Truong “Nick” Le Credits Mentors with His Success

Truong Nguyen "Nick" Le will soon complete his third year as an international student at Riverside. Le’s parents first learned about Riverside when he was in the third grade. After befriending Mitchell Kot, a Vietnam veteran and Gainesville resident who lived in Vietnam for 11 years, Le’s family visited Riverside where they met instructor Andy Jobson.
 

Several years later in 2018, Le had the opportunity to attend Riverside’s LEAD summer program. This experience solidified his family’s decision to send both him and his younger brother, Ky, to the Academy. 

Despite the initial language barrier and distance from his home in Da Nang, Le devoted himself to his studies and quickly acclimated to life at Riverside. During the past three years, Le has grown academically as well as relationally. “I was used to trying to prove myself, but since I’ve been at Riverside, I’ve learned how to listen to others more. I’ve learned what it means to be a good leader,” Le said. Le recently celebrated promotion from SSG to 1LT in Headquarters Company.

Along with Jobson, Le credits Riverside TAC officers CPT Barry Carter and MSG Bill Arnold for being strong mentors in his life. “Attending a school like Riverside requires a lot of dedication, but it’s worth the hard work,” Le said.
  

Le is a proud teammate on the JROTC Raiders team and also participates in the band, the National Honors Society, and the International Student Committee. Le says his favorite part of Riverside is the camaraderie among the cadets. “Fellow cadets influence each other to better manage our time and carry ourselves with dignity,” Le explained. This mutual accountability with his fellow cadets has formed a brotherhood that transcends cultural differences.