one of my favorite quote of all time is that life is 10% of what happened to you
that life is 10% of what happened to you
that life is 10% of what happened to you and 90% of how you react to it
and 90% of how you react to it
and 90% of how you react to it despite the fact that life sometime
despite the fact that life sometime
despite the fact that life sometime throw anything at you but circumstance
throw anything at you but circumstance
throw anything at you but circumstance isn’t justified your destiny your
isn’t justified your destiny your
isn’t justified your destiny your attitude errs so what’s now years ago
attitude errs so what’s now years ago
attitude errs so what’s now years ago when I first come to the u.s. I was so
when I first come to the u.s. I was so
when I first come to the u.s. I was so excited to come to this country for
excited to come to this country for
excited to come to this country for education that I bought a wrong ticket
education that I bought a wrong ticket
education that I bought a wrong ticket and end up in porn Oregon instead of
and end up in porn Oregon instead of
and end up in porn Oregon instead of Poland Maine as an 18 years old who
Poland Maine as an 18 years old who
Poland Maine as an 18 years old who didn’t speak any English at the time I
didn’t speak any English at the time I
didn’t speak any English at the time I was waiting in the airport for my uncle
was waiting in the airport for my uncle
was waiting in the airport for my uncle to come pick me up not knowing I’m way
to come pick me up not knowing I’m way
to come pick me up not knowing I’m way on the other side of the country so
on the other side of the country so
on the other side of the country so while I was waiting to strain thing out
while I was waiting to strain thing out
while I was waiting to strain thing out I experienced my first culture shock so
I experienced my first culture shock so
I experienced my first culture shock so after the longest flight xx xx I’ll fly
after the longest flight xx xx I’ll fly
after the longest flight xx xx I’ll fly from Vietnam I was hungry and walk
from Vietnam I was hungry and walk
from Vietnam I was hungry and walk around the airport looking for something
around the airport looking for something
around the airport looking for something something to eat thinking it’s going to
something to eat thinking it’s going to
something to eat thinking it’s going to be my first American meal it’s going to
be my first American meal it’s going to
be my first American meal it’s going to be good so I skip all the Japanese and
be good so I skip all the Japanese and
be good so I skip all the Japanese and Chinese full-court and up in front of
Chinese full-court and up in front of
Chinese full-court and up in front of McDonald although I didn’t speak any
McDonald although I didn’t speak any
McDonald although I didn’t speak any English at the time I managed to copy
English at the time I managed to copy
English at the time I managed to copy the guy right in front of me to wrap a
the guy right in front of me to wrap a
the guy right in front of me to wrap a sandwich I got my first bite and boy it
sandwich I got my first bite and boy it
sandwich I got my first bite and boy it tastes horrible
tastes horrible
tastes horrible I open a sandwich up there’s some yellow
I open a sandwich up there’s some yellow
I open a sandwich up there’s some yellow melted stuff inside it people call him
melted stuff inside it people call him
melted stuff inside it people call him cheese of course coming from a small
cheese of course coming from a small
cheese of course coming from a small town in Vietnam and having cheese before
town in Vietnam and having cheese before
town in Vietnam and having cheese before in my life
in my life
in my life this is strange so end up throwing
this is strange so end up throwing
this is strange so end up throwing everything in the trash everything
everything in the trash everything
everything in the trash everything inside the trash an ADA bun outside
inside the trash an ADA bun outside
inside the trash an ADA bun outside that was my first American meal so
that was my first American meal so
that was my first American meal so coming from a different country one of
coming from a different country one of
coming from a different country one of my biggest challenge is the language
my biggest challenge is the language
my biggest challenge is the language barrier because of that I wasn’t able to
barrier because of that I wasn’t able to
barrier because of that I wasn’t able to communicate with people City I just
communicate with people City I just
communicate with people City I just sitting in the corner of a class and
sitting in the corner of a class and
sitting in the corner of a class and didn’t participate and my gray wasn’t
didn’t participate and my gray wasn’t
didn’t participate and my gray wasn’t great it was so depressing few months it
great it was so depressing few months it
great it was so depressing few months it got to the point that I was debating
got to the point that I was debating
got to the point that I was debating whether I should stay here in this
whether I should stay here in this
whether I should stay here in this country I should go home and with my
country I should go home and with my
country I should go home and with my family that’s really when I have to
family that’s really when I have to
family that’s really when I have to answer the question what am I here for I
answer the question what am I here for I
answer the question what am I here for I remember when I was a little boy growing
remember when I was a little boy growing
remember when I was a little boy growing up helping my family racing a fish farm
up helping my family racing a fish farm
up helping my family racing a fish farm in Cameron Bay we have to work so hard
in Cameron Bay we have to work so hard
in Cameron Bay we have to work so hard everything every day’s in a heartburn
everything every day’s in a heartburn
everything every day’s in a heartburn whether in Cameron Bay in Vietnam to
whether in Cameron Bay in Vietnam to
whether in Cameron Bay in Vietnam to make $1 a day for leaving a vision in my
make $1 a day for leaving a vision in my
make $1 a day for leaving a vision in my mind that one day I had to change this I
mind that one day I had to change this I
mind that one day I had to change this I had to become a successful businessman
had to become a successful businessman
had to become a successful businessman to have my family my generation to
to have my family my generation to
to have my family my generation to become a better one and coming here in
become a better one and coming here in
become a better one and coming here in this country has been a huge step closer
this country has been a huge step closer
this country has been a huge step closer to achieve that goal with something
to achieve that goal with something
to achieve that goal with something people call an American dream therefore
people call an American dream therefore
people call an American dream therefore I cannot give up yet
I cannot give up yet
I cannot give up yet chip because of the language barrier or
chip because of the language barrier or
chip because of the language barrier or a cheese sandwich for that matter so
a cheese sandwich for that matter so
a cheese sandwich for that matter so after that I did satisfy all the
after that I did satisfy all the
after that I did satisfy all the possible way for me to improve my
possible way for me to improve my
possible way for me to improve my English skill and I soon found out the
English skill and I soon found out the
English skill and I soon found out the best way for me is to get involved to
best way for me is to get involved to
best way for me is to get involved to interact with people through different
interact with people through different
interact with people through different school activities and organizations and
school activities and organizations and
school activities and organizations and by the time I finished SMCC I managed to
by the time I finished SMCC I managed to
by the time I finished SMCC I managed to get a really high GPA with an official
get a really high GPA with an official
get a really high GPA with an official title people gave me mister SMCC
title people gave me mister SMCC
title people gave me mister SMCC because of all my involvement with the
because of all my involvement with the
because of all my involvement with the school activities
school activities
school activities during that time I also worked 50 hours
during that time I also worked 50 hours
during that time I also worked 50 hours a day a week to to pay off on my college
a day a week to to pay off on my college
a day a week to to pay off on my college sometime in life to me you need to step
sometime in life to me you need to step
sometime in life to me you need to step back a little bit looking in a bigger
back a little bit looking in a bigger
back a little bit looking in a bigger picture in a positive way to figure out
picture in a positive way to figure out
picture in a positive way to figure out what’s next so when I got out of college
what’s next so when I got out of college
what’s next so when I got out of college I decided to join becoming an
I decided to join becoming an
I decided to join becoming an independent insurance broker to me at
independent insurance broker to me at
independent insurance broker to me at the time that’s one of the toughest job
the time that’s one of the toughest job
the time that’s one of the toughest job out there not because of the language
out there not because of the language
out there not because of the language barrier but also you had to learn
barrier but also you had to learn
barrier but also you had to learn everything from marketing communicating
everything from marketing communicating
everything from marketing communicating selling and everything but I always look
selling and everything but I always look
selling and everything but I always look in a positive way that being in cell
in a positive way that being in cell
in a positive way that being in cell give me a lot of flexibility of my time
give me a lot of flexibility of my time
give me a lot of flexibility of my time and there’s no limit on how much I can
and there’s no limit on how much I can
and there’s no limit on how much I can earn and after two years I was able to
earn and after two years I was able to
earn and after two years I was able to advance myself to become a financial
advance myself to become a financial
advance myself to become a financial adviser to help other people to plan for
adviser to help other people to plan for
adviser to help other people to plan for their retirement it’s what I enjoy to do
their retirement it’s what I enjoy to do
their retirement it’s what I enjoy to do but the more money I make the more I
but the more money I make the more I
but the more money I make the more I recognize that an American Dream is not
recognize that an American Dream is not
recognize that an American Dream is not only successful in terms of money but
only successful in terms of money but
only successful in terms of money but also what you do to make the difference
also what you do to make the difference
also what you do to make the difference in the community in your family to me
in the community in your family to me
in the community in your family to me that is like being good to great is the
that is like being good to great is the
that is like being good to great is the transformation from good to great from
transformation from good to great from
transformation from good to great from being successful to become a significant
being successful to become a significant
being successful to become a significant I work very closely with the Vietnamese
I work very closely with the Vietnamese
I work very closely with the Vietnamese community and a lot of them have the
community and a lot of them have the
community and a lot of them have the same starting point just like me came in
same starting point just like me came in
same starting point just like me came in from a different country didn’t speak
from a different country didn’t speak
from a different country didn’t speak the language and trying to adopt into
the language and trying to adopt into
the language and trying to adopt into the new culture but a lot of them choose
the new culture but a lot of them choose
the new culture but a lot of them choose to where they are to stay where they are
to where they are to stay where they are
to where they are to stay where they are and not advance themselves with Korea
and not advance themselves with Korea
and not advance themselves with Korea business or education the next
business or education the next
business or education the next generation gonna continue that pattern
generation gonna continue that pattern
generation gonna continue that pattern again and again and eventually become
again and again and eventually become
again and again and eventually become you know a burden to the society I’m
you know a burden to the society I’m
you know a burden to the society I’m working on changing that so a couple
working on changing that so a couple
working on changing that so a couple years ago I decided to purchase a
years ago I decided to purchase a
years ago I decided to purchase a business in Windham and from a client of
business in Windham and from a client of
business in Windham and from a client of mine and it’s a nail salon so we employ
mine and it’s a nail salon so we employ
mine and it’s a nail salon so we employ five to eight full-time employees and
five to eight full-time employees and
five to eight full-time employees and they’re all Vietnamese immigrant who
they’re all Vietnamese immigrant who
they’re all Vietnamese immigrant who came here for a few years but the the
came here for a few years but the the
came here for a few years but the the shop provide them the opportunities to
shop provide them the opportunities to
shop provide them the opportunities to make the income why just in there
make the income why just in there
make the income why just in there new life my cousin who had me at the
new life my cousin who had me at the
new life my cousin who had me at the salon he’s loved you know help me he’s a
salon he’s loved you know help me he’s a
salon he’s loved you know help me he’s a tremendous help for me and she raised
tremendous help for me and she raised
tremendous help for me and she raised her kid her family with the income does
her kid her family with the income does
her kid her family with the income does he make from the salon another exam what
he make from the salon another exam what
he make from the salon another exam what I have is in my uncle that’s right my
I have is in my uncle that’s right my
I have is in my uncle that’s right my uncle if you record it he’s the one who
uncle if you record it he’s the one who
uncle if you record it he’s the one who picked me up in Poland man while I was
picked me up in Poland man while I was
picked me up in Poland man while I was in Oregon my uncle is the one who loved
in Oregon my uncle is the one who loved
in Oregon my uncle is the one who loved cooking cooking his a passion and one
cooking cooking his a passion and one
cooking cooking his a passion and one his goal he is dreamy to open a
his goal he is dreamy to open a
his goal he is dreamy to open a restaurant and last year we decided to
restaurant and last year we decided to
restaurant and last year we decided to purchase a building in Red Bank South
purchase a building in Red Bank South
purchase a building in Red Bank South Portland and open a convenience store
Portland and open a convenience store
Portland and open a convenience store and take our food and I was able to
and take our food and I was able to
and take our food and I was able to convince my uncle – how come and help me
convince my uncle – how come and help me
convince my uncle – how come and help me to run the place and right now we are
to run the place and right now we are
to run the place and right now we are selling one the best Vietnamese sandwich
selling one the best Vietnamese sandwich
selling one the best Vietnamese sandwich in town my uncle is happy because his
in town my uncle is happy because his
in town my uncle is happy because his dream come true and be I’m happy because
dream come true and be I’m happy because
dream come true and be I’m happy because I can see my family happy in a bigger
I can see my family happy in a bigger
I can see my family happy in a bigger picture because all my connection I have
picture because all my connection I have
picture because all my connection I have over the years we add together as a
over the years we add together as a
over the years we add together as a community able to open our first
community able to open our first
community able to open our first Vietnamese Buddhist temple in Maine in
Vietnamese Buddhist temple in Maine in
Vietnamese Buddhist temple in Maine in South Portland to celebrate or to
South Portland to celebrate or to
South Portland to celebrate or to provide a space for people to come and
provide a space for people to come and
provide a space for people to come and worship Buddhism and to celebrate our
worship Buddhism and to celebrate our
worship Buddhism and to celebrate our culture also here the temple we have
culture also here the temple we have
culture also here the temple we have fundraising event to help people in the
fundraising event to help people in the
fundraising event to help people in the community not only that you build houses
community not only that you build houses
community not only that you build houses for people for poor people in Vietnam
for people for poor people in Vietnam
for people for poor people in Vietnam but one of biggest thing that we do at a
but one of biggest thing that we do at a
but one of biggest thing that we do at a temple we have a class to teach
temple we have a class to teach
temple we have a class to teach Vietnamese every Sunday
Vietnamese every Sunday
Vietnamese every Sunday these are little children that born here
these are little children that born here
these are little children that born here but then they don’t speak the language
but then they don’t speak the language
but then they don’t speak the language the native language so we teach them
the native language so we teach them
the native language so we teach them Vietnamese we teach them the culture
Vietnamese we teach them the culture
Vietnamese we teach them the culture that we’re a parent that we can
that we’re a parent that we can
that we’re a parent that we can grandparent come from about how respect
grandparent come from about how respect
grandparent come from about how respect when we are to other and how hard we
when we are to other and how hard we
when we are to other and how hard we work to prepare prepare for our future
work to prepare prepare for our future
work to prepare prepare for our future and we have received so many positive
and we have received so many positive
and we have received so many positive feedback from parents about how happy
feedback from parents about how happy
feedback from parents about how happy they are because the kids learning
they are because the kids learning
they are because the kids learning Vietnamese and one of my next project I
Vietnamese and one of my next project I
Vietnamese and one of my next project I am building a YouTube channel or in
am building a YouTube channel or in
am building a YouTube channel or in Vietnamese to teach next generation to
Vietnamese to teach next generation to
Vietnamese to teach next generation to teach the current immigrant from Vietnam
teach the current immigrant from Vietnam
teach the current immigrant from Vietnam how to handle their money how to invest
how to handle their money how to invest
how to handle their money how to invest and how to better prepare for the future
and how to better prepare for the future
and how to better prepare for the future and to create businesses the reason why
and to create businesses the reason why
and to create businesses the reason why I’m sharing all this story to you today
I’m sharing all this story to you today
I’m sharing all this story to you today is she wanted to let you know that how
is she wanted to let you know that how
is she wanted to let you know that how appreciate am today without the
appreciate am today without the
appreciate am today without the opportunity that I have in this country
opportunity that I have in this country
opportunity that I have in this country and I want also really want to challenge
and I want also really want to challenge
and I want also really want to challenge you that nine years ago I as an 18 that
you that nine years ago I as an 18 that
you that nine years ago I as an 18 that was your age I came out of my country
was your age I came out of my country
was your age I came out of my country and decide to lean in America because
and decide to lean in America because
and decide to lean in America because we’re they after the challenge from the
we’re they after the challenge from the
we’re they after the challenge from the language I was able to advance myself to
language I was able to advance myself to
language I was able to advance myself to have businesses I want to challenge all
have businesses I want to challenge all
have businesses I want to challenge all of you today to get out and find your
of you today to get out and find your
of you today to get out and find your dream your passions and to chase it and
dream your passions and to chase it and
dream your passions and to chase it and remember life is only 10% of what
remember life is only 10% of what
remember life is only 10% of what happened to you and 90% of how you react
happened to you and 90% of how you react
happened to you and 90% of how you react to it to become successful don’t be
to it to become successful don’t be
to it to become successful don’t be afraid to eat the sandwich thank you
afraid to eat the sandwich thank you
afraid to eat the sandwich thank you very much
very much
very much [Applause]
”
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