I align with the sentiment that “it takes a village to raise a child.” I come from various communities, shaping me into who I am today. Most notably, coming from a family of Vietnamese refugees and immigrants has been a core source of inspiration in my everyday life. Seeing the  perseverance, resilience, and tenacity of my Vietnamese family members inspires my lifelong commitment to serving and working with immigrants and refugees.

Additionally, being part of the queer community has offered me a meaningful way of seeing the world: not as a position of being disadvantaged but rather seeing queerness as strength and innovation. It is about living life boldly, authentically, and daring to challenge the status quo.

I cannot forget the hundreds of people who have come before me and those I have encountered. From work settings to those with whom I have volunteered with, I am so grateful and honoured to have the tremendous support of professors, mentors, friends, family, peers, and colleagues, who are relentless cheerleaders and sources of inspiration.

In the brilliant words of one of my feminist icons, bell hooks: “Love is as love does. Love is an act of will—namely, both an intention and an action.” This vision of love and empathy is central to my hopes for the future. I believe that when we center love and empathy, human connections become more genuine, authentic, and meaningful, fostering social action to ameliorate our most pressing societal issues. While our contemporary world is marked by immense strife and hatred, I remain hopeful. Every day, I see this hope reflected in the incredible work of people across the globe and within our local communities. I aspire to carry this momentum forward, dedicating my future work to social change rooted in love and empathy.