In the Shadow of Greatness: Finding My Path Amidst a Legacy of Strength

I grew up in an upper middle-class family, but our journey to that status wasn't straightforward. In my early years, we lived in the suburb, sharing a house with my grandparents, along with my uncle and aunt’s families, a total of 16 people. Despite our eventual financial comfort, my parents, two older siblings, and I all shared a single 25 m² bedroom until I was 11. You might wonder how an "upper middle-class" family ended up in such close quarters. The truth is, my grandparents were the ones who were well-off; our own rise to financial stability came later, thanks to years of careful saving and my dad’s persistence through multiple job changes.

Growing up, two people stood out as my role models: my grandma and my dad. To be clear, I do not look up to them because of the stereotypical “daddy is a superhero” cliche, but because they were the most successful and intelligent people I knew, and I admired them deeply. For that reason, I want to dedicate this post, and the next, to share why they have been such an inspiration to me, how their influence shaped the person I've become, and I believe that same admiration is important to explain the problems I face today.

My grandma was born in Vietnam in 1940, just before the Vietnam War. When she was around 15, her parents sent her and her sister to the North for their education. What was intended to be a two-year study turned into a 20-year separation, with no certainty of reunion, due to the escalating conflict that divided the country. During those two decades, my grandma completed her university education, became a chemist, got married, and had two children—my mom being the eldest. In 1975, when Vietnam won the war and the country was reunified, my grandma and her sister were finally reunited with their family. In the years that followed, she continued her career, travelled to Germany for higher education—a rare achievement for anyone at the time, especially for a woman—and eventually became the first Director of Vietnam's inaugural plastic manufacturing company. She was the Director for more than 15 years, and at one point, a member of the Parliament.

Her story didn’t end there. Under her leadership, the company thrived, drawing the attention—and envy—of others who coveted her position. They resorted to extreme measures, even attempting to have her imprisoned. Despite having the power and connections to protect herself, she chose a different path: retirement. She moved South, founded her own company, and found great success for many years, while the company she left behind crumbled and eventually shut down. My grandma, now in her 80s, is still working to this day.

I always knew my grandma was incredible, even when I was very young, but it wasn’t until I became an adult that I truly grasped the extent of her brilliance and strength. Unlike her, I was raised in peacetime, with a supportive family, financial stability, and access to education. Yet here I am, in my mid-20s, struggling to find my path in life. It makes me wonder: is it the immense shadow of my grandma's legacy that feels overwhelming, or am I simply being too unrealistic in my expectations?