Here at Khalsa, we love to see how our students use Montessori skills and habits they’ve learned to strive and succeed, even after leaving the school. Kellen Vu, a Khalsa alumni, was recently recognized as one of the Arizona 18 Under 18 Junior Achievement Award winners. He now attends ASA and is making positive changes in the world!
Article from Arizona Republic:
When Kellen Vu was a freshman, he read a book about people struggling for water South Sudan. It affected him, and he wanted to make a difference. Freshmen for Fresh Water was born.
“We decided to band together and start a fundraising club,” Kellen said. “We were pretty successful.”
In one year, the group raised $7,000. The mission continues – they’re now up to $21,000. One well costs $15,000, and he’s proud that he’s making a difference in people’s lives.In addition to raising money to build wells, Kellen is the president of his school’s model UN. He is an intern in the neurophysiology lab at Barrow Neurological Institute. Kellen as also a talented artist and has received numerous national awards.
What do you want to be doing in 10 years? At that point I’d still be in medical school, probably specializing. Right now I’m sure that I want to enter medicine because that’s how I think I can best make a positive impact on my community. I’m not sure of the specific field I want to go in. But I am interested in neurology.
Who’s your biggest inspiration? It’s too difficult for me to pick one person. Through all these activities I get to meet a lot of really interesting people with a lot of different perspectives. My inspiration that keeps me going every day is all the friends I meet every day though these activities. They are so accomplished and so diverse. I want to learn from their successes.
What’s the best advice you’ve received? My dad instilled in me to take advantage of every opportunity that comes my way.
Source:
Junior Achievement 18 Under 18: The Power of Youth. (2018, April 15). The Arizona Republic, pp. 12A-13A.