The Feeling of Individuality

All your life, you will be defined, classified, and stereotyped by your appearance. You cannot escape this. However, what you can do is let your appearance represent who you are. A change of name. A change of clothes. A change in the way you walk. These are all ways you change how other people see you. To become yourself, you must express who you are.

As I grew up, I saw people living in the shadows of a sibling or a friend. They were second place in everything. Second place in grades, second place in sports, second place in love. They became an afterthought to their friends, their parents, and society. You see this very often in twins. Twins get compared from birth. Compared in every aspect of their life for their entire lives. This forces both of them to want to become individuals from each other. To break free from these comparisons. To become their own person. The want to be separate from other people is what makes us people, what makes us human.

A Desire

As you grow up, people will try to dictate what you do. What they want you to do. But is that what you want to do?

The most powerful and influential people in this world reached their status with one thing: Confidence. Confidence is one of the most powerful things in the world. To be confident with your actions and your words will lead to others allowing you to follow your desires. Otherwise, someone will do it for you. To make your own choice is how you become yourself. Is how you surrender yourself to your desires.

Definition of Who You Are

Growing up in Southern California, especially Fountain Valley as an Asian really made me see that I am not different from anybody else living here. I am just another Vietnamese boy in Southern California. There was nothing special about me. This made me realize, what made me special. What made me different?

It’s my personality. Nobody on this earth has the same personality. Everyone is different and unique. They all have their own thoughts and control over their bodies. When I came to realize this, I wanted to become my own person. I embraced my differences rather than hide them. I really leaned into what I wanted to become and my desires. I defined the person I am becoming.

Conquering Adversity

You don’t see a lot of Vietnamese or Asian people competing at high levels of track and field, and especially, sprinting. There are a total of 0 Vietnamese men who have broken 10 seconds in the 100m. Only 5 men of complete Asian descent (Chinese & Japanese) have broken the 10-second barrier in the 100m event.

I don’t think I will be getting anywhere near there, however, I want to become as fast as I can during my high school career. Reaching the CIF finals is a huge accomplishment as only nine boys in Division 1 every year reach this accomplishment. In addition to this, none, at least in the last couple of years have been Asian.

Even in the lower levels of track in field in which I am competing, I am among the skinniest and the shortest on the line. However, I’m still able to compete. Through hard work and dedication, you can overcome the adversity you face culturally or physically.

The Necessity of Selfishness

How do you expect to progress when all you do is care for others? In competitive sports, in relationships, and in your own health, if you don’t put yourself first sometimes, you will not progress. If you are thinking about someone besides yourself while you are about to race, you will not win. If you don’t take care of yourself before taking care of others, how can you help others to your fullest potential?

You need to remember a priority list, yourself first, everything else second. Once you lift yourself up, you lift everyone else up with you. You will become stronger, faster, smarter, and healthier. By taking care of yourself first, you will become the best version of yourself.