You see the highlights —
The Ironman races.
The scholarships to study in Canada, the U.S., and the U.K.
The travels, the adventures, the achievements.
But what you don’t see are the failures. And honestly? There were a lot of them.
The Truth Behind the Shine
I grew up in a small town in Hà Tĩnh, Vietnam. Most people around me didn’t talk about studying abroad. But I dreamed of it anyway — of exploring the world and learning beyond the borders of my hometown.
My parents couldn’t afford international school fees. So I applied for scholarships.
Not once.
Not twice.
But for five years straight.
And I got rejected.
Again. And again.
Failing in Chemistry, Learning in Life
When I finally got to Canada, I nearly failed Chemistry — a subject I loved back home.
Why?
In Vietnam, we didn’t have lab facilities.
In Canada, suddenly I had to do experiments, not just memorize facts.
I bombed my first few tests.
But I asked for help.
My professor paired me with a senior student.
I studied, failed again, studied more — and passed.
Falling for Geoscience (and Failing First)
Later, in the U.S., I took a geoscience class just because it sounded fun.
I failed the first test.
I barely understood anything.
But I was fascinated by rock formations (I know, nerdy and awesome).
So I stuck with it.
By the final exam, I crushed it.
But only because I let myself fail and stay anyway.
How I Learned to Swim at 28
Before my first Ironman race in 2024, I had no idea how to swim.
Zero.
I started in late 2023, giving myself 5 months to prepare.
I choked in the pool.
Panicked in the water.
Felt embarrassed — a grown woman, flailing like a kid.
But I showed up again.
And again.
Now? I love swimming.
And I love the person I became because of that journey.
Failing Forward — In Life, Love, and Learning
We live in a society obsessed with timelines:
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Graduate by 22
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Get married by 30
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Buy a house before 35
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Be “successful” by 40
But here’s the thing:
🎯 You’re allowed to be a late bloomer.
🎯 You’re allowed to redefine what success means.
🎯 You’re allowed to fail — again and again — and still win.
Some people are natural at things I struggle with (like swimming).
And I might be naturally good at things others find terrifying (like public speaking).
But that’s the beauty of it — we all grow at different speeds.
Ask Yourself the Right Questions After You Fail
Every time I’ve failed — whether in school, sports, or life — I’ve asked myself:
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What went wrong?
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What did I learn?
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If this happens again, what will I do differently?
These three questions became my personal GPS.
They didn’t erase failure — but they made it meaningful.
Because failure isn’t the opposite of success.
It’s the path to it.
So if you’re failing right now — in school, in relationships, in chasing a dream — I see you. I’ve been you. I am you.
And I promise:
Every time you fall and rise again, you’re becoming stronger, clearer, bolder.
So let’s keep failing, learning, and growing.
Together.