College : UC Berkeley Career Goal : Education Board Member
About Lisa : Relocating , leaving friends and changing schools as a teenager is tough enough , but when the journey is not measured in miles and minutes , but instead countries and continents , it can bring a whole new set of challenges .
Lisa Chareunsouk was born in Laos , lived in the U . S . until her parents divorced when she was 2 , then moved back to Laos .
Living there was all she knew until relatively recently . In 2019 her mother and stepfather gave her the option to move to the United States to live with extended family . She was 14 years old , and the weight of the decision was like nothing she had experienced . She knew if she stayed her opportunities would be limited . So , she made the trip into the unknown , toward what she hoped would be a stepping stone to a better future .
Lisa joined McLane ’ s business pathway her sophomore year and the program sparked a desire to pursue higher education .
As a junior , she snagged a coveted Union Bank internship , where she was also voted in as the president and was responsible for leading fellow interns , promoting the business pathway and serving as the liaison between the branch manager and school administrators .
Lisa is still bewildered , but proud of how she was able to keep going and reach her goals after being raised across the world , with a different culture , language and way of life .
In her words : “ The person that gave me the most motivation is myself . The more I push myself , the more rewarding it becomes .”
From Business Academy instructor Carlos A . Gonzales : “ Lisa is an amazing young lady who has overcome multiple challenges and obstacles , and yet remains positive and hard working .”
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