Whiz Kid: Becky Lian

If it weren’t for one of her younger sisters, Becky Lian might not be the current Miss Rancho Bernardo.

Lian had never competed in a pageant before the 2010 Miss Rancho Bernardo and Miss Rancho Bernardo Teen . She decided to compete after her sister brought home an information packet and encouraged her.

“It seemed like a fun thing to do, so I gave it a shot even though it was totally out of what I normally do,” Lian said. “She was actually going to do it with me, but she is really into sports, so she was unable to find the time commitment to do it.”

Lian said she is honored to have won the competition. 

“I was shocked. I was really, really excited,” Lian said about winning the competition. “I had never seen myself, before I did this, as the kind of person who would win something like Miss Rancho Bernardo. It was a really great feeling to know that people who are prominent in our community thought that I would be a good person to represent them.”

For about a year now, Lian has represented Rancho Bernardo youth, alongside Miss Rancho Bernardo Teen , at various community events. The senior said the experience has been rewarding.

Her mother agrees.

“I think she’s learned a lot of really useful skills,” Alice Krull said. “I think getting to go to a lot of local events has helped her gain confidence and it’s helped her with her personal and social skills. I think it’s going to help her with college and jobs in the future. ...She has done a lot of volunteer work already, so I think it kind of built on that.”

Lian is the oldest of Krull’s three daughters.

Although Lian has participated in sports like the other daughters, Krull said her oldest child has always been more interested in community service.

“She’s tried sports and she’s done a number of sports, but her real interest, I think, has been in service and volunteer work,” Krull said. “It’s just what she likes to do.”

In addition to handling her Miss Rancho Bernardo responsibilities, Lian has served as an ambassador for the this year. The 18-year-old has been actively involved in the Girl Scouts since she was in first grade.

“I get to be involved with my school a lot, but with the Girl Scouts and Miss Rancho Bernardo, I get to be involved with the whole community,” Lian said. “I really like doing that.”

Despite her off-campus commitments, Lian is involved in a number of activities on campus as well.

She and a friend co-founded an art club this year. She has also been a peer counselor for two years.

The high school senior is also the Human Relations Conference Facilitator for the PLUS program, which stands for “Peer Leaders Uniting Students.” The program organizes forums that bring students together to talk about various issues.  

“I like helping other people. I find that to be fulfilling,” Lian said “Also, I enjoy being part of the school campus and being really involved.”

Lian also enjoys performing well academically.

She has taken nine Advanced Placement classes and has a 4.3 GPA.

“I think just the consistency of her hard work is a major accomplishment,” Krull said. “She hasn’t really faltered. Despite whatever else is going on, she has kept working hard and consistently achieving.”

After high school graduation, Lian plans to attend a four-year college. Although she isn’t sure what she wants to study yet, Lian is considering medicine.

“Both my parents are doctors so I’ve always thought I wanted to go into that, because I always thought it was really interesting,” Lian said. “I just think it would be a rewarding field. I would like the feeling of being able to help people. I think it would just be the kind of job I would want to wake up in the morning to do.”

No matter what she decides to do, Miss Rancho Bernardo’s biggest fans will support her.

“She’s a very good sister, daughter and friend,” Krull said. “She’s very loving and loyal to the people she loves. I think that’s really special about her.”