On May 25, 2016, I had an opportunity to see President Obama at YSEALI Town Hall when he visited Ho Chi Minh city. He gave a captivating speech, and I was deeply moved by his advice to a young leader who had asked him: Do you have any advice on how we can be great like you? The president advised all of us to find something we care deeply about, find something that excites us, and then to put all our energy and effort into it — because the path for everyone is different. Some people are passionate about education; others are passionate about medicine; still, others are passionate about business. 

In addition, he told us young people not to worry so much about what we want to be; instead, he told us to worry more about what we want to do. His message was that if you are passionate about your work, then naturally over time, you will rise, and people will admire and respect what you have done. But if all you’re thinking about is, for example, I want to be a member of the National Assembly or want to be rich, or I want to be this or that, then you pay less attention to the actual work front of you. The president mentioned many successful people he had met, in many fields, who simply love their work. For example, Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, did not start off by thinking, “I want to be a multi-billionaire.” He began by thinking, “I really like computers, and I want to find out how I can create really neat software.” President Obama said that he did not start by thinking, “I want to be president of the United States.” He first decided was that he wanted to help people in low- income communities, poor people, to have opportunity. After his university studies, he began his life by saying, “I want to help these people.” 

His profound message inspired me to realize that, given my practical, hands-on experience, my passion is to participate in research programs related to migration. With a primary focus on the Economics of International Migration, my research has garnered support from esteemed national and international donors, including the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training and the University of Western Australia, through research grants. This underscores my commitment to advancing knowledge in a field of critical global significance.