The Tinsley Team Standout Student of The Month: Emily Nguyen

For eleven-year-old Emily Nguyen, the ice isn’t just a frozen sheet at The Skating Club of Boston, it’s a blank canvas.
 
As she prepares to step into the hallways of Thurston Middle School this fall, leaving her elementary years at Pine Hill behind, Emily carries with her a rare blend of youthful exuberance and remarkable artistic discipline.
 
She has been gliding across the ice since she was seven years old, devoting two to three hours a day, six days a week, to perfecting her craft. Yet, listen to her speak, and you won’t hear a stressed-out competitor.
 
You’ll hear a passionate artist in total harmony with her work.
 
“Skating is really competitive… but you get to express your emotions on the ice,” Emily shares. “If you have a bad day, don’t get stressed out. Just try harder the next day.”
 
That deep emotional expression shines brightest in her breathtaking program set to the Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto. This season, Emily was honored to perform the piece at the 54th Annual An Evening with Champions, one of the nation’s longest-running charitable figure skating exhibitions. Founded at Harvard University in 1970, the event brings together Olympic, world, and national figure skating icons alongside rising stars to support cancer research, generating over $3 million in lifesaving funds to date.
 
To glide across that ice for a cause far bigger than herself was a defining milestone, one guided closely by her head coach, Lisa Coppola. Under Lisa’s expert eye and nurturing guidance at The Skating Club of Boston, Emily has learned to treat every stroke as storytelling. Lisa’s unwavering mentorship has given Emily the confidence to embrace the emotional depth of the Butterfly Lovers Concerto, shaping not just her technical mastery on double jumps, but her soul as a performer.
 
For Emily and her mother, success isn’t about chasing podiums or fixating on ultimate results. It’s about the sheer beauty of growth.
 
“Don’t overthink it,” Emily advises younger skaters taking their very first glides. “If you’re starting to jump, don’t think about landing it, because it’s more about technique than the outcome. Landing is one tiny little thing that doesn’t matter as much as your technique. Just have fun and do what you know.”
 
Her mom Julia, echoes that grounded perspective, noting that Emily’s true reward comes from connection and joy.
 
“She loves ice skating for itself – to entertain people, to grow each month, and to feel the pure art of the sport.”
 
That spirit of connection extends far beyond her solo programs. Emily also competes in the dynamic world of Theatre On Ice, blending theatrical acting, prop work, and group choreography.
 
Her team recently traveled to Irvine, California, capturing a National Championship title. Off the ice, she recharges through Korean hip-hop dance, bringing that vibrant rhythm right back to the rink.
 
“It’s really important to have friends on the team,” Emily beams. “When you travel, if you don’t have friends, it gets lonely! But Theatre On Ice is so fun – we get to wear amazing costumes, use props, and work on our expressions together.”
 
As she steps forward into middle school, Emily carries a sweet piece of wisdom for the incoming fifth graders at Pine Hill.
 
“Don’t be shy, and speak up in class! The more you speak up, the better it is for you.”
 
Whether she is lacing up her skates for a quiet early-morning practice with Coach Lisa, performing on a national stage with her teammates, or stepping into a new classroom, Emily Nguyen is living proof that true brilliance happens when you trust the process, lean on your community, and simply love what you do.