MCHS Valedictorians: Brian Chen

Brian Chen talks about getting out of his comfort zone, becoming senior class president and adjusting to chillier weather in Chicago, where he will attend Northwestern University in the fall.

Patch: How did you put together your speech for the ceremony?

BC: I just thought about what high school was like for me, and I wanted to make sure I included everybody in my speech. It was difficult coming up with that idea. We have such a diverse class, but mostly it was about how we matured in just four years, and how four years were integral to our development as people.

Patch: And what was high school like, in general?

BC: I think high school was about finding a way to go past our comfort zone. I talked about trying out for teams, gathering the courage to try out for a team. Then we made it to that step, and then we found ourselves barely surviving through practices, but we ultimately learned more than we ever thought about the subject and the sport, and our abilities. I guess high school was about learning to take the first step… and the extra step.

Patch: Looking back, what was the best thing about Mira Costa?

BC: I think it was the teachers and everybody at the school. I think it was a combination of everything. I can't narrow it down, but if I had to say something in particular… It was the people, the teachers, classmates, coaches, teammates.

Patch: Were there any teachers who particularly inspired you?

BC: I'm extremely close to all of my teachers. I can't think of one teacher that I didn't have a personal relationship with. And that's what makes Mira Costa really special. They all know what I do. They know my hobbies, there's not a day that goes by where I don't stay after class to talk about something.

Patch: What activities were you involved in? What are you passionate about?

BC: I'm the president of the National Honors Society, senior class president and president of three clubs: ecology club, science club and photography club. For me, going to high school freshman year was a really tough time, but I gathered up the courage. Freshman year I was class vice president; now I'm senior class president. Joining student government was the most essential starting point of high school. I used to be sort of semi-shy, but being in student government, I was forced to talk to people and interact with everybody.

Patch: And being president of ecology and science club, you must be interested in pre-med. Is that what you're going into in college?

BC: I'm accepted to the Northwestern University honors program in medical education, which is a seven-year med program—three years undergrad and four years at med school.

Patch: Wow, congratulations! What inspired you to study medicine?

BC: I volunteered at Providence Little Company of Mary, and I did bio-med at UCLA's cardiovascular research laboratory. That sort of convinced me. Everything about medicine is fascinating to me. You're also interacting with people at the bedside, so it's the best of both worlds for me. I can't think of anything else that is as hands-on. I just like new developments in science and how I can apply that directly to patients and help make their lives better.

Patch: Any particular area of medicine you would like to study?

BC: I haven't decided yet, but maybe orthopedic surgery. I'm really active [in track and field], so I appreciate sort of knowing why something's sore in my ankle. It fits my lifestyle.

Patch: Was it hard picking colleges? What other choices were you debating between?

BC: It was a difficult choice for me. I was also thinking about Washington University in St. Louis. Their med school is very tough to turn down. Northwestern was a better fit for me. Even though [Washington] is exclusive, people told me, "Don't do it for the name, do it for yourself." I love the campus [at Northwestern], I love the people at the med school and I love Chicago. It was a tough choice, but it was a good choice.

Patch: College is right around the corner. Are you moving soon? What are you looking forward to?

BC: I'm moving Sept. 14. I'm looking forward to meeting new people, meeting other students in the med program and joining the triathlon club there. They have a really good team.

Patch: Do you think you'll adjust to the Chicago weather?

BC: I'm not sure. People keep asking me that, but you know, I can adjust to a lot of things. I don't mind the change in weather, even though I might not see sunshine. I'll just wear some warm clothes.

Patch: Any last thoughts about your community?

BC: Everybody's really supportive. You can ask people for any advice or opinion. I remember applying for college, I would ask random people for advice, and they would give me it. It's just a testament to how strongly this community supports each other. So I just appreciate everybody. I didn't realize it before, but this community is awesome.