About me.

Growing up as a member of the Hmong minority in Australia, I quickly realised that my experiences in life were vastly different from those of my Western peers, as well as many other international migrants who had left their homelands for new beginnings.

Part of a military family forced to migrate from Laos, my father, the son of a high-ranking army officer, was sent to seek a better future after the Hmong people were labelled as enemies of the state by the Lao People’s Party in 1973 for supporting the CIA. With the signing of the Vientiane Agreement and the withdrawal of U.S. troops, many Hmong individuals, who had either fought for the CIA or remained neutral, were abandoned. My father was among the fortunate few who made their way to Australia.

Separated from his family and alone in a foreign country, he met my mother and built a new life. However upon settling into their new home, they faced daily challenges of racism and discrimination as they tried to build this new life.

Sheltered and oblivious during childhood, I later realised that I had grown up bearing witness to a remarkable resilience. My upbringing embedded valuable lessons on overcoming the challenges associated with belonging to a minority group – in particular, those originating from humble beginnings and struggling with lower socioeconomic status.

As a child from underprivileged roots, supported by a household with limited income, educational opportunities, and financial security, my experiences and obstacles have influenced my moral compass and ambitions. They have empowered me to stand up against subjective notions of social status and class, allowing me to drive towards my aspirations unhindered by the limitations imposed by others. It’s a journey that many can empathise with, but only a few can truly comprehend.