At J.P. McCaskey High School, there are many students who put their full effort into everything they do. These students can bounce between classes, succeeding in every single one, all while still smiling the entire way through. However, many students do not get to know the faces behind these hard-working students. These extraordinarily successful students deserve a shoutout for all that they contribute to McCaskey, so everyone can all know the faces behind their success. Dung Huynh is one of these students.
Dung is a sophomore revered for his academic excellence, but he is also a kind student who treats everyone with respect. Dung always puts maximum effort into his assignments and community contributions. Moreover, Dung has a diverse extracurricular profile. He takes part in wrestling, chess club, and robotics. Dung has also contributed to the community outside of school heavily. The Dungeons and Dragons-style game he made for students to play is a good example of this.
Dung delves deeper into these topics in an interview where he is questioned on and offers insight into these topics. During this interview, Dung was first asked about how he succeeds academically, to which he began to explain that studying, applying, and peer-checking allow him to reach that next level academically. Dung said his motivation for his academic success is a mix of grades, keeping up with friends, and personal goals. When asked about what his favorite subject was, Dung chose math, citing real-world use, practicality, and analysis. Dung plays chess, more specifically, he is a part of the Chess Club. He also mentioned that plays chess in his free time. When asked about why he likes chess, he mentioned the critical thinking and strategic play style needed for victory in chess. Dung also does robotics. This ties back to his liking of math. Dung would explain that the competitions and friends he has in robotics are the main reasons as to why he does robotics. Dung also takes part in martial arts. Later in the interview Dung would mention that he is trained in kung fu, kickboxing, taekwondo, and Muay Thai. Dung will also join McCaskey’s wrestling team this year in addition. Moreover, Dung takes part in bone strengthening to excel in these areas, displaying his dedication to the craft. Dung also swims, bikes, and exercises in his free time in addition to the combat sports and training he participates in.
Dung has also contributed significantly to his community. An example of this are his current Dungeons and Dragons campaigns that he runs for people to play. The current campaign being run is a fantasy Dungeons and Dragons turn-based game that boasts features such as meta-progression (leveling), permanent deaths, and rebirth benefits. Dung has run multiple campaigns in years past, boasting different rules and play styles. Currently, Dung has 15 members, three active players, and two somewhat active players.
Dung also answered some fun questions in his interview. When asked about whether he prefers cats or dogs, Dung gave a very blunt but reasonable answer. He went on to state that he believes dogs make better pets than cats due to the fact that they show more affection to their owners than cats do. When asked what 3 places he wants to travel to most, he gave very practical but agreeable answers. First, he said that he wanted to travel to Ho Chi Minh City, which is home to a large majority of his family. Secondly, he stated that he wanted to travel to Japan for its beautiful scenery and rich culture. Finally, he said that he would like to see Paris for the Eiffel Tower and the scenery. Dung also picked some teachers of his choosing to give a well-deserved shoutout. First, he shouted out Mr. Pribula for running robotics and engineering, as well as helping Dung push through his freshman year. Secondly, he shouted out Mr. Phillips for being respectful, helpful, and open about his sexuality despite possible criticism he may face for it. Finally, he shouted out Dr. Mealy for being a dedicated teacher and likable person.
Dung is someone who has shown repeatedly that he deserves attention for his achievements. He has shown this through his academic successes, displayed by his sky-high grades and work ethic. He has also shown this worthiness through his extracurricular and community contributions, including chess, martial arts, and running his own Dungeons and Dragons campaigns. He has become someone whom students look to for help, advice, and some fun in between all of that. In the end, this shoutout was meant to bring Dung this much-deserved attention for the contributions he has and continues to bring to J.P. McCaskey High School.
Dung would also give a reason as to why he loves McCaskey High School. He said that “I love that McCaskey has a lot of clubs, sports, activities, and events that allow people to get together and do something they love together.”
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