The Future is Now
This is one of a series of profiles of noteworthy Snohomish County high school graduates: Naomi Lee, Kamiak (UW) • Arianna Calvin, Kamiak, and Tholen Blasko, Sultan (WSU) • Hayden Davis, Lake Stevens (Harvard) • Peter Faber, Snohomish and Academy NW (US Naval Academy) • Michael Larson, Everett (Gonzaga) • Aurelio Valdez-Barajas, Mariner (SPU)
MUKILTEO — When Naomi Lee’s parents named her, they had “Dr.” in mind as a title.
Lee, now 17 and set to graduate this month from Kamiak High School, plans to earn that title. She wants to be a pediatrician, specializing in children’s cardiology or neurology. She’s always been interested in the medical field.
“That’s where I got my name,” she said. “My parents were reading the newspaper and they saw ‘Dr. Naomi’ and thought that sounded really great.”
Lee is an intern at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett and a medical assisting student at the Sno-Isle Tech Skills Center. Her instructor, Debi Freal, describes Lee as one of the top students she’s known in nearly 20 years of teaching. She’s respectful, with a subtle sense of humor and quiet confidence. Lee always seems a step ahead in class, Freal said.
“I never have to direct her to a task. She’s always looking ahead to what comes next,” Freal said.
Lee finished the program’s college-level medical terminology course early. She asked for more college material to start reading.
She is organized and detail-oriented, with a planner where she jots down her to-do list.
“I write down everything,” she said. “I always like to double and triple check to make sure I have everything done.”
Lee is bound for the University of Washington in the fall. She plans to major in biology, then go to medical school. Her mom, an accounting supervisor who was born in China, also attended UW. Her dad, who was born in Malaysia, works as a credit analyst. Lee’s younger sister, Kaitlyn, is a junior at Kamiak.
At the high school, Lee is president of the Academic Coaches club, a peer tutoring group that provides one-on-one help and hour-long afterschool study sessions. She’s also in Key Club, a service organization. She helped set up a gala to raise money for families in Guatemala and participated in a 5K for breast cancer research. When she’s not busy with school or volunteer work, she enjoys reading. Just about any genre will do. She likes variety.
In her internship at Providence, Lee directs patients and visitors, delivers flowers and cards, and observes routine exams. Her favorite experience was observing an ultrasound, she said.
The Providence internships can be competitive, and students apply early in the year, Freal said. Evaluations from Lee’s supervisor note that she is quiet and kind, busy and focused, and tactful and understanding with patients.
“I’m looking forward to her becoming a pediatrician and taking care of my grandkids,” Freal said.
Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com.
