Q&A With Homecoming Court 2018

Daryl Nguyen

Q: What motivated you to run for homecoming court?

A: My friends and peers told me to run for prince and I thought that since it’s my senior year, it would be a good opportunity to do a bigger thing that I haven’t done before. It also gave me a chance to thank the people who have been a big part of my life.

Q: Who did you choose as your escort and why?

A: I chose my good friend Cathy Do to be my escort. I chose her because I’ve known her since kindergarten and she’s usually the friend that [keeps] me in check and makes sure I’m doing the right thing. She’s practically an older cousin or sister to me because of how much she’s cared about me over the years. Our families also know each other so I wanted to choose someone that would be in my life for a long time.

Q: How did you feel when they announced that you are one of the homecoming princesses?

A: I was shocked but a little nervous at first because there were three names in and I didn’t hear mine yet. But when it came to it, I was shocked and relieved that I made it.

Q: What does it mean to win the homecoming court?

A: For me to run for homecoming court means that I’m able to be a part of something with the school and with people that I love. A majority of the people on court [are] good friends of mine so it feels nice to do something with them in our last year together. As I said before, it also means that I can thank the people that I needed to thank. That, [I] think, was the most important part to me because I’ve had a lot of points in my life where I was just down and out of it and people were always there to bring me back up and lift my spirits. My parents, especially, were always supportive and loving so I felt like this would be a good way to thank them in words.

Haley Noyes

Q: What motivated you to run for homecoming court?

A: I just wanted to try something different, I wanted to try something new, and I wanted to experience something whether or not I was going to make it. I just wanted to make a lot more memories.

Q: Who did you choose as your escort and why?

A: For [the] rally, my escort was Sylvia. She is known as a [campus supervisor] at SG. We are really, really close. She is like my mom on campus but she also knows my family as well. She’s just someone that is such a sweet person and I look up to her. For the game, my grandma and dad will be walking with me. My grandma because I lived with her for almost my whole life. She’s like my mom. She’s always encouraging me. She’s actually the one who told me I should run for this. My dad because I’m daddy’s little girl and I love him and he’s very excited.

Q: How did you feel when they announced that you are one of the homecoming princesses?

A: I remember the feeling of just standing there. I remember I would tell my friends, ‘I don’t want to go. I don’t want to go. I’m so scared.’ They would be like, ‘No, you’re going to go. You have to go. You have to go. I remember just standing there and they announced two other girls before me. I was the third princess and I was like, ‘I’m not going to get it.’ And when they announced it- it was one of my friends, Kennedy- and it was so cute because she kind of giggled before she announced my name. I was kind of in shock. I just remember looking up and all of my friends were just cheering for me. All of my friends came out from where they hang out and they were all encouraging me so I was very, very happy.

Q: What does it mean to win the homecoming court?

A: I just think it’s something that everybody should do. Whatever you are, if you are in a club or if you’re not, I just think you should. You should experience something that you can only experience once. I’m a senior. This is my last year. I’m only going to experience this once so I really do think everybody should do it and I think the experience of being on homecoming court is pretty cool because you get to go buy your dress and you make a speech, and you walk down and it’s about you. I just think it’s really cool and everyone should do it.

Wilson Duong

Q: What motivated you to run for homecoming court?

A: My friend, Cindy Ho. She pushed me. She was like, ‘Just do it. It’s your last year.’ And I really wanted to do it.

Q: Who did you choose as your escort and why?

A: I chose Ms. Sune because she was my favorite teacher and my favorite track coach.

Q: How did you feel when they announced that you are one of the homecoming princes?

A: I was shook. I was amazed that I got homecoming prince. I felt really happy. My mood was pretty bad that day so when I found that out, I got really excited.

Q: What does it mean to win the homecoming court?

A: It means I can finally become not a nobody and I can thank my friends [who] have always been with me these past four years.

Sarah Hoang

Q: What motivated you to run for homecoming court?

A: No one, in particular, motivated me to run for homecoming court. I thought it was a fun thing to do considering it’s my senior year.

Q: Who did you choose as your escort and why?

A: I had chosen my mother to escort me down in the rally because she is my inspiration in life. She does so much for me and I wanted to show my appreciation towards her for being an amazing mother. On Friday, my sister, Tracy, is walking me because she never ran for [homecoming] court or anything like that so I wanted to share my experience with her.

Q: How did you feel when they announced that you are one of the homecoming princesses?

A: I was so shocked because there were so many good candidates and I really didn’t think I would get to experience being a princess. The past few years I’ve always thought of running and dreamt of winning but I didn’t expect myself to win.

Q: What does it mean to win the homecoming court?

A: As silly as it seems, I feel like winning homecoming court/princess would make my dad proud. I think if he was still here he would be escorting me with my mother.

Brian Nguyen

Q: What motivated you to run for homecoming court?

A: Applications had just come out and my friends were cheering me on to run. It wasn’t something that I was serious about or anything that I was looking forward to my whole life. Running, to me, was something I could participate in during my last year at San Gabriel High School. I was motivated to go out of my comfort zone and do something fun.

Q: Who did you choose as your escort and why?

A: For the rally, I had my close friend Colin Nguyen escort me. I met him in math class sophomore year and since then I’ve had a blast hanging out and sharing memes with him. During the game, I chose my younger brother Steven who is 13 years old this year. I think it would be cute to have him walk with me and it would be a cool experience for him. In addition, he’s really the one who inspires me to continue to work and be a better person overall.

Q: How did you feel when they announced that you are one of the homecoming princes?

A: When they announced that I had won, I was ecstatic and somewhat relieved. When running for these things there’s always a real fear of not making it- and while I wouldn’t have been hurt if I didn’t win- it certainly is nice to win something in your senior year.

Q: What does it mean to win the homecoming court?

A: To me, it means that the friends that I have made throughout these four years are truly friends that care for me and friends I can depend on. It means the world to me that I know I have people who will help me when I really need them.

Matt Vong

Q: What motivated you to run for homecoming court?

A: What motivated me to run for homecoming court was that my friend, Daryl Nguyen, also ran and he told me to run with him.

Q: Who did you choose as your escort and why?

A: I chose my friend Austin Tran because he was one of my friends that [I’ve known] since seventh grade and he has been there for me ever since then. He is still with me by my side in present times.

Q: How did you feel when they announced that you are one of the homecoming princes?

A: I felt really happy and excited that I won alongside my friend, Daryl Nguyen, because we both planned to run together and plan to win together.

Q: What does it mean to win the homecoming court?

A: It means that I can thank everyone who has been along my journey since I was a freshman in high school until now I’m a senior.

Lu June Lin

Q: What motivated you to run for homecoming court?

A: Ever since I was a freshman, [Homecoming] rally always inspired me. Seeing them with their escorts and the speeches always made me tear up.

Q: Who did you choose as your escort and why?

A: My escort is my mom. She was always working and never had time to come see any of my school events- and not even my swim meets. And I understand it’s not because she doesn’t want to. It’s more of ‘I have to work so you can have money to spend,’ so I’m just really glad that I had this opportunity to really show her and make her proud.

Q: How did you feel when they announced that you are one of the homecoming princesses?

A: I was really surprised. I didn’t even know they are announcing that day so I came to school in my [pajamas]. I was walking out of the activities office and I saw guys and girls standing on the Pancake already so I thought, ‘Aww man. I didn’t make it.’ Next thing you know they announced ‘and the last princess is June Lin.’ I had to run from the Fish Bowl to the Pancake.

Q: What does it mean to win the homecoming court?

A: To me, it means that I can show my mom what I’m capable of and I want her to be proud of me. It’s been my dream since I was a freshman and I’m just really happy that it came true.

Jordan Phan

Q: What motivated you to run for homecoming court?

A: A lot of my friends and my brother really motivated me. People told me to run because they kept on saying, ‘oh you’re gonna win’ and then everyone was like that. I kind of just wanted to run because I have seen it in a lot of movies and stuff. It’s kind of something I want to live out on.

Q: How did you feel when you were announced as one of the homecoming princes?

A: I was so relieved because honestly, everyone was telling me that I was going to win. But the thing is that I felt like a lot of people wouldn’t have voted for me because they could’ve wanted the other five to win. I was really relieved that I became one of the [princes] and happy that my friends didn’t spook me, or scare me.

Q: What does it mean to win homecoming court?

A: To win homecoming court is like knowing that there are actually people behind you, willing to support you and help you know that you aren’t really alone at this school. [This] makes you know that [you] have genuine friends that are actually out there to help.

Q: Who did you choose to escort you? Why?

A: I chose Hanson, my little, because even through everything, like every problem I’ve had, he was always there to help me. He has never made me feel like I was wrong or bad. He [has] always supported me. So I was like, ‘I have to bring my little out there.’ He is like my little carbon copy.

Yayi Hong

Q: What motivated you to run for homecoming court?

A: Back then, I watched this movie called Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior, and she was the first Asian icon [from a Disney movie]. All these movies that I have watched before [about] the homecoming princesses all ran for a good reason. It’s kind of a thing that I have wanted to do since back then.

Q: How did you feel when you were announced as one of the homecoming princesses?

A: I was pretty shocked because there were a lot of people running. So I was kind of nervous [about] whether I was going to win or not. I was just pretty much shocked and I was pretty happy too.

Q: What does it mean to win homecoming court?

A: In my speech, I talked about giving advice to underclassmen and enjoying your time at San Gabriel and to really participate as much as possible. Make your high school experience worth [it] because high school is a one-time thing, and you  want to make the most of it.

Q: Who did you choose to escort you? Why?

A: I chose Naomy Duenas because she is my best friend. She has been there for me since day one, and when we were talking about picking escorts, the first person that came to my mind was her. She’s always the person that I want to talk to whenever I have a problem, and she has the same birthdate as me. We kind of have that connection.

Alanna Chan

Q: What motivated you to run for homecoming court?

A: I wanted to make memories for my high school experience and to have something that I can look back to when I’m out in college. I just wanted to do something big, so that I can look back on [it].

Q: How did you feel when you were announced as one of the homecoming princesses?

A: I was really shocked like ‘Oh my God. No way.’ To be honest, I felt like I was not going to make it, but when they told me that I won, I was like, ‘Oh my God. It’s real.’ And I was just panicking, but then it kind of hurts because my friends who also ran didn’t make it

Q: What does it mean to win homecoming court?

A: I didn’t really think much of it, but then it was [also] overwhelming for me. I was like, “No way. I actually won? I thought that other people would win.’ It made me really happy because I was able to bring my mom to come and see my school and how I’m involved and behave around school. So that is what I really wanted to show her: my view of the school.

Q: Who did you choose to escort you? Why?

A: I really just wanted to show [my mom] how school was for me: being a part of ASB and stuff. When she saw how everything was set up, she was like ‘Woah, this looks great,’ and I was like ‘Yeah, I was part of that.’ It was something I really wanted to show my mom. She didn’t really understand what homecoming is. So I was like ‘You know what? Just come and see how my school is.’