Principal's Leadership Award Scholarship Program, sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. She was selected for her participation in service organizations, athletics, academic achievements and employment experience. National winners will be chosen this spring to receive $1,000 college scholarships.

``Emily is an outstanding young woman, who is an excellent student, student-leader, student-volunteer, and student-athlete,'' said Ann Powell, director of college counseling at N-SA. `` She truly cares about others and is highly involved in numerous community service projects. As president of the student government, she is exerting a positive influence on the student body.''

Her academic accomplishments include: first place on the National Spanish Exam; magna cum laude and cum laude awards on the National Latin Exam; first and second place in the 1996 Portfolio Art Show; and an honorable mention in the 1997 Maritime Poetry Contest.

Emily has played on the girls' basketball team and runs track and cross country at N-SA.

``We practice every day and I run on the weekends,'' she said. ``It gives me time to think.''

Both of Emily's parents were born in Iran and have taken their family to visit Iran three times.

``In Tehran, I had to cover my hair and wear a coat in the summertime,'' Emily said, laughing. ``We wore black as most women do in Iran.''

Since Persian was her first language, Emily studies Persian at Virginia Wesleyan College.

After graduation, Emily plans to attend Duke University.

``I also want to study abroad,'' she said. `` I love to travel and I want to go backpacking in Europe and stay in youth hostels.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER

Emily Esmaili holds a photograph of a child she met in Thailand

while working as a volunteer with Operation Smile.

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