Skip to content

Introducing Thinh Atkinson

In conversation with members of the Class of 2014.
99599greenwoodThinhAtkinson
Thinh Atkinson

When Thinh Atkinson was a 13 year-old student in grade eight she came with her family to the Boundary from Nova Scotia.

She noticed the difference right away. For one thing there were over 1,000 other kids at the east coast school.

“It’s a different feeling, but it is better because I joined a lot of clubs and sports,” states Thinh.  “In Nova Scotia I was a little bit intimidated so I didn’t join any sports activities.”

While she says she would have never joined any of the clubs in Nova Scotia, she has blossomed at BCSS. She is Student Council President, a member of Spirit Club, she joined the basketball team in grade 9 and soccer in grade ten as a goal keeper.

Thinh has already been accepted at UBC Okanagan for this falls’ intake. She plans to pursue a Bachelor of Science.

“After that I hope to further my education and go to medical school and become a doctor,” she confidently announces. “If that doesn’t work then I guess I will go to BCIT and get a certificate in the cardio-vascular pulmonary field.”

She says she likes the science courses, and her favourite is biology. Thinh confesses to wanting to be a doctor since grade 8, when she took her first science class from Mrs. Baia. “She has a lot of passion and it shows in a teacher,” Thinh said.

Thinh has two older sisters and two older brothers, plus a younger brother and another younger sister. When asked what it was like to be the middle child in a family with that many siblings she said, “You kind of have to obey the older ones and look after the younger ones.”

Thinh was able to count on her parents for transportation that has allowed her to gain valuable work experience. She worked at Extra Foods in Grand Forks for two years; and last summer was hired at the Greenwood Museum and Visitor’s Centre.

She says the museum job is great. “You meet a lot of different people and you just learn a lot of local history. Once I met a deaf family and there was about six of them. We communicated very well by writing things on paper. They were really happy so that sort of brought things into a new perspective. They are optimistic – despite their challenges.”

During their grad transition work students this year have been asked to pick  an inspirational quote. Thinh choose, “Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.” Obviously, Thinh has taken this to heart.