My story: Who am I?

Hi, "My" name is me. I come from Vietnam.

For the longest time, I never realized that my family was poor, or at least had a lower income. Growing up, the nights were never quiet for me. The sound of water dripping from my broken sink, laughter from food vendors nearby, and occasional domestic conflicts echoed through my ears. When it’s pouring, or sometimes even just merely raining, our ceiling will leak. Luckily, we always had enough buckets for major leaking spots. Occasionally, we had dead rats stuck on our ceilings that stunk up the apartment, and everyone would have to sleep in the living room. But I never felt like we were poor.

I felt like I had everything. I had decent English training at an early age, I got to travel, and I got money to do what I wanted: piano lessons, violin lessons, etc. Yet, I realized later on that what I received was the collective enormous effort of the people around me—my mom, my grandparents, my aunts and uncles, my mom's friends, and many more. Their only reason for providing me with so much was so that I could have all of the opportunities growing up without a dad. I grew up with more than enough—I grew up with love.

Despite my mom's long working hours and my grandfather's restless effort, I was still looked down on by more privileged kids, teachers, and society for being "dad-less." Being underestimated is therefore not new to me; it became my superpower, yet I never quite got used to that feeling. As I embarked on new journeys, I used to feel that I was not seen as competent, or at least I didn’t feel confident enough. I became the Vietnamese girl who didn't know anything and who was not as good as others. Maybe I was, but never for too long. Whether I changed or will change anyone’s mind about my ability or not, I'll always be me—the girl who never stops trying and fighting for what she loves. Slowly, I started to grow and realized how my experience has enriched me as a person, a student, a mentor, an instructor, and a scholar. I realized how I became more sensitive, patient, and empathetic. I was and still can embrace my journeys and struggles in a way that provides me with deeper insight into not only my life but also the world around me.

“What’s Hanoi?” by Le Tien Dung

Holding such experiences close to my heart, I understand the importance of education and support. I understand what it feels like to not be heard, seen, or taken seriously, to not have support and resources, and to be rejected. My experience and position as a marginalized student have shaped my approach to pedagogy and research. I also acknowledge the importance of teaching and providing a safe space for learning. I encourage and invite deep and meaningful interaction and engagement while aiming to create safe environments for people to share their experiences and advocates for creating and maintaining collaborative and supportive communities.

"My" name is me. I'm a PhD student from Vietnam.

TEACHING POSITIONALITY