What? So What?
My third year would not be so appreciative and memorable without so many challenging life events I had faced with. It’s been my roughest year, yet I have also been my toughest self.
One really important thing I learned this year is my true identity. I know, and you know that I never stop mentioning I am a Vietnamese. But only until this year that I truly realized how important and remarkable it is to myself. Being an international student can be such an advantage and disadvantage at the same time. There are a lot of companies who embrace diversity, but they are also afraid of legal paper work they might have to do. Therefore, stating that I am originally Vietnamese when finding a job is a risk. I was fighting a lot with myself whether to state it, as a part of my identity or not. And I decided to do it. It actually created a lot of hardship in my first few steps trying to find a co-op. I still ended up having a job, but a lot harder than I thought it would be. However, my current co-workers appreciate me being a foreigner, and they truly embrace who I am. I even got to work on a project for Vietnam from a friend’s company because I am Vietnamese. Then, I realized that being proud of who I am is a right decision. Good things come to those who wait.
I am lucky enough to be able to work at Wood New York for the summer co-op semester, and to meet Tom. He is my boss and my co-worker, the one who decided to hire me, the one who called me multiple times when he heard I might not be able to come to New York, the one who encouraged me to do my best, and the one who trusted my ability. I have to say that he is one of the most important and precious relationships I have created my third year. He changed the way I approach problems in my life, trying to find every other way to solve it. He taught me the strength of trust and encouragement. He changed my third year experience to be a lot better.
Now What?
As I started to realize the real importance of my identity and change my thoughts of who I am, I start to embrace it more, and be take more pride in it. By that, I mean I start to engage myself more in any activities and projects involved Vietnam more. All of my projects are about Vietnam anytime possible. And I do it for only one reason, that I want other people to feel the same way towards Vietnam as I do.
One goal that I set for my upcoming year is to have a broader range of work: from web design and mobile application design, to print design, to motion pieces. I do not want to limit myself to be only an interaction designer. I want to be a designer, who can design anything. Also, it’s another big step for me to prepare myself in my adventure of globalizing Ho Chi Minh City, or Vietnam. This way, I can use my talents and gifts to give back to the community. My next possible project is about a website teaching foreigner Vietnamese, and at the same time advertise Vietnamese culture and history. I hope that I can utilize my skills to bring everyone closer, and broaden their knowledge day by day.
My third year would not be so appreciative and memorable without so many challenging life events I had faced with. It’s been my roughest year, yet I have also been my toughest self.
One really important thing I learned this year is my true identity. I know, and you know that I never stop mentioning I am a Vietnamese. But only until this year that I truly realized how important and remarkable it is to myself. Being an international student can be such an advantage and disadvantage at the same time. There are a lot of companies who embrace diversity, but they are also afraid of legal paper work they might have to do. Therefore, stating that I am originally Vietnamese when finding a job is a risk. I was fighting a lot with myself whether to state it, as a part of my identity or not. And I decided to do it. It actually created a lot of hardship in my first few steps trying to find a co-op. I still ended up having a job, but a lot harder than I thought it would be. However, my current co-workers appreciate me being a foreigner, and they truly embrace who I am. I even got to work on a project for Vietnam from a friend’s company because I am Vietnamese. Then, I realized that being proud of who I am is a right decision. Good things come to those who wait.
I am lucky enough to be able to work at Wood New York for the summer co-op semester, and to meet Tom. He is my boss and my co-worker, the one who decided to hire me, the one who called me multiple times when he heard I might not be able to come to New York, the one who encouraged me to do my best, and the one who trusted my ability. I have to say that he is one of the most important and precious relationships I have created my third year. He changed the way I approach problems in my life, trying to find every other way to solve it. He taught me the strength of trust and encouragement. He changed my third year experience to be a lot better.
Now What?
As I started to realize the real importance of my identity and change my thoughts of who I am, I start to embrace it more, and be take more pride in it. By that, I mean I start to engage myself more in any activities and projects involved Vietnam more. All of my projects are about Vietnam anytime possible. And I do it for only one reason, that I want other people to feel the same way towards Vietnam as I do.
One goal that I set for my upcoming year is to have a broader range of work: from web design and mobile application design, to print design, to motion pieces. I do not want to limit myself to be only an interaction designer. I want to be a designer, who can design anything. Also, it’s another big step for me to prepare myself in my adventure of globalizing Ho Chi Minh City, or Vietnam. This way, I can use my talents and gifts to give back to the community. My next possible project is about a website teaching foreigner Vietnamese, and at the same time advertise Vietnamese culture and history. I hope that I can utilize my skills to bring everyone closer, and broaden their knowledge day by day.