A Westbrook High School student with graduation just days away has set goals and is willing to take on the effort to make them happen.

Giang Wayne will be among the 145 students receiving diplomas at 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 7, when they walk across the stage in Merrill Auditorium in Portland. Her mother, Dung Wayne, will be there and “She’ll be happy,” Wayne said.

But her father died two years ago when she was 15 and a sophomore. It represented the biggest challenge of her life.

“Yet Giang was able to persevere and continue to earn decent grades with a challenging (some honors classes) schedule,” faculty member Walter LeBlanc said this week.

A Westbrook native, Wayne will major in political science at University of Southern Maine with an eye on earning a doctorate. She hasn’t met any professors yet.

She is familiar with the Gorham campus that she likes. Wayne has participated in karate tournaments there at the Costello Sports Complex. She’s looking to achieve a goal in August: earning a black belt in karate.

LeBlanc said she has learned the “amazing results one can achieve through discipline and hard work.”  

“She has an amazing set of medals and awards, excelling in martial arts,” LeBlanc said.

She confidently said in a recent interview at the high school that she wants to be president of the United States.

Maine Gov. Janet Mills served as as an inspiration when she once visited her school. Wayne went forward to speak with Mills, but doesn’t recall what Mills said.

“I love life,” Wayne said, and added she’s prepared for the challenges ahead.

Wayne has participated in the high school theater program all four years and has been an honor roll student as a senior. She singled out LeBlanc, her health and homeroom teacher, as one of her favorites.

As a middle school student Wayne played flute in the band. Wayne said her favorite food is sushi and recalled speaking of food when she talked with Mills.

As her favorite pastimes, Wayne enjoys reading and writing.

In offering advice to students coming into high school, she urges them go try something without being afraid of failure.

“I would say make friends with the teachers and do the crazy things in life,” Wayne said.