Spotlight On: Vivian Lin, CCES Class of 2023

 

Rice University was never really on the radar for Vivian Lin ‘23. She looked into the school on a whim, but was quickly drawn to its “fun yet tightknit and happy community.” Vivian was also accepted to Babson College and South Carolina Honors College, but withdrew from both after receiving acceptance from Rice, where she plans to major in Business and Economics. Rice uniquely utilizes residential colleges, a random assignment for new students where they live and build community with one another. Vivian says, “I love that the smaller size of Rice also reflects an environment similar to Christ Church. I look forward to being able to connect with my professors.”

 

Vivian has been a student at CCES for four years, describing her high school experience as “enjoyable,” in large part to her decision to take IB. The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program at CCES is extremely demanding, with students completing all required coursework over their junior and senior years. Vivian says the IB students are all “a close knit group” and jokes that they have bonded through suffering together.

 

While navigating the rigors of IB, Vivian has also compiled quite the long list of activities and achievements at CCES – from competing in Track and Field to Prom Chair, from High Honor Roll all four years to founding the Positivity and Chinese Clubs, from co-authoring research papers to numerous awards and scholarships for science, foreign language, and music.

 

The Positivity Club was born from the mental strain of trying to stay positive during the pandemic. Vivian began journaling every day and after a little research, realized that “acts of kindness can make others happier.” After co-founding the club with a friend, students began meeting for activities to increase positivity, both individually and within the larger school community, including coloring, making breaking squares for children, and folding origami with little notes for the ladies who work in the cafeteria.

 

Vivian also helped found the Chinese Club at CCES, motivated by her desire to stay connected with her Chinese heritage. Vivian was born in New York, but moved to China when she was just three months old. She lived in Fujian, a coastal providence of China, with her grandmother, before moving back to the US when she was five. Vivian looks back on those years with great fondness and has worked hard to keep up with Chinese traditions over the years, including enjoying cuisine and celebrating festivals like Lunar New Year. The Chinese Club has given her the opportunity to “share what I love about my culture with others in the community.” Her favorite club memory this year was celebrating Chinese New Year, with members enjoying food and attempting paper cuttings. Vivian has taken Chinese as a foreign language at CCES and while she is undecided about continuing in college, she definitely plans to join the Asian Student Association and continue planning activities around Chinese culture.

 

Director of College Counseling, Linda Schulz, describes Vivian as “extremely responsible, enthusiastic and caring.” Vivian is both highly motivated and hard working as well as creative and organized.

 

Vivian’s leadership and creativity certainly shined through during her time on the Prom Committee, serving as Prom Chair this past year. Vivian describes this experience as one that taught her collaboration and the importance of “making sure that everyone’s ideas were heard.” Vivian felt a sense of “pride and accomplishment” in the committee’s execution of a well thought-out and designed prom, especially when thinking of all the hard work that went into fundraisers for the evening.

 

Ms. Schulz says, “In so many ways, Vivian makes our school a more inclusive, happy place,” and we are confident that she will do the exact same from the moment she steps foot on the campus of Rice University in the fall.

 

Favorite class at CCES? IB Psychology

Favorite place you’ve visited? Niagara Falls

Favorite memory with your family? When I thought a block of butter was ice cream so my dad let me take a huge bite. My parents made fun of me afterwards.

What three adjectives would you use to describe yourself? Enthusiastic, warm, and kind.

Who is someone who has greatly influenced your life? Definitely my grandma whom I miss and hope to reunite with this summer!