My name is Dung.

I am Vietnamese.
Living in a countryside of a developing world, I was raised by my parents, learning that, as a
member of a collectivist society, I need to let go of my ego, my independence, my difference, or
even my identity because those things foster competition, confrontation instead of consensus.
Having access to the internet was one of the most splendid things that ever happened to me. It
was like an open gate for me to escape to a different reality.
I started to learn English through English teaching blogs, graphic design through tutorial videos,
but more importantly, I learned that the sexuality that makes me different, is just who I am,
that I am normal.
I am a gay man.
For years of struggling, I found myself... belong, that there is a community our there will
embrace and accept me. But in order to get there, I thought that I needed to be not just good
enough, but to excel in things to prove to my parents that I deserve to be different.
I forced myself to study better, to know more. Though I appreciated where motivation got me, I
realized that I missed my precious time to spend on friends, and family, time to be happy. I
asked myself "was all that worth it?", "was that also the same motivation that drove thousands
of underprivileged to their success now?", "Why do gay men need to excel in things just to be
accepted?", "We are normal, right?"... and so on.
Then I knew I was wrong.
The more I read and learn, I know that I tried because I wanted to, not because they wanted me
to. This motivation, this eagerness will always be in me, driving me to be a better version of
myself.
So here I am, applying for Skillshare's scholarship, hoping that I have more chances to continue
my journey to learn more and to become better.
Thank you.