Flora Frangu, a student at Nonnewaug High School, describes herself and her experience as “Very complex but very driven by life itself.”
Flora is involved. She competes with the school’s cross country and track teams, and she will be attending the Spanish trip across Spain during April vacation. She plans to become a nurse after four years of making a significant impact on the people inside and outside of Nonnewaug High School.
Her inspiration and role models come from her own family members who she praises as one of the major reasons she is who she is today.
Flora explains that “One of my inspirations is my mother Julie Frangu, and the others are my siblings [Lindiana and Azem Frangu.] My mother is racing against cancer and so far has been winning the race. Also, both my siblings inspire me because they both keep me humble by learning from their own experiences, with soccer, dance and pageantry. It gave me a work ethic and a respect for what I do and who I work with and for.“
Flora has learned from all of them, but she explains that, “My biggest role model would be my sister because she was a second mom when our mom was first diagnosed with cancer, and she helped me with everything she knew how to do and really filled the void of my mom’s sickness, and that to me is the world.”
Many students go through high school trying to find what they want to do in the future and some graduate without a clue. But Flora knew from the beginning.
“My goal in the future is to be a humble nurse, to be caring for my possible future patients and future family.”
She explains, “I knew I wanted to be a nurse, not at a certain age, but mid-childhood. I always wanted to do something in the medical field and have a fulfilling, helpful job. I always found science as my favorite subject and always liked to help others.”
Aside from her goals, Flora competes with the cross country team after school in the fall and with the track team from the start of winter to the end of spring. She competes in several events such as 100-yard dash, 200-yard dash, 4-by-100 relay, javelin, and shot put events.
“For me, I feel track brings people together and opens up my mind and allows me to start focusing on myself as an individual. It opens me up to people who help me push me to my best self.”
Flora had a successful 2024 season. Deborah Flaherty, school librarian and coach of boys track and cross country, watched Flora and recalls that “She qualified for BL’s and shot put, and got a new PR, and she works hard.”
Flaherty stated, “She’s one of the most respectful, kind, mature and responsible kids I know. She’s very coachable, she’s open to listening, and she always has a positive attitude. She just never stops trying.”
Flaherty wasn’t the only one to see how positive and strong Flora has been growing
Ms. Karen Sandor, a Spanish teacher at Nonnewaug and organizer of the Spanish department’s trip across Spain in the spring of 2025, spoke highly of Flora and recalled their first encounter.
“The first time I met her was at a soccer game, and she was there to support her brother. The following year she was my student and she was so happy to be there and helpful. She’s a very caring person and I see that inside and out of school with her friends, her teammates and her family. I’m looking forward to making more memories with her as she joins our trip to Spain.”
Seeing how big of a trip the school will be taking, Flora was met with excitement when she saw the opportunity to sign up for the trip at the end of last year.
“I’m excited to go to Spain because it’s not often that people go on big trips to different countries with their friends and I’m going with two very good friends of mine.”
Karen Sandor was amazed by the growth she has gone through in the past years at the school. Sandor says, “She has changed so much from her freshman year. She has gotten much more involved and independently driven towards her goals.”
Flora continues helping others, taking on new opportunities, looking past the negative moments while learning from them, and spreading kindness–not just in school but out of school as well. She stays humble and continues to work towards her goals with the support of her friends and family.
