Alumni Spotlight: Nga “Daisy” Nguyen ’22

When Nga “Daisy” Nguyen joined Rivermont in 10th grade, she arrived from Vietnam with one goal in mind: academics. Her first impression of Orientation? “Overwhelmed,” she laughs, remembering the crowd of new faces. But soon, Daisy discovered what made Rivermont different: hands-on learning. “It was my first opportunity to do science rather than just memorize from a textbook,” she says. That experience, combined with teachers’ high expectations, prepared her well for the future. “Transitioning to college academics wasn’t hard for me.”

During the pandemic, Daisy spent three years on campus without returning home. “I was thankful Rivermont could operate so we could attend classes in person,” she shares. The school’s strong support system and sense of community made all the difference.

Looking back, Daisy says, “If I could go back to high school again, I would.” Her favorite memories include basketball her first year, volleyball her senior year, Quiz Bowl, Imp/Tiger Days, weekend recreation, and birthday celebrations in the dorms. She also enjoyed spending time with host families during school breaks.

Daisy’s advice for international students:

• Trust the process. “Your comfort level with English will increase over time. Though it’s tough at first, just trust the process.”
• Ask for help. “Don’t struggle to manage everything on your own.”

Today, Daisy is a senior at Lawrence University in Wisconsin, applying to graduate programs in Theoretical Physics. Last summer, she conducted Plasma Physics research with one of her professors, a testament to the strong academic foundation she built at Rivermont.