“Strength doesn’t come from having things come easy. It comes from being uncomfortable. and I was uncomfortable with being Lao. I wanted to fit in so bad that at a certain point I started shoving that identity away.”
I felt out of place like any first generation Laotian American. No blame on my parents, they did the best that they could, but I mean a lot of things were foreign to us. I needed to help with legal paperwork that I barely understood. I wasn’t able to hang out with kids on the weekends and so I felt like I was out of place in a lot of the traditional things a kid born and raised in the US would feel. We were poor. My parents worked all the time, and that didn’t leave that much time for activities.
I became happy when I started being honest with how I felt, and by acknowledging my experiences and sharing it. I found out that by breaking down my walls, others are more likely to open up, and I realized I wasn’t the only one who felt this way. When others opened up, I started to feel less alone. I started appreciating my culture and the fact that I can pick and choose who I want to be. Maybe opening and sharing can make life easier for people who are going through the same thing.
“I’ve learned to challenge myself and put myself in situations that I thought I could never do. I signed up for marathons, even though I don’t see people like me doing them, because I know 1) I am challenging myself and 2) I didn’t see others in my community running marathons, but I realized I can be an example for others because Laotian kids might be watching.”
“I wanted people to get inspired by people who look like them, and know that the outdoors, the track, the basketball court, or any other place is a place for them; and that taking care of your health is super important and it’s for everyone.”
“And this goes beyond just fitness. This is politics, biomedical engineering, teaching. All these things are there for the taking but you gotta take a step out and realize that it’s within your reach. Just because you don’t see someone like you. Doesn’t mean you can’t do it.”
“I created my book ‘A Place for Me’ when I was getting into fitness and health. I didn’t see a platform that covered athleticism for other Lao Americans, and I think it’s important for Lao people to learn that life is more about just school and making a living. It’s also about health and finding the activity that fits you. I just want people to enjoy their lives and be healthy! And I want to showcase people who are doing just that!”
“I hope that I continue to push myself to grow and learn to be proud of myself. I put so much weight on what others think that I stopped asking myself what I wanted for a long time. So I want to put myself first, make my parents proud, and have really good strong values.”
“I am happy with who I am now and the choices that I make.
And I hope that I can continue to make decisions that I feel proud of.”
