Peter Van Do – Graduate Student (Archive)

My dream is to improve the life of our communities through education, communication, understanding, and action.

Name:

Peter Van Do – Đỗ Tién Sĩ

History:

Second Generation Vietnamese American. Resides in Boston MA, USA, aged 24 years old. Returned to visit Vietnam in January 2003 for the first time.

Occupation:

Graduate Student, UMASS, Boston

On Being Vietnamese:

I think the best thing about being Vietnamese is knowing that I come from a very strong background that understands the meaning of survival, family, love, warmth, strength, passion, loyalty, tradition, and intellect. Vietnamese are able to combine all of these attributes together to create one of the most strongest and unique group of people in the world. The history of the Viet civilization is proof of this.

I also think that the understanding of what being Vietnamese can evolve and change. Being Vietnamese can certainly be defined by the community and by your own definition as a person with Vietnamese ancestry. You may be confronted by others (peers, neighbors, non-Vietnamese, and Vietnamese) that may question your background or blood. But as long as you keep things true to yourself, there should be nothing to stop you from doing the things that will make you happy and successful. Why have others make rules for you when you can make the rules for yourself!

Happy To Have Achieved:

  1. Being honest
  2. Senior Marshal for undergraduate graduating class (2002)
  3. Named Top 30 under 30 Most Influential Asian Pacific Americans by PoliticalCircus.com (2002)
  4. Named Top 10 Asian Pacific American Student Leaders by former A. Magazine (2001)
  5. Organizing a grass-roots initiative for the rights of an Anti-Asian hate crime victim (2000)
  6. Organizing a Vietnamese cultural show (1999)
  7. Being or still having the spirit of a kid at heart! =D

Dreams:

My hope is to be active within the American, Vietnamese American, and cross-cultural communities as a scholar, activist, and member. My dream is to improve the life of our communities through education, communication, understanding, and action. I hope to strive and become a good example as a person who cares for his communities.

Vietnamese Mentors/Inspirations?

Dat Nguyen of the Dallas Cowboys (National Football League) because he defies all odds.