aspirations: Budapest and thereafter.

Upon returning from Viet Nam last December, I look back on the experience in both positive and negative light. It was a life-changing experience, indefinitely imprinting Viet Nam in my future endeavors. Yet at the same time, there are so many more things I should have done. I wish I had involved myself more in the non-profit field, offering any type of assistance and help to those in need. I wish I had visited children who lie victims to Agent Orange. I wish I had conversed with more locals other than xe om drivers about their struggles and toils within their lives. I wish I had done something more beneficial for my brothers and sisters who live half way across the world.

I view my future with great potential, where endless opportunities exist. I just need to take them when offered. Up next is Budapest, Hungary. A country in development, moving beyond the Communist political system and government controlled market system for almost two decades now, yet still trailing behind its neighbors just westward. There lies a great opportunity for me to look into non-profits and non-governmental organizations. My desire for Budapest is not only to experience the culture and inherit much knowledge through the contrasted education system from the States, but also to contribute to the growth and development of the country. I intend to involve myself into some sort of social based non-profit, working with the impoverished, the lower class who do not have the opportunities; the poverty. I am enrolled in "The New Underclass" at Corvinus, and I hope this assists me in pursuing an internship or volunteer placement in a non-profit or NGO. Help those in need and understand their situation.

Returning back to the States next year, I'll only have six months before I graduate. I hope to gain some non-profit, NGO experience for I greatly desire to return to beautiful Viet Nam and help my country through social development. There are so many issues in Viet Nam that need to focused on. I hope my experience in Budapest and in Chicago thereafter contributes in the long term of my endeavors in Viet Nam come summer of 2008.