Born to Hmong immigrant parents who were originally from Laos, I loved hearing their stories of how they were able to come to the United States. It was a journey marked with loss and struggles but one that I will forever be grateful for because of their sacrifices.

Their stories taught me how to empathize with people and thus, started my curiosity in learning more about other people’s stories. This propelled me into a career in Social Services where I advocated for the vulnerable, made them feel seen and helped to solve real world problems under organization guidelines.

I built perseverance and grit throughout this career—qualities I now bring to design. My experiences taught me to listen closely, approach problems with empathy, and create thoughtful solutions that make people feel seen and supported.