My name is Khoa, and I am a third-year college student. As a descendant of Vietnamese refugees, I volunteer at Helping Link/Một Dấu Nối to give back to my community.

Over the past few months, teaching English has been an eye-opening experience. I have had the opportunity to learn about my students’ personal stories and the reasons they came to America, watch my students work hard, and help them assimilate into American society. Teaching English as a native speaker has also given me a new appreciation for the language and a deeper sense of cultural awareness.

It has reinforced how important it is to understand our society from an outsider’s perspective.

Through this experience, I have realized the challenges many immigrants face, especially language barriers, cultural differences, and limited access to resources. Seeing many of my students who work multiple jobs while balancing time to learn English has shown me the strength and determination within our community.

At Helping Link/Một Dấu Nối, our goal is to serve the Vietnamese community and provide accessible resources to help our community members succeed in America. I hope to continue building meaningful connections with my students, supporting them as they work hard towards their personal and professional goals. For me, this activity isn’t just teaching a language; it is giving back.

Khoa Tô