Kayla

When I moved to San Diego, my dad enrolled me in my local Buddhist youth group Gia Dinh Phat Tu Chanh Kien (GDPT’CK). Attending Vietnamese and Buddhist classes every Sunday, I finally met people who looked like me at Temple. Pridefully talking about our families, Vietnam, favorite foods, and holidays allowed me to gradually embrace my culture and true identity. As my involvement increased at Temple, I was introduced to more of my culture, the ao dai, and older traditions. Because this was unfamiliar and uncomfortable at times, I felt hesitant to explore further. But it was through fan dancing that I slowly understood my pendant was more than a necklace. After a successful performance season with my fan-dancing girls, I finally felt confident and proud, something I never felt before back in Utah. Above all, I grew empathy for others and began pulling my necklace from beneath my shirt.

I brought the sense of belonging I developed at Temple to University City High School's Yearbook. From having a 9th-grade yearbook advisor who lashed out at my classmates to seeing my 10th-grade Editor-in-Chief scream at our peers, I wanted to show all the students empathy they had yet to experience in a leader. As Yearbook Editor-in-Chief in my 11th grade, I was tasked with leading an entire class, ensuring representation for all aspects of my school, and fostering a more welcoming classroom by truly understanding the students' perspective. However, I found myself carrying the burden of our final yearbook deadline one week before it was due – without support. I missed many classes to meet this deadline and fell behind academically. I went to my advisor and shared my frustrations in tears, but the only thing she’d say to me was “This will all be over in one week.” Hearing this so many times, I went to my principal and expressed how impossible it felt to carry this burden alone. But even he couldn't help me address the root issue–a lack of support. Once again, I felt like an outsider, grabbing onto my necklace as I begged for change.

After being unheard and uncared for in Yearbook, I ran to become a Student Board Member for my school district. My campaign focused on improving student and staff relations after witnessing and experiencing detrimental ones myself. I didn't want to just plead for student votes, nor undermine other candidates. So I spoke unscripted at schools like Lincoln High and La Jolla High about my genuine goal: positive change across the district. While I secured over 1,000 votes for the student board member position, my biggest takeaway was a young freshman girl’s support at Madison High. My eyes watered when she told me I stood out from the other candidates because I cared about the “Why”. When she got my campaign video featured in Madison's weekly bulletin I was emotional; she heard everything I stood for and decided to share it with hundreds of other students. Her efforts and words of encouragement, despite not knowing me, showed that my message resonated with others. I realized people wanted me to win so they could belong, too. Despite not winning, what truly mattered was the overwhelming support I’ve received from both staff and students in centering empathy and belonging throughout my campaign. 

Before, I never belonged – always tucked in like my Buddhist pendant. But now, I wear my pendant proudly. I empower my Temple’s next generation to embrace their true identity and ethnicity, teaching all the girls to perform with their hearts and build their belonging on stage. I implemented better administration and staff relations in Yearbook so no student is put through what I faced. I work beside the two elected Student Board Members to make our schools better places for all students. Most importantly, I’ve learned that my voice and drive are the most powerful of all. After doing for others what I wish I had for myself, I have solidified my voice and empathy for others. My Buddhist pendant is where my roots of belonging stem from, and I have expanded those roots beyond where my pendant rests. Difference is inevitable – I won’t always belong everywhere I go. But I will continue stepping outside my comfort zone and using everything I’ve learned from Buddha’s teachings of belonging and empathy to guide my path. No matter where I am or who I'm with, my appearance may set me apart, but my heart will bring me closer to those around me.

Money was a sensitive topic in my family. My parents worked twelve-hour days, but even as a young girl, I knew things weren’t adding up. Each day, I sat in the restaurant and heard my parents fight because they were unable to give my brothers and I the lives they wanted. It wasn’t until I was seven that I found out the truth. My dad had a severe gambling addiction and spent every penny earned behind my family’s back. I was heartbroken, but this only pushed me to help my dad overcome his struggles. At home, I began helping my parents with their employee payrolls, counting every dollar with my mom on the floor as my dad slept. At school, I begged my first-grade teacher to teach me multiplication and division during recess – using everything I learned in math class to help our family’s business, I fell in love with managing inventory, bills, and sales. Seeing the profit margins deepened my fascination with our restaurant’s supply and demand. Through my dedication and hard work, my family worried less and less about our monthly bills and spending.

My dad kept coming back to gambling when he was stressed; often because of the business. I never understood it, but I reminded him that there was no shortcut to success by “winning big.” I took on bigger responsibilities within our restaurant so my dad would have less on his plate and finally take time off. By thirteen, I became an acting manager, running the entire restaurant and finding new ways to increase revenue. I enjoyed every moment spent inside our restaurant, discovering my passion and subsequently lessening my dad’s workload. As days passed, the restaurant became busier, our Yelp reached five stars, and I happily gave my dad his full night's rest. It’s been four years since my dad has stepped foot into a casino and that means more to me than anyone would ever know. Although it was a demanding task, I helped him look past his addiction. There is so much left for me to learn about analytics and economics that I can use to help businesses, especially those run by immigrant families like my own. I want to redefine what “winning big” means because there is no such thing as a shortcut to success. I will be the one who helps others overcome the odds, just like my dad.

Thank you for reading my story and understanding who I am as a person and a student. I’ve always been very involved in school but have found some financial burdens and barriers preventing me from fully performing in academics. I come from immigrant parents working everyday to fulfill their American dream, I spend all my spare time supporting them and their business. I will use the money to help me fund for my senior year necessities and future year in college. I will use this money, if selected, to pursue my future in STEM and public policy. Thank you so much for reading my story!