OWRIGSBURG -- Honors societies, band practice, and school pictures -- those are just some of the things Tien Phung will remember about high school.
Phung is graduating from Blue Mountain High School at the top of her class. She said she owes it all to her mom.
"I think she sacrificed pretty much her whole life for mine, so she is more than a hero. She's like a goddess to me."
Phung's mom immigrated to Schuylkill County from Vietnam in 2004. She left all her family behind because she wanted to give her only child a better life and Tien never let her mother down.
"I was determined to learn English, at least," said Phung.
When Tien first started school in the Blue Mountain School District, she couldn't speak a word of English. Now, she'll be giving the valedictorian speech at the school's graduation.
"She has been one of the hardest workers in this school for a long time," said Steven Zimmerman, a teacher and the gifted coordinator at Blue Mountain High School.
The valedictorian has big plans after high school. She's heading to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, known as MIT.
Oh and by the way, she turned down offers from Princeton and Yale.
"I plan on majoring in bio-engineering, but that will probably change."
Her friends have a suggestion for a future career, too. Phung was voted "most likely to cure cancer" by the class of 2015.
She said no matter where she ends up, she'll always have Blue Mountain pride.
"I want to give back to the community that helped me along the way. I will never forget Schuylkill County."
Phung will continue to live her American dream when she becomes a Blue Mountain alumna on Friday night.