Derek Bui is attending University of California, Irvine this fall, Where he plans to major in public health, expressing it as an important stepping stone toward his long-term career goals.
“I would like to go into nursing in the future, so it’s letting me get the feels of what’s to come,” Bui said. Nursing as a major can be incredibly taxing, but Bui expresses great confidence when it comes to his future.
Despite being entirely focused on his academic future, noting that AP Biology was his most memorable class, he also prioritizes making the most of daily life on campus. “I wanted to mention AP Biology because it brings a lot of bad and good memories of my senior year,” Bui said. He reflected on the pressures of the extensive course, but still managed to find the good side of it.
Along with other students, he’s often seen enjoying the school lunches, playing video games, and chatting with his friends. “Hanging out with friends every day” was one thing Bui noted was important about his high school experience. He expressed great gratitude for those who spent time with him outside school, as well as worked alongside him throughout the years.
Past school, Bui finds himself lost in the little things. He enjoys collecting Pop Mart figures, traveling out of the country as well as inside the country, and watching popular shows and movies.
“I bonded with friends there and been through thick and thin with them,” Bui said. He continued to prove that to survive high school, all you really need is a good group of friends to laugh through the struggles with.
As Bui prepares to broaden his horizons at the competitive UC Irvine, he leaves future seniors and students with a short yet important piece of advice.
“Go easy on yourself,” Bui said. “Don’t burn yourself out too much, pace yourself and don’t put too much pressure on yourself.”
He continues to show immense gratitude for the people around him, putting emphasis on shouting them out.
“I would like to personally thank everyone who kept me entertained throughout my high school career,” Bui said.
