This story is part of The Daily Herald’s annual look at promising local high school graduates.
LYNNWOOD — Michael Dinh has earned a perfect 4.0 GPA, even while taking some of the most challenging classes offered at Lynnwood High School.
He wasn’t always so studious.
His father died when Dinh was in the third grade. He lost academic focus, even through his middle school years.
His father had provided him support through his early childhood, he said. Without that he didn’t do as well.
Eventually, Dinh, 18, turned the pain of his father’s passing into motivation “so I won’t regret my life.”
Once he entered high school, he attacked his classes with passion. His list of college-level Advanced Placement courses included European history, biology, environmental science and calculus.
“My toughest one was AP physics,” he said. “I had to dig deep into it. I struggled with that class. I had to try more than usual.”
Music became an important part of his life: jazz band, pep band and the pit orchestra for a school musical. He first learned the euphonium, a tuba-like instrument, and then took up the trombone.
Dinh plans to begin classes at the University of Washington in the fall. He wants to become a dentist.
Even when he was young, Dinh said he enjoyed going to the dentist. He said he was bullied because of some problems he had with his teeth, and saw other students teased for the same reason.
He hopes his life calling can save other children from similar turmoil.
Dinh also hopes to find a way to keep music in life. Without it, he said, “I would feel a little empty.”
Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486; salyer@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.