Nhuy Phan

When Nhuy Phan emigrated from Vietnam to Lowell in the third grade, she understood almost no English.

“I knew the first three letters of the alphabet, but that’s it,” she says. “I was terrible at English.”

But Phan found comfort in one school subject: math.

“Mathematics is a universal language,” she says. “It’s the same no matter where you go.”

As a mathematics major at UMass Lowell, Phan is working toward becoming a high school math teacher. She feels her experience can help other students immigrating to the United States.

“Parents who want their kids to be in America always have the same reason: to give them a better future,” she says. “I know how hard it can be.”

Initially unsure of her career path after graduating from Lowell High School, Phan enrolled at Middlesex Community College, where she got an associate degree in health care administration. She transferred to UMass Lowell, where she decided to follow her passion for mathematics. 

During orientation, Phan learned about the UTeach program, which prepares STEM majors for a career in teaching. She took the UTeach introduction course, Exploring Teaching and Learning in STEM, and was hooked.

“In the intro class, I was like, ‘Wow, this is what I can do?’” she recalls. “I was interested in the program and decided I want to teach.”

During Phan’s senior year, the Massachusetts Department of Education awarded her an $11,000 Tomorrow’s Teachers Scholarship and a $6,000 High Demand Scholarship, both of which she learned about through UTeach Director Sumudu Lewis.

“UTeach opened me up to all these scholarship opportunities,” Phan says. “I’m very grateful.”

The program has also provided Phan with practical teaching experience. She returned to Lowell High School to observe math and science classes and teach math lessons to ninth graders. Like Phan, her host teacher, Alexander Pham ’15, studied mathematics at UMass Lowell and participated in the UTeach program.

“He’s given me great advice,” she says. “That really helps me to improve so I can one day be a professional teacher.”

Phan plans to expand her educational experience during an upcoming study abroad trip to England, where she will learn about the British education system and culture.

“Going abroad is something I really wanted,” says Phan, who has only been to Vietnam and the United States.

Before joining the workforce, Phan plans to get a master’s degree in mathematics through UMass Lowell’s Bachelor’s-to-Master’s program.

“I see the importance of having a college degree,” she says. “My cousins have degrees from UMass Lowell, and they’re doing so well. It’s led me down the path of pursuing my own education.”