By Daniel Ostrin, Daily Titan
At the age of 14, Trihn “Sky” Pham left his home to become an international student of finance, management and altruism.
Sky Pham. Photo: Daniel Ostrin / Daily Titan
Pham, now 21, traveled alone across the Pacific Ocean twice to ultimately find himself studying at Cal State Fullerton.
“I promised myself everywhere I go, I’m going to contribute to that country,” Pham said.
Having lived in the United States for only three years, Pham has already set an impressive track record by organizing events, such as restoration days at Orange County parks and canned food trick-or-treating drives.
Originating from Saigon, Vietnam, Pham was born in the region’s rainy season, fall. With rainfall inundating through a leaf-sheltered ceiling and flooding floors, a newborn may have seemed like an overwhelming addition to an already stressful situation.
Pham’s mother, a wool farmer, and his father, a freight cyclist, taught him early in his life the business ethics he employs today.
“The philosophy of our family is we share what we have,” Pham said. “If we earn $10, we share $5, we hold $3 for investment and we keep $2 to save.”
Over the next 14 years of his life, the Pham family would undergo upward mobility—from lower to middle to eventually upper class—through entrepreneurship, expansion and ethics.
From the beginning, Pham, well-mannered and genuine, spoke of the appreciation he holds for his parents. Their hard work and dedication gave him the opportunity to travel across the sea to carve out his path.
He understands that his parents are the catalyst to the change he wants to bring.
Pham attended secondary school at Wellington College in New Zealand. Through this institution, Pham organized projects with the Blue Dragon Foundation, a grassroots charity that delivers aid to children in Vietnam.
His most notable fundraiser during his school years at Wellington College was an international week where multicultural dishes were crafted and sold with all of the profits going to the Blue Dragon Foundation.
While he studied, Pham joined the working world by obtaining a series of tough dishwashing jobs at local restaurants in Wellington, the nation’s capital. The last dishwashing job he held eventually evolved into a serving position that helped him develop fluency in the English language.
After finishing high school, Pham set his sights on continuing his education at a university.
Ever since his childhood, Pham dreamed of becoming a doctor.
Read the full article by Daniel Ostrin from Daily Titan.
