This year Rosary Academy welcomes a new addition to the Counseling Department. Mrs. Tran Ryan is Rosary’s new Director of Social and Emotional Learning as well as the personal counselor. She is a great listener and the perfect fit for this new position. On behalf of the Royal Reporter, I had the chance to interview her and introduce her to the rest of the Royal community.

Q: Where were you born and raised?

A: I was born in Vietnam and came to the United States at the age of 5 with my aunt and grandmother. I moved around a lot first to California to reunite with the rest of my family then to Hawaii then Washington then back to California.

Q: Where did you go to college?

A: I got my bachelors from UCI and my masters from CAL State Los Angeles.

Q: What is your family like?

A: I am married and have a son, Aiden, who is 12. My parents live close by and my family is primarily in Orange County.

Q: What are some of your interests/hobbies?

A: I love to cook, Pinterest, and anything that involves spending time with family.

Q: How did you end up at Rosary?

A: I ended up at Rosary because unfortunately Connelly closed and an opportunity to continue to support mental health at an all girls school came up here. I believe that mental health is important to help girls be their best selves and Rosary had this opportunity to continue to help others work on their mental health.

Q: What drew you to counseling?

A: I was always fascinated by how people’s thoughts influenced what they did in life. There are difficult problems that people in the world are facing, within themselves, their families, and with others. I want to help others work on strategies to improve their well-being so they think and feel better.

Q: What’s your favorite color?

A: Aqua blue

Q: What’s your favorite movie?

A: “Good Will Hunting”

Q: What do you feel you can bring to Rosary?

A: I’m a good listener who is open minded and understanding. I think my friendliness, compassion, and desire to serve others are attributes that help me to connect with students and their families. I am enthusiastic about learning and educating about healthy ways to address mental health and am ready to share my knowledge and skills to assist individuals gain strategies to work through the tough stuff.

Mrs. Tran Ryan is grateful to continue to be able to support students’ mental health here at Rosary. With her positive attitude and never ending kindness, Rosary Academy is lucky to have her. If you see Mrs. Tran Ryan around campus, make sure to reach out and say hello and welcome her to Rosary.