Pieces of Me

In our lives, we have met countless people. Some will be our friends for life, some we might see once and never run into them again. However, we all do the same routine, introducing ourselves to each other. I wonder how many people will be willing to introduce their authentic self, which I mean who they really are, what they really think, and also, how they know they would react to everything happens to their lives. Because I believe that when we introduce ourselves to someone, we somehow unintentionally show them who we want to be and what we want people to see in us, not who we really are. This blog really is a good chance for me to sit down and remember everything happened in my life, to know who I used to be and who I am so far. I also hope it's a better way for people to know about me.

During my childhood, I was expected to become a different person than who I truly am. I was born into a typical family in Vietnam in which parents decide their children’s future. My mom and dad, not being an exception, always told me what to do and who I should be. Long story short, I had been being who they wanted me to be until I disappointed them when I failed the university entrance exam. In my country, the university entrance exam is the most competitive test in any student's life. it is consider as a steppingstone to a fortunate future. And I failed. Not because I was not able to pass, but because I didn't want the major that my parents had chosen for me, so I didn't take all of the tests. 18 years old, I started expressing myself in a negative way, I stop listening to my parents, I fought with them over every single thing that I thought it wasn't right for my life. I didn't know what I did hurt the people I love so much. Back then, I wanted to be free. I was childish and stubborn. 

I had so many interests that I couldn't figure out who I really wanted to be. I liked to dance and I did it well, but I didn't like it enough to spend my whole life being a dancer so I quit my dance crew. I liked doing handicraft stuffs but I don't want to use my day just playing with fabrics, sewing machine, papers, or glue. So I closed my small DIY shop after 2 years. I liked taking pictures but I didn't want to be a professional photographer, so I just used my camera whenever I felt like. I loved cooking but I didn't have enough passion to go to culinary school, just because I didn't want to stand all day in the kitchen. I loved traveling but yes I need money to do it. I always felt excited watching news about governments events; I wanted to work with important people of the other countries around the world, so I thought I wanted to be a diplomat. However, after graduated in International Relation at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam. I knew politic is not my thing; yet I treasured every knowledge I've learned about the world... At that point of my life, I felt lost. 

My life changed when I started working for an event planner company. I found myself so passionate and happy working for them. I love planning and coordinating. And, believe it or not, all of my knowledge about crafting, photographing, dancing, cooking were so useful in my job. After one year of working, I knew this was the way I wanted to go, but there was still something missing that made me feel uneasy.

I don't remember how it happened but I heard about some people working for an UN event and they did something wrong because of lack of political knowledge. A thought came to my mind, "why not being an even planner for an international organization? That would be perfect for everything I've learned and what I wanted to do. I know French but it is not enough, I need English!!" So I decided to come to the US to get another degree and chase my dream. I quit my family and friends, came all the way to the other side of the globe while all of my friends and classmates were in France, just for a better future and better job opportunities. 

I believe everything happened in our lives for a reason. I found out everything I had done always support the other things I'm doing at some point. And if I had never decided to come to the US and study at Dixie State, I would have never met my boyfriend, the one who loves, understands, and supports me in everything I do, the one that I've been looking for for a long time. I don't know if thing changes tomorrow and my dream job changes, but I feel totally happy with what I have and what I'm trying to do.