Senior princess Thy Ngo

Q: What homecoming tradition are you most excited for and why?

A: “The mum and garter day. When you were in middle school, you don’t want to be too much but when I was in high school, that’s when I put time and effort into my mum. I wanted [show] school spirit and just [show] I’m pretty creative.”

Q: Have you always wanted to be on homecoming court? Why or why not?
A: “Yes but no, actually. Yes, it was because I wanted to be involved more and put myself out there more. No, because I’ve never been brave enough. Most of the time it’s just my [self-consciousness being] like ‘Oh, I’m not pretty enough or not smart enough.’ Then I think, it’s my senior year and it’s going to be the last time I get to do this. If don’t do it, I think later on when I think about it I’m going to regret it. I’m just doing it anyways. My friends encouraged me like ‘Thy, why don’t you do this? It’s the same group of people running every year, so why don’t you put yourself out there and make a little bit of [a] difference?’” 

Q: How does it feel to be nominated as homecoming princess?
A: “It feels so good because it feels like someone actually cares about you and you think you qualified for it. It’s just some motivation. It’s like they tell you, ‘Hey, I don’t know what other people think about you, but I think you qualify to be a princess.’ It just feels really good when someone cares about you.”

Q: What made you want to be a part of the homecoming court?
A: “Probably the high school memories. I [want to] create fun memories for my senior year. As I say, I’m leaving for college and I’m not going to be around [my] peers that I grew up with, so I really want to have [many] memories with them [this] last year as possible. I want my high school [experience], at least my last year, to have some highlights I can be proud [of] when I tell [people] about my senior year.”

Q: Who nominated you? Why do you think they did?
A: “Kayla Rios. I don’t know why [she nominated me], maybe [she] sees something in me, maybe they see I’m qualified. I feel like she sees something inside [of me]. [Also my best friend Trish Truong].

Q: Have you been nominated in previous years? If so, what was that like?
A: “My friends tried to push me out there but I refused to fill in my form. I [was going to be nominated] in my sophomore year [by] four friends. I [took the forms] home because you know how they require parent signatures. I just never turned it in because I was like ‘I’m not ready for this!’”

Q: Who/what inspired you to get involved in homecoming?
A: “Probably [Mrs.] Stamey because it feels really honest. I’m in Student Council so I’m there with her. It feels really real when ‘Farmer Pride’ is dying and people don’t put themselves out there anymore, people don’t volunteer or nominate. They don’t join the spirit school [days]. They don’t do that because they think all of that is lame. She says “Farmer Pride” has been running [for] over a 100 years and it’s sad when she’s been here the whole time and it’s slowly dying. I mean I’m a student, I go to school every day so more or less I feel [connected] to it. I don’t want to see ‘Farmer Pride’ dying. I know I’m just like one small student here, but maybe I will change one thing at a time. Involve one thing at a time and make a small difference because I know many small [differences] make one big difference. I think I should change or keep the fire up one change at a time.”

Q: Do you feel that this homecoming is different than previous years? Why or why not?
A: “Personally, it’s pretty different because now it’s a whole new thing for me. I’m on court and I’m going to be on a convertible for [the] parade. I’ll be on the stage in the dance. I’ll be out there on the football field walking with my Pops. It’s just different for me personally. I have to practice, I have to be there. It’s like I become a part of it, like fully attached to it.

Q: What do you like about the homecoming traditions?
A: “I think homecoming [is] like a time for the campuses [to] get together. Freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors, we all get together in once place. Maybe it’s the beginning, it’s like the kickoff [for] an amazing rest of the year. It just feels really, really good because then you know, even though they’re younger and you’ve never had any class with them, you still feel that connection.”

Q: What do you like about this year’s homecoming theme?
A: “I’m a Disney geek. I’m a big Disney geek and guess what? It’s the homecoming theme. I’m stressing out because I don’t know what color I want for my homecoming dress. I [want] a Disney theme, so it’s got to be one of the princes colors. I love it, I love Disney. I grew up with it. It’s my last year and I feel deeply connected because it’s the last time you get to have fun like a child and they bring your childhood back to you. So just tears all over the place.”