Meet Vinh Tu | Profession: Senior Director of Admissions; Volunteer: President of The Human Dignity Foundation

We had the good fortune of connecting with Vinh Tu and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vinh, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
Born in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and raised in Houston, TX definitely presented its own challenges as my parents were one of the first to have migrated here post the Vietnam War. At the young age of 2 years old, my family left everything they ever known behind in Vietnam in search of a better and safer life. Their journey here was definitely full of chaos and turbulence but they survived and made it to Houston. I don’t ever recall a time where my parents didn’t work 12-14 hour days to try to make it in the land of the free. That is probably where my work ethic stemmed from. Although no family is perfect and mine was no exception, my parents did their best to raise me and my siblings with the Asian standards and values while trying to embrace the American culture. As a child, it was definitely difficult to navigate finding my own voice while still respecting our heritage and values. I, wholeheartedly, believe that I am who I am today because of the trials and tribulations my parents went through here. It is a culmination of all of their experiences and mine that I am the most authentic I have ever been in my life.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Currently, I am the Senior Director of Admissions for The Chicago School. I have been in the education industry for over 15 years now and it has been a wild ride. I started off as an Admissions Representative and through hard work and perseverance, I have been moved up the career ladder to where I am today. It has not been easy as each step on the ladder was yet another breaking of the glass ceiling moment for me and people who look like me. I have learned and continue to learn that we have to work 10 times harder to get half of the recognition and opportunities. Despite it not being an easy pill to swallow, I keep my head up and pushing through each barrier to show that all of the blood, sweat and tears were for something bigger than myself. I simply hope that my story, in its own way, gives someone the inspiration they needed to push through another day to find their success!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
In my short time here in SoCal as a resident, I would say that some of the areas that I enjoy in San Diego are Hillcrest, Ocean Beach, Solana Beach, Encinitas, La Jolla Shores, Oceanside and Temecula. Some of my favorite places to eat are Urban Mo’s, La Puerta, Pizza & More, Blade 1936, Amalfi, china Bros, Thien Huong, Chef Pho, Mr. Pho and Joyee’s. Some of my faves for drinks are Henebery Spirits, Grafted Cellars, 117 West Spirits, Misadventure, Thornton Winery, Bel Vino Winery, Churon Winery, Callaway Winery and Uptown Tavern. There are so many amazing and beautiful places in SoCal that is hard to not fall in love with any place you go to.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I wouldn’t be where I am today without my life partner, Darrell Martin. He has been my rock and soul! He fully supports all the advocacy that I do because he knows how important it is for us and our communities.

I would also say that my sisters, Amy Bergeron and Elizabeth Fridley, are a huge reason why I continue to push myself because I am trying to be the best big brother I can be.

Although I love all my nieces and nephews equally, I will always have a special in my heart for my 1st nephew, Levi Aiden Bergeron. He only graced us for 32 days on this Earth but in that very short time, he has had and continues to have a profound impact on my life! I truly live my best life in his honor so as to not disappoint him.

My best friend, Amit Mistry, has been a constant in my life for over 42 years now and no matter where we are in life and in this world, I can always count on him.

There are so many mentors in my life so it would be difficult to name them all but I would simply want to shout them all out as a collective. They each had a hand in molding me into the person and leader that I am today.

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