Meifung Trinh is a combination of two qualities not always found in the same person.
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In her own words, she is "very driven ... and I also try to be very compassionate towards others."
That compassion is what's leading the 18-year-old Ephrata High School senior, who graduates tonight at the top of her class, into a possible career in medicine.
And it's her drive that has already allowed her to accomplish much.
The class valedictorian, Trinh wants to enter medicine — she plans to enroll in the pre-med program at the University of Pennsylvania this fall — so she can do good and help heal people.
Trinh is proud of her parents, who are both from Vietnam and came to the U.S., and she's thankful for the help and encouragement they've given her.
Her father, Tu Trinh, works for Conestoga Wood Specialties of East Earl, while her mother, Mui Ha, works the night shift at the Pepperidge Farm plant in Denver.
The Trinhs now live on Stephen Lane, Ephrata.
"My parents are really busy people, but they always found the time to help me," she says. "I wouldn't be nearly as successful as I've been without them."
Her mom is from Saigon, her dad from Phan Thiet. Both cities are in the former South Vietnam.
Trinh was born in Ephrata Hospital and raised here, and is the second of three children, with brothers on both sides of her.
Older brother Ken, who's 19, graduated from Ephrata in 2008 and just finished his freshman year at Temple University, majoring in pharmacy.
She also has a younger brother, Kevin, 15, who's in ninth grade and is interested in a career in engineering.
Trinh says how "my parents didn't receive as good of an education as I did because they missed the opportunity; however, they encouraged me to work hard in school and made sure I knew just how valuable a good education is.
"They taught me to be grateful for everything and to take nothing for granted."
At Ephrata, Trinh is her class vice president, a member of the National Honor Society, on the staff for both the school newspaper and yearbook, and has won numerous science-related awards.
At school, she was on the swimming team her freshman year, specializing in the backstroke, but had to stop due to her busy schedule.
In the community, she has organized caroling at two nursing homes, Maple Farms in Akron and Ephrata Manor in Ephrata, and organized a special National Honor Society/senior citizen tea and bingo.
She also works at CVS Pharmacy as a pharmacy sales associate, and has volunteered at Ephrata Hospital.
Staff writer Dave O'Connor can be reached at doconnor@LNPnews.com or 481-6033.
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