Who Dares Wins

Over 12 years ago, Trang’s parents plotted a plan to save enough money to allow their daughter to embark on a journey which would relocate her from Vietnam to Melbourne, Australia to obtain a western University education. Sadly, her father passed away sometime after that, yet Trang’s father had already instilled in her a sense of work ethic and tenacity that stands to this day.

Four years later, Trang’s mother had enough money to send Trang on her way.? With her bag backed, Trang, single and alone, hopped on a plane, seeking adventure, and to learn. She arrived in Melbourne on a study / working visa and first worked on finding shared accommodation, part time work whilst she studied, and earned herself two degrees (Economics and Teaching).

Trang worked as a cleaner, in retail selling meat pies (although that job lasted two days before they said she wasn’t suited for the role), sold donuts, did office administration work, whatever it took to earn enough money to pay the rent, pay for food, whilst she earnestly continued her studies at University.? She would often arrive home at midnight and be back at work at 8am or University at a similar time. This went on for four years.

Fiercely independent, no matter how hard life hit her down, it was the number of times that she got up that mattered and kept going.

Single, she was also open to a relationship. That’s where I enter the picture. 5 years ago we met and we have forever changed each other’s lives.

During that time Trang applied to become a permanent resident with the goal of becoming an Australian Citizen. ?Melbourne had become home for her.

As our relationship blossomed and her University studies complete, she was then able to shape what she wanted to do for her career. Through sheer hard work, she managed to obtain teaching jobs with several companies, and before she knew it, she had more demand for that work than she had time. I don’t want to underscore this point. All of this came from her working for it. No one helped her. She did the hard yards day in and day out constantly getting turned down until she was the one turning down work.

Not satisfied with that achievement alone, she decided to pursue becoming a professional photographer. For the past three years, she has found time to dedicate attending training class after training class, coupled with practice, practice, practice, to the point where models say she is their favourite photographer. It’s hardly surprising to see her succeed as a professional photographer. Her eye for detail, her passion for nature, and something artful I can’t quite put my finger on all intersected at once, making her one of the best photographer’s I’ve seen. Her photos are just amazing.

Still wanting to contribute further, she also became part of Cyber Impact Consulting, right at the commencement of the business, where she works for the business helping clients. I’ve had great feedback from CEO’s of clients regarding the work she has done. To my surprise, she is quite technology literate, coupled with her enthusiastic and optimistic personality, the client feedback was amazing. “Where did you find her?” one client asked. I said she was my life partner as well as my business partner.? “Don’t ever, ever lose her!” was the advice I received. (you think?!)

This all leads to the point of this little essay of mine.

Today, Monday 19th February 2024, Australia welcomed Trang as an Australian Citizen. This is something she has worked so hard to achieve, with her family back home sacrificing so much to allow her the opportunity to achieve. I believe in a free market that rewards hard work, and Trang now contributes by paying (substantial) Australian tax, as well as doing many volunteer roles. Australia is the winner here.

I love my country. I always have. I love how Australia is so multi-cultural and can afford opportunities to people like Trang. ?I love how Australia is a free market country and will reward hard work and innovation. Australia is one of the few countries where amazing breakthroughs in health and science occur. It is also a country that strives to be egalitarian in nature. It’s why our taxes are high. In addition, at today’s ceremony, people from over 53 different countries became Australian Citizens, and we welcomed people from countries such as China, Russia, Iran, Ethiopia, India, and of course Vietnam!

Australia isn’t perfect. I know that there are other stories for people to tell where it hasn’t gone the way Trang’s story has, and they have put in the hard work too. I want to acknowledge those people and the sadness it must bring. It does hearten me though that there are more and more success stories and today is an example of that. I know Trang (and I) is/are blessed.

What made me particularly humble today was the welcoming speech given by a first nation’s person. I’m not saying this for woke cultural reasons. I am saying this because his speech carried no animosity, no accusations, but a very well articulated authentic welcome to Australia to all those who became Australian citizens. It was so befitting and so humble, tears flowed down my face as he spoke. He was cheerful, optimistic, and very welcoming, and is in the very photo enclosed in this essay. The other part was that Trang earned this. She wasn’t given it, she worked for it.

There are too many people to thank that have helped Trang along the way with the visa process to getting to this wonderful point in life today, so I won’t try and name you all because knowing me, I’ll leave someone out, and offend them!

The reason I feel this is relevant to LinkedIn are many. My primary reason is that if you work hard, you are tenacious, passionate at what you do, and are prepared to fail before you succeed, you will be rewarded.

That is what Trang has done so well.?

And you know the best part?? ?Trang is my wife!