About Me
Being a Vietnamese Immigrant
I moved to America from Saigon on January 19th, 2013, and have lived in Arizona ever since. My grandfather escaped from the Vietnam War and, one by one, brought his wife and 11 children, plus their families, to the U.S. My family was the last to immigrate to the States.
Life Before America
In 2012, I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in Vietnam. One unique aspect of this achievement is that I completed my degree in Japanese. Why Japanese? At the time, the younger generation enthusiastically embraced the Japanese language alongside English, as Japanese companies offered many job opportunities. I had dreams of working in Japan one day. Shortly after graduation, I accepted a position as a purchasing agent at Iwasaki Electric Co., Ltd. I worked long hours, often from 7 AM to 9 PM when we had urgent orders. I still vividly remember the pride I felt when I received my first-month paycheck of $300 - it made me feel "rich" compared to my college friends, who were still struggling to find work. After working at Iwasaki for over six months, my family received the paperwork to move to America.
Carpe Diem
My Vietnamese name is Diễm (y-ea-m), which means "beautiful". However, when I moved to America, people began calling me Diem (Dee-M). I later discovered that my "new" name means "day" in Latin. I immediately embraced this name because it aligns so well with my outlook on life.
"Seize the Day" is derived from the Roman poet Horace's famous phrase "Carpe Diem," written over 2,000 years ago. The phrase profoundly resonates with me - both in my personal life and professional aspirations. Each day is a blank canvas, and I aim to fill it with continuous self-improvement. My ambition is to sharpen my skills, create nourishing meals for my family, and be a source of strength for my children.
In the mere 24 hours we have each day, I strive to become a better version of myself. This journey has led me to develop what I call “mom’s power”—a daily strategy where every task is a project and every moment an opportunity. Life can feel overwhelming at times, but I believe that by learning from every step we take, we can rise above our challenges and create a stronger community for parents everywhere. Our days are ours to seize, and I intend to embrace each one with conviction and courage.