During it’s almost three decades, the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts has had an array of students who were related to current or previous students. Cousins. Children of alumni. Twins. Many siblings.
The 2021-2022 academic year offered another group of siblings, but this group of siblings is a first in ASMSA’s history. Senior Chenyeng Vang, junior Chilong Vang and sophomore Chiking Vang are the first group of siblings across three grades of students to attend ASMSA at the same time.
ASMSA has traditionally served juniors and seniors since it opened in 1993, but it is in the third year of a pilot program that admits a small sophomore cohort allowing the Vangs to become the first group of students to cover three classes concurrently.
Chenyeng started at ASMSA as a traditional junior in August 2020. She said she first learned about ASMSA during a visit by admissions representatives to her school in eighth grade, but she didn’t seriously consider applying until her sophomore year at Lincoln High School.
“My relationships with my friends started growing in different ways. I wanted to start learning and being more serious about my life. So I decided, ‘Hey, I’m going to ASMSA,’” she said.
Both Chilong and Chiking come to ASMSA in August of this year — Chilong as a junior and Chiking as a sophomore. They relied on their sister to provide them information about the school to decide whether to apply.
“(Chenyeng’s attendance at ASMSA) made it easier to decide whether to apply and to weigh the benefits,” Chiking said.
Chilong said his sister’s experience and input was important in his decision on whether to apply.
“I would say Chen was brutally honest,” he said. “She made me realize it was not a dreamland. I would still be a high school students who had to work hard. She made it more real for me.”
Chenyeng said she tried to make sure they understood that it wouldn’t be easy.
“I told them that they would actually have to try here and that they would have to actually care about what they would do here,” she said. “They would have to go out of their way to be responsible because not everything is handed to you here.”
Both Chilong and Chiking waited until two days before the March 1, 2021, deadline to officially apply. Chilong said his parents say encouraged him to apply when they realized his hesitation.
“I don’t think my parents gave up on me applying to ASMSA, but they saw my reluctance at first. They usually want us to have all A’s, but they told me it would be fine if I had a few B’s,” Chilong said.
Both Chilong and Chiking said it took them a while to settle in and become more involved in the ASMSA community. Having Chenyeng already at ASMSA and serving as a peer mentor helped, Chiking said.
“Chen serves as a peer mentor. That helped make it easier for me to find someone if I needed help with certain subjects,” he said.
Chenyeng said she understands their hesitation at first. She was late starting her first semester because she received a positive COVID-19 test. That meant by the time she arrived on campus many of the students had begun to settle into some social groups.
“I came here by myself. I didn’t have a single person I knew, and I missed Fortnight because of the quarantine period after testing positive for COVID. I didn’t get close to people until the end of my first nine weeks. Now I can say I made friends and have people who help support me.
“Having them here is nice. I know if I really needed them, they will be there for me.”