Voices of America Ambassador Profile: Tam Trinh

A profile of a VOA Scholarship award winner

Jun 15, 2023

What are your personal and career goals and ambitions?

I am determined to make a beautiful life for myself and do more than just getting by, because I believe I deserve it. I am currently set on becoming a cybersecurity specialist as I am very comfortable with technology and believe the industry's work environment and ethics suits me best. I want to evade the dull and unrewarding 9-5 life at all costs as well. I want to make exotic dishes and spend as much time as I want at home, comfortably lounging and learning about interesting topics/interests. I want to travel the world and meet my friends I have in other countries. And most importantly, I want to be confident and content in who I am as a person while doing so. I've gone through a lot in my 22 years on earth and want to learn how to truly love myself while spreading hope and happiness to those around me.

How do you plan to use the scholarship funding to achieve change in the world?

The Voices of America scholarship will lessen the financial burden I carry while trying to go back to school and allow me to better focus on my studies. Cybersecurity is an interesting field that plays a major role in shaping the future, and I believe any student who is interested should be given every opportunity available in order to do their best and excel. Any scholarships and grants that I receive are greatly appreciated and a huge help to my endeavors of pursuing a career in cybersecurity, a field that I believe will not only help shape the future but enable me to achieve my philanthropist dreams to aid those who are impoverished and oppressed in the Global South.

Can you share a little about your Story?

I am a 22-year-old woman who was born and raised in Southern Indiana by 2 immigrant parents from Vietnam. I endured many hardships through my child and teenage years, leaving me with a plethora of traumas and blockages to work through. I had a relatively happy childhood up until the age of 12, hanging out with friends, playing online games, and watching shows and movies at home. After that, I started to become depressed and anxious in middle school for a variety of reasons. I did well in school but it was at the cost of my mental health, as I was suffering from many disorders including ADHD/Autism, anxiety, and depression that I had no clue about until after high-school. I ended up becoming a major people pleaser and entered a co-dependent relationship of almost 6 years that I got out of only a couple years ago. Now I am trying to get my life together and gearing up to go back to school, hopefully medicated for my issues and in the best health I can be in.

What are you most passionate about?

Social issues have always been a fiery subject for me. I believe all humans have equal worth and should be treated as such. I believe in diversity and everyone having their own sense of individuality yet still prioritizing the wellbeing of the community above everything else. I think there is merit in being kind, and doing your best to spread that kindness everywhere you go. These are rough times we are living in, and I think we should do all we can to make the world a better place. I feel that the most important thing you can protect is your own humanity. I don't feel like anyone is truly living unless they commit to being a kind, and happy person. Aside from social issues, I am also a very inquisitive person who loves learning about a variety of interesting topics and hobbies including movies and shows, astrology, art, technology, games, and more.

What do you like most about the BattlePACs community?

I like how there is much encouragement to state your opinions on various issues. Some issues that are talked about in the community are often overlooked, so I liked answering the questions given in the application, such as the question about student organization on campus. There is more awareness surrounding the issue as onlookers discover our videos with our responses.