BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
What happens off the transcript
Some of the parts of my life I value most are difficult to turn into a score. They happen on long runs, in noisy gyms, beside another runner who is trusting my movements, or in conversations where the point is not to win.
Long-distance running
I run long distances because they strip a problem down to pacing, attention, and the next decision. After multiple half and full marathons, I still occasionally start too fast, but I have become much better at noticing when stubbornness is pretending to be discipline.
Debate
Debate trained me to build an argument, but the more useful lesson was learning to hear the argument I had not prepared for. Competing, speaking, and chairing conferences taught me that clarity is not the same as volume, and that changing my mind can be evidence that the discussion worked.
Basketball
As captain of SJI International’s U19 team and a player for Yi Min Basketball Club, I lead training and try to keep five very different decision-makers moving as one unit. Our teams earned Silver in ACSIS Division II and Bronze at the Hanoi Schools’ Basketball Tournament, but I remember the turnovers and misread plays just as clearly as the medals.
Vietnam Blind Runners Club
I lead a team of 20 guide runners supporting visually impaired athletes through training sessions and competitive races. I also designed and iterated 20 running tethers, adjusting their length, tension, grip, and materials until they held up in real runs rather than only on my desk.
Blue Dragon
I connected SJI International with Blue Dragon and now co-lead school campaigns and volunteer initiatives supporting vulnerable children in Vietnam. The work has pushed me to explain issues such as human trafficking clearly without reducing the people involved to a fundraising story.
"Nuôi Em" Project
Since 2020, I have supported logistics, finance, communications, and field visits for Project Nuôi Em, an education initiative serving 100,000+ children. Visiting partner schools and families in Nậm Hè, Điện Biên, reminded me that a solution only works when it fits the place and people it is meant for.