Learning about the American dream and living it were two separate experiences. Viammy Truong’s (10) parents immigrated to the United States in the 1990’s from Vietnam and experienced the latter.
“My dad was born, I think it was after the Vietnam War,” Truong said. “He grew up very poor, and when he was around 13 years old he escaped to America on a boat. He spent a month on a boat, he went to Malaysia and then to the Philippines just to learn English and to learn about America. Then he went to California and from there he moved around. For my mom, my dad flew back to Vietnam, met her, and the rest is history.”
The values that were taught to her by her family and her family’s sacrifices for each other made her who she was.
“Because of what they gave up, especially what my dad gave up, leaving his family behind, leaving almost everything behind, it’s taught me to be more grateful and appreciative of what I have here, because what if he never escaped,” Viammy said. “Imagine what my life would be like.”
Victoria Laney (10) took notice of how Truong’s family and cultural values shaped who she was as a person.
“I think it helped her to really appreciate not only what her parents have gone through, but like the life she has,” Laney said. “I think she definitely works hard to appreciate what her parents gave her and the sacrifices they made to move here. “
Her Vietnamese culture was not in her daily life like it was for her other family members who lived in Vietnam, but she still participated in cultural activities with her family.
“Lunar New Year is obviously important,” Truong said. “We have prayer services for our grandparents and our ancestors and little things like that.”
Truong’s brother, Vincio Truong (9), knew how Truong respected her culture and how she spent her time learning about it as much as she could.
“Although Viammy does not speak Vietnamese very well, she is very indulgent in the cultural foods and activities we do as a family,” Vincio said.
Truong was not only dedicated to her culture, but also to the people around her.
“She’s a really good person,” Laney said. “She really focuses on her goals and she’s o
