by Cuong Nguyen

I recently joined in the collective efforts of the CPP two months ago entirely unaware of the aims and goals of the project.  All I knew when I first talked to Huy that the CPP did 1) good things for the people in Vietnam and 2) that they were looking for people with my respective talents and abilities.  And, in all honesty, I wasn’t quite sure what I was getting myself into.  Like any typical college student, with classes, extracurricular activities, friends, family, and seemingly everything piling up as the semester progressed, it was almost crazy and, if not, idiotic of me to think about dedicating my precious time working with the CPP.  But regardless, I said yes without any hesitation.  I remember telling my beloved sister the next day on the phone about my plans and she just asked, “Why?”

I simply answered: “There’s just something about giving yourself to something greater than you.”

As I reflect, I can say I have lived a blessed and wonderful life.  With caring friends from both coasts, a wonderful and supportive family back home in San Diego, going to college at Johns Hopkins, I have been extremely lucky with the things fate has given me.  But besides the few 1% like myself who have been just as lucky if not more so, there are many of our brothers and sisters back in Vietnam who struggle everyday to obtain basic human necessities like food, water, and shelter.  As I continue to type my thoughts and reflections before the start of classes tomorrow, insurmountable financial barriers to education continue to make it harder for students in Vietnam to rise out of poverty.  It almost seems unfair that I should have been given all these opportunities to succeed when there are students out there in Vietnam who are as smart, if not smarter and harder working, as me who will never have the opportunity to escape their impoverished conditions and achieve their wildest of dreams.  I recently listened to the recordings of Vietnamese children who dream of being doctors, teachers, and writers and it saddens me to think that many of them won’t have that one chance.  It only seemed right that I do whatever I can to help my brothers and sisters back in Vietnam.

Since the beginning of the CPP, it has embodied the spirit of service time and time again.  After hearing stories from Huy about the collective efforts of countless of young Vietnamese-Americans all across the country, from east to west coast, giving themselves to one another for the betterment of our people, I just couldn’t refuse.  I felt it was something I had to do.

As the New Year begins, I am reminded of our elected president’s inaugural address: “One must find the willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves.”  The CPP has helped me understand that willingness and meaning clearly and I’m a better person for it.

Don’t take me wrong, it hasn’t been easy.  The journey up to the CPP launch has consisted of many late night conference calls lasting to the early hours of the morning and, to the annoyance of my mother, me constantly reading at the dinner table “CSS Design for Dummies” in order to finish designing this blog.  But I wouldn’t change it for the world.  I have met some amazing people in the past two months working for the CPP and their creative visions and enthusiasm for helping others has only inspired me even further to work harder and more thoroughly than ever before.

The best thing about the CPP is that you can help as well!  Everyone, including you, has the ability and capacity to help those impoverished students back in Vietnam.  There are so many ways you can help and contribute to this great cause!  Take a picture of you and a friend extending your hands to one another for our 1,000 photos campaign, videotape yourself singing one of Jason Mraz’s hit singles for CPP Unplugged, or just donate a dollar or two to the cause.  There’s no reason for you to not help! 

Even more, all you have to do is to talk to people and tell people about the CPP Campaign.  Call your dog or something, I don’t care who you call; just spread the word about Campaign CONNECT! 

It might be a wild ride but it’s just getting started. 

I hope you jump along with us.