WHY I’M RUNNING

For me, running for the Garden Grove Unified School District Board is not about holding a title. It is about continuing a commitment to young people, families, teachers, and the community that I have built over many years.

I have spent more than 13 years volunteering in Garden Grove schools, including seven years as Parent Association President at La Quinta High School. During those years, I had the opportunity to work closely with parents, teachers, administrators, and students. I saw firsthand how much our teachers give to their students and how important it is for parents and schools to work together. I also saw that preparing a student for the future requires more than simply helping them graduate. Students need confidence, discipline, guidance, and opportunities to discover who they are and what they want to become.

My commitment to young people began long before I considered running for the School Board. I served for 10 years with the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG). That experience taught me the importance of leadership, responsibility, discipline, teamwork, and confidence. I want to bring those same principles to our schools—not to make every student the same, but to help every student develop the character and confidence they need to succeed.

For more than 30 years, I have also been involved in Vietnamese language education and youth development in California. My work with the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Vietnamese Buddhist Youth Association (GDPT), Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement (TNTT), and other community organizations has allowed me to work with young people from different backgrounds and understand the importance of culture, family, service, and community.

My vision is not simply to prepare students to pass a test or receive a diploma. It is to help them graduate with knowledge, confidence, discipline, character, and a sense of direction. Some students will go to a four-year university. Others may choose a community college, trade school, military service, entrepreneurship, or another career pathway. There is no single definition of success. Our responsibility is to make sure students understand their choices and have the preparation and support to pursue them.

I am running to serve the cause of education, not simply to hold a position. I am running because I believe our teachers deserve strong support, our parents deserve meaningful involvement, and our students deserve every opportunity to build a successful future. I bring the experience of a parent, small business owner, and Naval Sea Cadet officer. Most importantly, I bring a commitment to serve.

Our students are not only preparing for graduation. They are preparing for life. My goal is to help make sure they are ready for what comes next.