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The daughter of Vietnamese American immigrants, Nhi Pham is a first-generation college student.
“It is a privilege,” Pham said on being the first in her family to attend college. “Being given this opportunity is refreshing and exciting, but it scares me because of the unknown. I’m being the trailblazer. I have two little brothers, and I want to be able to guide them in the future. One is a junior in high school, so it won’t be long until he goes to college. He’ll need these experiences I’ve gathered to help him. He’s counting on me, so I need to make it. I’ve embraced making mistakes.”
Despite a language barrier, Pham’s parents opened what has become a successful salon in Amarillo. She credits her determination to their hard work and sacrifices.
A senior Biochemistry major, Pham is also pursuing a minor in Business Management. Her decision to add the minor is influenced by the time she spent helping her parents with their salon.
Pham plans to graduate in May 2026 and attend medical school in Texas. Her dream is to become an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist, a passion inspired by shadowing an otolaryngologist in Amarillo.
She was accepted into the Joint Admission Medical Program (JAMP), which allowed her to complete a summer internship in Houston, a cultural shock for the Panhandle native.
“It taught me, a suburb girl from Amarillo, to be more open to people's ideas, more welcoming towards people, to accept the modern ideas of today and be able to voice my ideas.”
In addition to JAMP, Pham is a Texas Leadership Scholar, meeting weekly with students from various majors and fields.
“It opens your eyes to perspectives and ideas that you've never thought of personally,” she said. “You learn something new every day. I like to have a community of people who are different and explore these ideas.”
Dr. Carolyn Bouma, Associate Professor of Biology and Pham’s advisor, praised her work ethic and perseverance.
“Nhi exemplifies the dedication and hardworking spirit of our first-generation students!” said Dr. Bouma. “She is an excellent student who exhibits discipline, maturity and perseverance in pursuing her goal of becoming a physician. In addition to academic accomplishments, Nhi has completed medical observation hours and works in her family’s business. JAMP Scholars participate in a challenging program to prepare for medical school, and I predict Nhi will be accepted to the medical school of her choice through this program.”
The Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences celebrates the groundbreaking achievements of students like Nhi Pham, who are forging new paths for future generations.
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