Vu Xuan Hoang

My hero when he was 30 years old.

If you want to become the best person that you can possibly be, you'll need a hero. I don't mean the type that has extraordinary powers that could melt steel. What I mean is a real person whom you can admire and look up to. When you are in times of stress or doubt, you can look to the example that your hero sets for you. Having a hero will help you persist in your goals and will be like a pointer guiding you in the best direction. My own hero would be my father, Vu Xuan Hoang. He was an inspiration to me, mostly because of his many qualities and great accomplishments.

My father is able to expertly tell any story, even if it is difficult or just too unbelievable. To put it plainly, he knows how to be completely honest with others while doing it in a tactful manner. This is one of the main things that helped him become the manager of a great company. When he knows he can't do something, he admits it and doesn't try to cover it up in order to look cool. He also knows how to break the truth to someone even if it seems tough. For example, Vu once had a friend who worked for him, but was doing very poorly. As manager, he knew that he had to fire his friend since his friend was of no help to the company. One day, he brought the friend into his office and Vu carefully, but honestly, told his friend all the problems he had in the job. It was soon clear that Vu was going to fire him, but, instead of flaring up or getting depressed, he got up and openly thanked Vu for helping him realize that working in there was not the right job for him. You might find this strange, but a true friend would be honest with you and tell out your flaws so that you can correct them. It they do not, you would be doomed to live out your life in a lie. I love and admire my dad for his courageous honesty.

Vu, when he first came to California

I know that everyone is scared of something, but Vu doesn't seem to fear anything! He's not afraid of bugs, roller coasters, heights, or any other possible fear. When I was about 8 years old, I tried every possible method to find out what he was afraid of, but all these attempts were fruitless. As more time passed, I realized how brave my dad truly was. He is able to stand up for what he believes in, even when it would risk everything. I first realized this when he told me the story about his old job in Nevada. He was under-appreciated there and his coworkers were not at all friendly. He had done twice the amount of work that they did, but would only receive half the salary that they got. This was because he did not have a full college degree. Every time Vu asked for a raise, he was turned away. Eventually he had enough, so he went and told his boss that he quit. This would have put everything on the line because it would be difficult to find another sufficient job since he was still bad at English. Despite this, my dad held firm in his decision and eventually found a great post at his present company, which was all the way in California. I know that it must have taken him a great deal of confidence and bravery to stand strong in his decision to quit.

There is this popular saying that says that a man's actions speak louder than his words. This would definitely be true for my dad, Vu. When he wants to prove something to others, he doesn't just explain, he gives a demonstration. He is also humble in his actions. He never uses his skills or high standing in order show off or gain power. This is partly why he is so respected by his friends and subordinates. In fact, every time Vu goes to one of his worker's parties, he never tells anyone who he (the boss) is in relation to the worker. This usually causes the others at the party to assume that Vu is just a good friend of the host. Well, they are always shocked when they find out how important my dad really is. If you ever get to know him, you'll find that he is a fast learner and can fix practically anything! When he is faced with a difficult problem, he never stops until he solves it. One time, his teacher gave the class a riddle that stumped everyone. It took Vu a full 3 weeks of thinking before he could correctly answer it, making him the first person in his class to do it. There was also his journey across the Atlantic Ocean in order to get to the U.S. Vu had to go through raging waters in a small boat with limited food supplies. But did he give up? No! He kept going on, while still hoping for a fresh start in a new country. These stories showed me how incredibly persistent he was in whatever he did, and I have to say that I want to be just like him.

Vu in his successful job

Heroes are people you need, and I know that I would not have gotten far if my dad was not there to support me. He was the person that kept me going for what I believed in when it seemed hopeless. He is strict, yet kind and is always there when I need him. I want to be able to pull myself up when I fall and keep going when I am stopped, just like how Vu was always able to. I want to be brave and honest with others, especially my family and friends. He is the person I look up to, and it is my personal goal to get to the place where he is. As long as I have a hero to look to, I know that I will always be able to take the next step in this long journey called life.