Dear Class of 2025

Dear Class of 2025,

Who would’ve thought a girl who failed math and ranked second to last in her high school class in Vietnam would one day graduate with distinction—twice—in America, build a career in business intelligence, and spend over a decade helping drive revenues for the global economy, particularly the US economy?

Definitely not my high school teachers or classmates. Not even my family. And especially, not me.

But this isn’t about my journey—it’s about what it taught me:

No matter where you come from, very few people will ever see the silent battles you’ve fought to be seen as “successful.” 

And those battles matter.

Because the resilience you’ve built isn’t just a byproduct of struggle—it’s your greatest asset. Especially during your quarter-life crisis, when everything feels uncertain, confusing, or misaligned. It’s in those moments your character is carved—not in theory, but through lived experience. 

Resilience isn’t given.

It’s earned.

The world is big enough for you to find your place. So don’t let scarcity make you feel small. Let yourself evolve. Choose what you need, not just what you want. Be where you can contribute value and feel valued—not just where you think you should be. Sometimes these align. When they don’t, trust your soul’s guidance.

You’re not here to compete with each other. The real competition is with your own self-limiting beliefs that whisper you’re not enough.

You are.

Your biggest obstacle isn’t out there.

It’s within.

What will matter most in the years ahead won’t be perfection. It will be discernment—your ability to think clearly, choose wisely, and direct your energy with purpose. 

AI might replace many things, but it doesn’t have a heartbeat. It can’t replicate your sense of impermanence. Your intuition. Your inner compass. Your lived wisdom.

So be curious. Be open. Be self-aware.

Be obsessed—not with titles, but with solving real problems. Some might be technical. Others might be human, emotional, existential. All of them will need the best of you, and of us.

We’re living in unprecedented times, which means there are unprecedented opportunities—to try something different, to question the status quo, to release outdated expectations and let your soul lead your strategy.

Let nature be your teacher. Learn the agility of the wind, the rhythm of the moon, the temperance of the rain—how it can nourish a field or flood a village. We, too, carry that duality. Be conscious of your power, and master how you use it for good.

The rise of AI may seem like a technological shift, but it’s also a call to rise in consciousness—a time of deeper interbeing, where your healing uplifts others, and your presence makes space for truth, not noise.

In a world of machines and algorithms, your humanity—your authenticity, your discernment, your integrity—will matter more than ever.

Each of us casts a vote for the future. Not by winning every battle, but by embodying our values, especially when no one is watching.

And if you ever feel unsure, remember this: Challenges don’t come to destroy you. They come to reveal your depth, your courage, your brilliance.

They come to bring out the best in you—even the version of you that you may not believe exists yet.

So keep believing in yourself.

Keep mastering your craft.

Keep building a world worth inheriting.

The world doesn’t need more polished copies.

It needs you—a soulful human, with a strategic mind and a kind heart.

❤️