To the Past

An open letter to those who have helped build the Vietnamese community.

Dear OGs,

Cám ơn for helping our community grow. Thrive. PROSPER. Some of you faced the challenges of bringing together hundreds of students from multiple schools for the first time. Some of you paved the way for integrating Viet youths and young adults with the older Viet community. Some of you believed in establishing a strong Viet presence on your campuses one GBM and philanthropic event at a time. All of you have diversified, amplified, and inspired the APA community in ways you probably didn’t expect to. Thank you for overcoming the struggles of your term(s), so that we could have smoother paths to walk on today. I admire all of you for making our community what it is now, which is a force to be reckoned with!

This letter is also to those who have helped me grow/thrive/prosper. You challenged me to better myself and those around me. You encouraged me to run for positions that included the word “president.” You believed in my visions and worked with me to turn them into realities. Because of you, I learned what “community” truly means. I admire you for your accomplishments, talents, dedication, and hard work. My heart always flutters whenever you genuinely support me. ❤

Even though you may consider yourself part of the past, your impact is timeless. The VSAs, UVSAs, and UNAVSAs of today and tomorrow owe it all to you.

With much love,
Crysta Tran
MAUVSA’s IVP, 2015–2016