Meet Sarah Rim

Whitworth Cadre One
'07 Graduate (B.S. Biology)
Franklin Pierce High School '03

An alter ego emerges

At present, the Whitworth campus student directory lists approximately 47 Sarah's (including those that drop the "h"). The prevalence of this particular name seems to be a trend that continues annually, but since the arrival of Cadre One in the Fall of 2003, there has been only one Sreyla. The decision to introduce herself to the Whitworth campus as "Sreyla," a Cambodian nickname given to Sarah Rim by her parents, not only served to set this shy freshmen apart from the other Sarahs on campus, but also as a foreshadowing of an alter ego that would accomplish things even Sarah Rim would never have imagined.

The silent, shy, smart, leader

As a student at Franklin Pierce High, Sarah excelled academically and within leadership organizations like the National Honors Society and Future Business Leaders of America, but socially she did not feel that she achieved much success. Sarah says her high school social circle was limited to five other Asian girls—relationships she carried over from middle school. "People would come to me for help [with school work] but that was about it," she remembers. In 11th grade Sarah, already disconnected from the high school social scene, decided to distance herself further as she entered the running start program at Pierce College.

Meeting Cambodian Christians

Sarah recalls a turning point in her life occurring when she started going to the Cambodian Evangelical Church with her mom, where she started making friends outside of school and became more connected with the Cambodian community. It was there that Sarah met Kosal [youth leader] who gave her the Act Six brochure and the boost of confidence she needed to enter the application process.

Set apart for a reason

"Being in college, a new environment, forced me to reach out to other people, find commonalities and build relationships," Sarah says commenting on her college social experience. Not only has Sarah taken her social life to the next level, she has maintained her involvement in leadership organizations, most notably as a Cultural Diversity Advocate in the dorms and as the president of the Whitworth International Club. This time, however, she explains, "I feel like I have been set apart for a reason and because of that I had to step up." Her leadership roles at Whitworth have been a lot more relationally focused. Sarah is pleased with this new leadership style, as well as willing to give due credit to Sreyla, the social being that existed within her all along.

A success story that benefits others

Her primary motivation has always been her family, but recently the word success has taken on a whole new meaning. "Being in the Act Six program has taken the focus away from me to a self-less focus," Sarah says commenting on her decision to change her field from business to pre-med. "I feel like that is the best way I can help people," she says. With the unique name her family gave her, and the achievements she earned, including a B.S. in Biology, Sarah is entering the medical field, a strong student and confident leader, with the ability to be accepted into any circle and to make a difference wherever she goes.

Meet More Scholars