Growing up as a first generation Vietnamese American shaped everything about who I am, and honestly it still does. I have come a long way from the girl who used to feel embarrassed when my family spoke Vietnamese in public, but those feelings still surface sometimes. There are moments I still feel caught between worlds, wanting to belong in both. I used to wish I could just blend in. Even now, there are days when that wish lingers. My identity has always been complex, something that I am still learning to embrace fully.

In the 1980's, my parents escaped the Vietnam War and came to America searching for a better life. They came from a world where life was about survival, not dreams. So growing up, I was pushed to do well in school, to pick something reliable, to choose stability over passion. I didn't grow up with much and I didn't have all the opportunities others did. But I learned how to create them. I taught myself how to do different dance styles because even when it wasn't a safe choice, it was the thing that made me feel most alive.

It took me a long time to understand that my parents weren't trying to limit me, they were trying to protect me. Their dreams for me came from the fear of losing everything, the way they once did. And now, I see that their sacrifices are the reason I get to dream freely. They came here with nothing… so I could become something.

Today, I am proud to be Vietnamese, proud to be first generation, and proud to stand here as someone who honors my family's journey by living boldly on my own. But being first gen isn't something you outgrow, it is something you live with every day. The world is still changing, people are more open, more curious, and that gives me hope. I've learned that being first gen isn't about choosing between where you come from and where you are going. It's about finding strength in both and realizing our roots don't hold us down, they help us rise.