BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Boston Latin School

78 Louis Pasteur Ave Boston, MA 02115 Lynne Monney-Teta
Headmaster
To Whom It May Concern: Over the course of the last three years, I have had the opportunity to work with David Nguyen inside and outside of the classroom. During 2010-2011, David sat in the front row of my algebra II class. As a result, I had the opportunity to watch David transform from a quiet, timid student who oftentimes shied away from opportunities to openly engage in classroom discussion, to one that asked thought provoking questions daily and regularly presented alternative strategies for solving complex problems. Davids dedication to academics and capacity to learn, coupled with his desire to be challenged intellectually in every class, always positively influenced his classmates. His well know ambition to pursue a college degree following high school graduation inspired many of his peers to start thinking about their futures in the same way that David was methodically planning his. Davids successes and moments of distinction are not limited to the classroom. During his time at Monument, he was involved with the National Honor Society (NHS), an organization that honors students scholarship, leadership, service, and character. David, through NHS, gave back to his community by spending time after school at the local Marion Manor, a not for profit nursing facility that focuses on caring for adults who require assistance because of age, illness, or disability. David also was a member of Student Government. As an active leader in this extracurricular, David worked collaboratively with other students to lobby for more opportunities for students to influence school policy. He coordinated an afterschool staff versus student dodgeball game in our gymnasium. The cheerfully competitive game gave teachers and students a chance to see each other in a different light. To this day, David and the approximately 30 other Monument students that participated in the game will deny that it was the teachers that claimed victory, but we adults know better! Davids leadership, creativity, and initiative led to an event that boosted morale by bringing students and teachers together in what was oftentimes a hostile learning environment. In the five years that I taught at Monument, I never saw as many staff and students laughing and smiling in the same area as I did that day. Davids strong desire to learn is unparalleled. At the end of his last year at Monument, he came to me and asked if I knew of any summer internships or work opportunities that he might be able to participate in. I told David the only connection I had was a mathematics professor at the Harvard Extension School. I made a call and David was given the opportunity to sit in on a summer precalculus class for free. He would not receive credit, but he would be given access to information. David jumped at the opportunity and spent 1.5 hours every day that summer sitting in a class, learning precalculus, and not getting credit for his time or effort. David, one of the most intrinsically motivated students I have ever taught, only yearned to be challenged. David is a bright, motivated, animated, and compassionate young man. He often puts others needs before his own. His efforts and thirst for knowledge is contagious. He was one of the few positive leaders of our school. David earned the respect of his peers and his teachers. So it is with great enthusiasm that I recommend David Nguyen to your institution. Sincerely, Adam Gray Boston Latin School Mathematics Teacher 2012 MA Teacher of the Year