When I was 15, I moved to Australia from Vietnam, and honestly, it was rough.
I didn’t speak much English. I was shy. Everything felt different and unfamiliar. I’d sit in class, trying to keep my head down, hoping no one would notice me. Not because I didn’t care – I just didn’t know how to join in. I had so many thoughts but couldn’t really find the words to express them.
At times, it felt like my voice was stuck somewhere deep inside, and I didn’t know how to bring it out.
But something in me wouldn’t quit. Maybe it was the thought of my family, who gave up so much to get me here. Maybe it was just that quiet belief that somehow, I could figure it out. So I kept going.
I studied harder than ever. I asked questions, even when it made me uncomfortable. I read everything I could. I slowly pushed through the fear and the awkwardness. One step at a time.
Eventually, I started to get it. I made it through high school. Then I went on to uni. Then, against all odds, I became a biomedical scientist.
But my journey didn’t stop there.
Because of what I went through – struggling with language, confidence, and connection – I felt drawn to help others who might feel the same. So, I became a speech pathologist. Fast forward to today, I now run my own clinic in Sydney, supporting kids and families to find their voice, build their confidence, and feel heard.
It’s crazy to think back to that quiet 15-year-old version of me, the one who felt lost and unsure. He wouldn’t believe where we are now.
But that’s the thing. You don’t need to have it all figured out at once. You just need to take the next step. And then the next.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: when you believe in yourself, even just a little, you can overcome way more than you think.
So, if you’re struggling right now, or feeling like you’re behind, or like you don’t belong – keep going.
You’ve got more strength in you than you know.
And if you believe in yourself, even a tiny bit, that’s enough to start.
Hugs & peace,
Bình
Binh Doan 