Melissa Phan
Melissa Phan is a senior at Calvary Episcopal School in Richmond. She has attended Calvary for the past five years and has grown through superior education, as well as spiritual reverence, respect and responsibility. Melissa has excelled in academics and the fine arts. She is giving and passionate about working with children and is looking forward to an exciting future.
Melissa moved to Richmond from New York with her parents and younger sister when she was seven. As a senior at Calvary Episcopal School, she takes the majority of her classes online. The teachers help oversee the work students perform and help as necessary. Melissa enjoys this type of curriculum because she can progress at her own pace. The curriculum is similar to home schooling but with a teacher present to answer questions as needed.
Melissa’s favorite subject is math. She takes all AP classes and enjoys algebra the most. Her favorite teacher is Rebecca Lazarou, her Student Council advisor. Lazarou has been a mentor to Melissa by advising her on important issues and recommending the right path to follow. A value Melissa lives by is, “Determination and hard work. I believe if you set a goal and are willing to try your best to achieve it, anything is possible.”
Melissa Phan
Melissa has a very busy extracurricular schedule. She has been a member of the choir since fourth grade, sings solos during the Calvary Church Chapel services and plays the piano and the guitar. She enjoys all types of music and took dance when she was younger. Melissa said, “Singing has always made me feel comfortable. I enjoy expressing myself through singing, playing and dancing.”
During the school year, Melissa spends time after classes coaching the cheerleading squad for Calvary Middle School. She is also a tutor after school and on weekends. She volunteers at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Sugar Land and is the stage manager for the school’s theater productions. Melissa is a member of the school year book committee, a teacher’s aide for elementary to high school teachers, a student ambassador, a member of PALS at school and helps in the concession stand during sports games and tournaments. Last summer, she was a babysitter for several teachers at her school. She loves staying busy and just obtained her driver’s license.
Melissa is a deep thinker and is concerned about very real and controversial issues. She is aware of and concerned about eating disorders and the unrealistic concept of beauty many young girls have based on the fashion magazines. She said, “I personally know many people, including myself, who have suffered from negative self-image and eating disorders, and I know that there are many others who have not had the courage to speak up for themselves.” She also wants to work with underprivileged children to encourage them to develop social and leadership skills and to help them gain more self-confidence and self-esteem.
As a school leader, Melissa has excelled academically with a 4.0 GPA with all AP classes. She is President of Student Council, President of the National Honor Society and President of the choir for the middle and high schools. She is an annual participant and state qualifier in the Texas Association of Private and Parochial School’s academic meet.
Melissa aspires to attend college at either Rice University or the University of Texas in Austin to major in pre-med and minor in business. Congratulations Melissa on your compassion, devotion to society and deeply rooted spirit. You will have a very successful future.