Tonight, I wrapped up my second training session of the day—swimming practice with Coach Khoa at 8 PM. As I walked home and sat down to unwind, I felt an overwhelming sense of pride. It’s hard to describe the calm that follows a tough but fulfilling workout. Today’s session was full of leg drills and […]
16
Jun
Jun
Happy Monday! My heart is still glowing from the incredible conversation I had yesterday with Nguyen Hoang Minh Hieu, our very first guest on the Sunny Valley Podcast. His story is nothing short of extraordinary, and I’m honored to share it with you. Hieu and I are both alumni of UWC Pearson College. Although we […]
14
Jun
Jun
As I sit down to write, a soft warmth fills my chest. It’s the kind of warmth that comes from slowing down, checking in with yourself, and knowing that you are right where you need to be. This week has been busy—end-of-quarter wrap-ups, brainstorming sessions, volunteer work—but today, I gave myself permission to be fully […]
10
Jun
Jun
Happy Tuesday! Today marks the beginning of a new training week, and as I sit by the window with a cup of warm green tea, watching the rain gently kiss the river outside, I can’t help but feel a profound sense of calm and gratitude. Tuesday is always special to me—it follows my Monday rest […]
06
Jun
Jun
Last night’s swim session was one of those moments when everything aligned. I had finished work at 5 p.m., had an early dinner—something I’ve learned the hard way not to skip—and headed to the pool with energy to spare. For a long time, I used to train after work on an empty stomach, simply pushing […]
05
Jun
Jun
Each day begins the same way: a quiet moment, a cup of green tea, and a deep breath. I believe how we start our mornings sets the tone for everything that follows. This is my story—a glimpse into the rituals that help me stay grounded, energised, and inspired. Whether you’re an athlete, a busy professional, […]
04
Jun
Jun
It’s Wednesday morning. My legs feel like bricks. My breath shallow. The usual bounce in my stride has vanished. Today’s tempo run hit me hard. Just a few months ago, I could comfortably run at a 5:30km/h pace, gliding through sessions like today without much thought. But things change—and not always in the direction we […]
03
Jun
Jun
Your 20s can feel like both a magical adventure and a confusing mess. Between figuring out who you are, what you believe in, and what you want to pursue, it’s easy to feel lost in the noise of it all. For me, books became my compass. At 16, I attended a high school for the […]
25
May
May
It rained a lot on Saturday night in Hatinh, my hometown. In fact, it poured. The kind of heavy rain that turns roads into rivers and whispers quietly of change. By morning, I learned from the news that many farmers had lost their crops to the unexpected flood. Flooding isn’t typical for this time of […]
22
May
May
When I first started mentoring young people—especially students preparing for exams or applying for scholarships—I believed that what they needed most was a toolkit: templates, planning strategies, checklists. I thought, If I just give them the right steps, they’ll be able to succeed. Sometimes, it worked. Some students took the tools, ran with them, and […]