About Me

I was born to two immigrant parents from Vietnam. By default, I am considered a first-generation American. I was aware of this fact as I grew up compared to my fellow classmates, who could trace back their family heritage in America for generations. I knew I was different, but my parents taught me that being different was the best gift I could have. That gift led me to discover my love of helping others, writing stories, and competitive swimming: all of which have had a significant impact on my life to this point.

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Every day when I came home, we have a tradition. A tradition that may not exist in certain households. We come home and gather around a great big wooden table. Scratches and stains that will never come out litter the table. To me, they aren't stains. They are brushes of history that we make every day. Gathering around the family table represents being one family, united against all the odds. 

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We hold close a tradition that seems like it is fading in today's society. A tradition that we hold dear to our heart. It's us against the world. It felt like our story was like a book collecting dust, waiting to be read again. Our traditions were criticized, our traditions were misunderstood, our traditions were used as weapons. 

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In a world so prejudiced and harsh, it's hard to continue some days. That was especially true during the Coronavirus Pandemic. My Asian American and Pacific Islander community were pushed and shoved to the ground out of spite. Elders and young children told to go back to their country, myself included. 

 

But the funny thing about being at rock-bottom, there's nowhere else to go but up. I found meaning by telling the stories of others. To share the experiences that someone else can relate with. There's always going to be another person that can say, "I've been through that too!" Connecting together a community is the most important thing for me because it re-establishes the love and faith we all have in each other to build towards a better tomorrow.