‘While I’m an American, I still have to be Cambodian at the same time’

Soleak Sim, a 16-year-old honors student at Fallbrook High School, came to the United States in 1975 as a 2-year-old Cambodian refugee. The top student in San Diego’s 1989 Academic Decathlon, Sim, a senior, is one of nine Fallbrook High students who will compete in the statewide competition in March. To reach the state competition, students were tested in economics, fine arts, grammar and literature, mathematics, science and history. They also wrote essays and gave speeches. Sim, the top scorer in the decathlon, has a 4.33 grade point average because of her advanced placement courses. Soleak was interviewed by Times staff writer G. Jeanette Avent and photographed by Don Bartletti.

My family was part of the group of refugees who came to the United States because of the (Vietnam) war. We came to Fallbrook because our sponsor lives here. When we were in Cambodia, my dad was a heavy-machinery operator. He bought his first tractor when he was a junior in high school. He had to start over again when we came here.

Mom tells me stories all the time about growing up in Cambodia. I’ve never been (back) to Cambodia, but I wouldn’t risk going back now. Besides, we have lots of relatives here in Southern California. I also have April Rodriguez, my best friend since the third grade.

I have an older brother at UC Irvine and an older sister at UC San Diego. I think they had a harder time because they had to start in the first grade learning English. I went through the Head Start preschool and my younger brother, in the fourth grade, was born here.

Right now my goal is to get into Stanford University. I haven’t decided what to major in. One thing I’m really interested in is foreign language. I’d like to learn Spanish better, and also learn French and German. I can pretty much speak Cambodian. My dad wanted me to go into business, but I don’t have the instincts for business.

I was always an A and B student, but I don’t remember trying to get straight As, until high school. I’m taking advanced-placement classes in English, calculus, European history, physics and biology. I’m also on the student council, and I’m the student representative to the school district’s Board of Trustees.

I am the secretary for the Key Club, a school group which does things for the community. We have food drives and donate canned goods to families in Fallbrook. Last year we sold calendars for the Special Olympics. I’m also involved in the Spanish Club.

My parents own a hamburger stand so I spend a lot of time working there after school and in the summer. I do three to five hours of homework a day, and on the weekend, that’s when I catch up.

It’s great if you don’t like sleeping. But college (entrance) has gotten so competitive you feel like you have to fill your resume as much as possible. But most of the clubs I’m in, I’m an active member. Otherwise, you don’t get much out of it.

Keeping myself busy makes me do things better. My mom always says Cambodians put so much more effort in what we do. We have to try to harder. It’s just the way we’ve been brought up. While I’m an American, I still have to be Cambodian at the same time. I try not to waste anything, even if it’s a piece of paper.

But I’ve never felt like a minority, even though there are few minorities in Fallbrook. I’m friendly and open and I fit in everywhere I go.