10,911 Days. A Sabbatical Story

10,911.? This is the number of days since I started working to my very first day of sabbatical.? From being the little boy bussing tables at your local Chinese restaurant to a Global D&I Executive at 美国银行 – all I’ve really known is work.? Yes, I’ve had a strong education, an amazing family, and wonderful vacations – but working has always been a part of my routine.? I welcomed the grind of excelling at my job – it gave me a purpose and my career has given me an opportunity to pursue my passions.? As odd as it sounds, I love working.? I know I work at a great company and I enjoy working along side my teammates, many who are now lifelong friends (shout out to my ALN family!).? Doesn’t hurt that I was pretty decent at my job as well.

Fast forward to September 25, 2023 – my first day of my sabbatical, a new company benefit as a result of my 20 years career with Bank of America.? This gave me an opportunity to disconnect from work, something I had known for the vast majority of my adult (and childhood) life.? And when I say disconnect, I truly mean disconnect.? At my first response to an e-mail, I was quickly reminded by my boss, Cynthia Bowman , to disconnect.? I wasn’t sure exactly how to respond, but I know we had a plan in place. So with slight hesitation, I obliged.

"Please enjoy your sabbatical. Jenny will help to update the agenda as needed."

To be honest, I wasn’t sure how to disconnect.? When I started packing for my first trip to Puerto Rico, I brought along my corporate phone, anticipating that “something would come up”.? And as I checked my e-mail, expecting a flurry of inquiries, nothing had come up.? I always enjoyed being the “go to person” but when I checked my e-mails, I noticed the traffic was slow.? I jokingly wondered, am I still employed???? I paused and came to the realization that the limited interruption was all by design.? Our team was ensuring that I had a great sabbatical and let me tell you, it worked.? By my second trip (to Asia), I had almost forgotten the password to my phone and nearly got myself locked out!

My beautiful wife, Serena Ta , and I had gotten married during COVID.? We did a small road trip on the coast of California because we didn't get to travel the world like we hoped for our honeymoon. We decided that my sabbatical was the perfect opportunity to do our makeup honeymoon. Our plan was to bring my wife’s family to visit Vietnam for two weeks and bring my dad back to his hometown in Hong Kong. ?My father, who is getting older, would likely have limited international travel in the future and it had been years since he had been back to his hometown in Hong Kong.? He had also spent his childhood in Vietnam, so we figured he would enjoy the visit to Vietnam too.? I guess you could call this a family honeymoon – not your typical honeymoon but our families mean the world to my wife and I, so we were excited.?

When I first embarked on this trip, I simply wanted to eat my way through Asia while having fun and create a lifetime full of memories.? We certainly accomplished that, but my sabbatical also?gave me an appreciation for so many things that were beyond the surface level. As?I reflected on the trip and realized I have even more?appreciation for the work we do at 美国银行 ?to create an equitable society. A truly unexpected gift that I’ll never forget.

My wife, who immigrated to the United States from Vietnam at 8 years old, was my tour guide throughout our time in Vietnam.? My parents spent a good portion of their childhood in Vietnam, in area that was predominantly occupied by Chinese immigrants.? I had grew up eating a diet of Chinese and Vietnamese food.? I was excited to experience the vast history, culture, and most importantly, all the wonderful street food that Vietnam had to offer.? ?I could probably write a book alone on my two weeks in Vietnam, but there were?two things that stuck out to me:

• The hustle is real
• We must always strive for equitable opportunities for all

The hustle is real.? I thought I was hustling and grinding at a young age, but the people of Vietnam could run circles around me.? As you wander the streets of Vietnam, street food and small gift shops were a recurring theme.? These vendors were entrepreneurs hustling day in and day out to make a living, from a simple bike and a grinder that flattens fresh squid to elaborate setups with pots, stoves, woks, and fryers with many knee high stools as seating.? I vividly remember the number of young family members that were helping – from selling lottery tickets and small mementos to cooking and serving in the restaurants and street stalls.? It was truly inspiring to see their work ethic and was a clear reminder for me to keep hustling to ensure that we can pave a easier path for our future generations

We must always strive for equitable opportunities for all.? The wealth gap is a challenge in any country let alone Vietnam yet it is clear there is a divide.? Going from a developed tourist aresa in District One in Ho Chi Minh City to a smaller suburb painted a stark contrast.? These were areas that were less than a mile from the main city yet struggled to have similar living conditions but still continued to have vibrant people all around.? It reminds me that we must continue to invest in our communities in need otherwise the divide will quickly grow larger.? It reminds me that the hustle is still real regardless of what community you may have grew up in and opportunities should remain consistent.?

Before my dad immigrated to New York city, he lived in Mei Foo Sun Chuen in Hong Kong.? I recall visiting my family in Hong Kong at a young age – each time wanting to stay longer than my our planned visit.? I always loved the fast-paced New York vibe that Hong Kong had to offer paired with a mountainous skyline and a beautiful and relaxing suburb.? As a hub for international trade and worlds of opportunity, I always wondered what my life would be like if I grew up here. ?But, as I take a step back, it makes me appreciate the contrast of the city and how we can always have the best of both worlds.? Many of us enjoy the daily grind, and will always enjoy it, but it’s also okay to take a step back to take some time to enjoy the world.

?So what’s the punchline?? What did I learn from my sabbatical?

• Take time to ground ourselves in our values and reinforcing our purpose.? It will serve as an endless source of inspiration and motivation
• Learnings in our career journey can come when we are not looking, don’t forget to look back.
• Keep hustling but take time to celebrate your successes
• Work for a company (and manager) that gives you the space to thrive – from benefits like a sabbatical to leadership that is truly invested in you

?Thank you for taking the time to read this article.? If you have sources of inspiration and motivation, I would love to hear them. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so here's a few more pictures during my sabbatical