Chemistry and Community

By Estrella Gutierrez

For her, teaching chemistry is about much more than just formulas and reactions. She believes the key to helping students learn is creating strong personal connections in the classroom.

Nguyen: ‘’l always explain that chemistry is all about relationship building. It’s about all these bonds that you build, and you break.’’ 

Catthy Nguyen was born and raised in San Jose. Ms. Nguyen's interest in science began in high school, where her AP chemistry teacher, Ms. Stevens was someone who really made the class fun and engaging and even though chemistry is such a hard subject anyone is able to if they work hard enough. After college, she worked as a forensic scientist and an after-school science instructor. 

Through these experiences, it taught her how much she enjoyed working with students and showing them that science isn’t as scary as it seems. Being able to turn tough chemistry lessons into useful, relatable ideas showed her how much of a difference an encouraging mentor can make.

Nguyen: ‘’ l realized l really enjoyed guiding young people and helping them build confidence in the classroom.’’

After studying chemistry at UC Davis and working in Forensic science, she realized her true passion was teaching and mentoring young people. 

Teaching at Yerba Buena High school is especially meaningful to Ms. Nguyen because it reflects the same community she grew up in. 

Growing in San Jose she pretty much grew up in this neighborhood most of her life. Her parents had a store in the southeast side of San Jose she spent most of her time helping out.

The sudden loss of a close college friend also deeply impacted her life, reminding her how  precious time is and inspiring her to support others every day.  

 Nguyen : “Back in July l had a friend from college who passed away. He was in a rafting incident in Denver, the news shocked us all, because he was someone who was full of kindness and full of hope, and he really believed in building these villages with friends and strangers.’’

Seeing how much her friend cared about others really stuck with her. It reminded her how fast life can change and why every moment with her students matters.

Nguyen: “Having good role models and a good support system is what l always aim to do and what l strive to do for my students.’’ 

Outside of school, Ms. Nguyen keeps herself grounded through creative and hands- on hobbies.

Nguyen: ‘’l really like crafting,so one of my favorite things is l like to do DIY projects. I like to fix things up and kind of recycle them to make it more functional for my life.’’

Connecting with her Vietnamese heritage and taking on leadership roles within her local San Jose community are also deeply important to her. Growing up in a caring family,she values staying involved with local community and Cultural events. These connections allow her to give back to the San Jose neighborhood where she was raised and support students from similar backgrounds.

After a long day of teaching she likes to unwind by listening to music, turning to her favorite artist like Ariana Grande and BTS to relax and recharge. 

Over time, Ms. Nguyen’s definition of success shifted away from just career titles or income, evolving into a focus on personal growth and helping those around her thrive. She believes that true success comes from building up leadership skills and creating  positive opportunities for others.