thank you so much for agreeing to talk with me. I think after similes win it really open my eyes to a part of the U. N. C. Community in the north Carolina community, the U. S. Community and I know that's something that you really are passionate about and obviously you you started an organization on the UNC campus to encourage the spread of that knowledge and um the sharing of that culture. So I love to just hear your perspective um as an individual after her win and the perspective that that that shared for you. Yeah definitely. So definitely I think it was a very historic moment um you know within the greater the mainstream american us community. But I think when you focus on the monk community definitely was very historic and a great milestone for us. Um not having a lot of uh not not that it's acknowledgement but not having a lot of people know about our culture and our community. I think having her on this very visible global stage really helped you know bring us to that level and make a lot of people who don't know who we are. Um start trying to ask questions who are who is the mang, you know, where where did we come from? How did they get to the US and become part of the um larger community here. So definitely a lot of you know that day I still remember thursday last thursday um my my facebook and all of the social media and all of you know the hmong community among families, my family friends reached down there like, hey did you see, did you hear? And it was, it was definitely exciting. Um it was definitely um touching because I think it was like, oh my gosh, you know, we never, we never thought this would be possible, but it is possible, it is, it is real life and it is happening, so definitely um something to remember and something that will be talked about for a long, long time I think. Um yeah, and you, you founded the student association on the UNC campus, so what did you see that was lacking and what did you, what was your main purpose in creating the association? I know that it allows members that aren't even from, from the mom culture and heritage and and it creates events and and information sessions for the greater Chapel Hill community, so what were some of your key goals, founding that association and what did you see that was lacking that made you want to create an organization like that? Yeah, so definitely going to you and see being part of the monk community back home and coming to the UNC university community there, there was just a few, a handful of students who are among and so being able to come together, collaborate, um bring some sort of like just creating a family there, um having support, a support system, there was helpful as we, you know, continued our education, continue to bridge out in that community itself. Um not only that, but I think having a close knit community, there was, gave us an avenue for us to form stronger bonds and be able to kind of share our culture with the university community and I think bring awareness to who we are, really helped us find our identity as long students and mom growing up in the United States, so that was one of the main goals. Um, one of the main reasons why I started the organization there. Yeah, I love that. And I think clearly the fact that it's still going strong is a huge indication that it was needed and that there were a lot of other people who were waiting for someone like you to come along and to take that step. Um, and a lot of people, I guess we're waiting for sonny lee as well to, to come along and make such a big step. Um, so looking forward to, to, you know, now that this is a normal thing, you know, assuming similarly has one on a big stage, she has created this thing. What are some things that you hope people maybe learn or maybe understand better, whether it be about the mon community specifically or just generally about how you really can open your eyes to a lot of communities in the US and cultures, that is part of the beauty of the US is that we are, we are so full of different cultures like that. Yeah, definitely, I think one of the biggest thing is that the US here is a big melting pot of so many cultures, so many heritage and so many people who come from different areas of the world and I think that's a strength of the U. S. And I think that just because you don't know somebody or no where their background is or who they are. I think that this um right now it really propels us to like ask questions like you know hey tell me more about you or tell me more about you know where you come from or things like that to kind of like just open and create that. Start creating that dialogue to get to know other individuals because that is the strength of this country definitely. I agree with. Yeah. Okay go ahead. Yeah and I guess the other thing I wanted to to say more specifically for the mom community is that I think traditionally the monk community has been very patriarchal society. I think times are changing. Um and I think having Sunni lee win this and you know her voicing that her father was a big part of this, I'm sure her mother was too, but definitely the close bond between her and her father um really opened, I think the monk communities eyes that this could happen if you support your daughter's. Yeah that is a wonderful point. I didn't even think about the significance of it being a young woman who took that stand and I think that we all need a little bit of that, you know that young woman and coming through and taking that stand. Um so continuing with that since it was such a great point that you brought up um how do you think the olympics provide these opportunities for young women and young people in the US to take a kind of important stand when it's really just playing a sport. You know like they become these activists and these big images and voices for the U. S. And they're on a gymnastic stage. So how do you think that works? And how do you think that that affects the reaction and the feeling when when you see something like Sunny leaves win. Yeah definitely. It's very significant because I have a young daughter and she loves like you know do tumbling and cart wheels and whatnot. She's she's like four almost five now. Um But now she's like oh mommy you know she sees Tony leon the tv shows, oh mommy, she's just like me, she's among girls, just like me. And so that's very significant because growing up we I never saw anything like that and I think it speaks bigger um than just among community, it grows, it goes beyond this and it goes to like other communities like the greater asian american communities because I think now in mainstream society we're seeing more asian americans in commercials and movies and things like that, you know in the olympics with Sunni lee. And it's very it's a very powerful message because now our Children can see their reflection and these individuals and they could think anything is possible. So yeah, and and definitely the fact that you have like a young daughter, you have such a unique perspective on that being a woman yourself and and having grown up in the way you did and now seeing the art for your daughter, I'm sure that is a very unique perspective to have on everything. Um so I guess when you look at what you hoped for with your daughter and and in the future and she's in college and in these bigger settings and you've already planted some seeds that you can see specifically for the moment community, but also generally for for spreading and opening people's eyes at at college campuses. So what would you hope beyond, You know, assuming we win and a club or association at at a campus, what would you hope that she's able to be opened up to growing up in a way that maybe you weren't or that you would have hoped to be? Yeah. So definitely for my daughter, I hope that she sees this as anything is possible. If you work hard, you put your mind to it and you put your heart and soul into something that you can achieve anything. And you know, this goes beyond just my daughter. It goes to all of them home girls across the U. S. And around the world and to all of the girls around the world that it doesn't matter who you are, as long as you believe in yourself, you can accomplish it. It does help to have the support of your family behind you. Yes. Yeah, I'm sorry, and you spoke about that, the fact that Sunni leaves the story of her her dad and her mother as well. We're such a significant narrative in her wind. And I heard that story so many times last week, you know, the support of her family and I think you can't, you know, never, you know, look differently at that and um and undervalue the impact of your family on something like that. Um So, so beyond that, looking at, you know, the perspective of Sunni lee specifically fulfilling this five and row win, that you can see our, sorry, USa gymnastics has had, do you think there's kind of a symbolism in that that not only did she win such a significant event, but she carried on this win after win after win that us was having. Um and then continuing that legacy beyond just being this newcomer and this new thing, but she also continued something for the USA definitely, you know, like she is mom, she that's that's her ethnicity, but in the end she is still a US. You know, if she comes from the United States, she grew up um in mainstream US society. So yes as far as I know look because for myself I was born in the US and you know I all anything everything that I know identified as being an american. And so I think she probably maybe share some of those things like you know. Yes I monk but I'm still an american. Um And so american, I'm still representing my country and I'm going to do my best. So that's kind of how I feel um That yes you know that's just being Hung is just one part of her identity but she is an individual that has other parts. She's an american as well. Yeah that was really well said. Um And do you still live in north Carolina? I do. I'm in R. D. P. Well there you go. So so specifically growing up in north Carolina I guess we're going going to you and see in north Carolina and being there now. Um Do you think that there's kind of a of a unique perspective being from the moon community in north Carolina? And I know that there are a few states that have a larger population among and you and north Carolina is one of them. Um So do you see a unique perspective from that specifically being in the north Carolina area. Yeah I think um something to think about is that in north Carolina we have the fourth largest long population in the US. And so when I compare and being hung, I do compare like the among community in north Carolina to other among communities like California, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Those, those states have looked much larger communities. And I think having a larger community, you have more people around you. And so there's in a way, there's strength in numbers. And so I think in a way they're much more progressive. Like in Minnesota, there's monk who are at the state capitol legislation, that sort of thing versus in north Carolina, we don't have, you know, people at that level yet, but we do have, I think, you know, some elected officials, I think there's some school board and I think there's like a judge who, who's mang in north Carolina, But I think, um, you know, as far as comparing and seeing where we are, I think we're a little behind, but I think that we still have a lot of individuals within our own community here in north Carolina who want to get out there who want to strengthen the monk community who want to get involved and make it so that, you know, we do have a voice within north Carolina. So always happy to share my experiences growing up as a long woman, long girl in north Carolina. Um, you know, I'm, I'm always open about sharing, You know, a part of me of my home community. Um, definitely it's, you know, depending on who you ask, they're going to have a different perspective just because they, you know, maybe grown up in a different, um, time and age. So me, I think I'm, I've gone through college and I would consider myself a little more um liberal than some of my, I guess, like, you know, if you ask my mother or my aunts who are a little older than me, um you know, they might have different perspective, but I think overall, um, you know, just talking to my mom, she's like, really excited. She's like, did you know this the home girl, She got like a metal and I'm like, yeah, mom, she, and I was like, yeah, aren't you so glad he supported me through college? She's like, yeah, but you don't get it olympic gold medal and I was like, you were, yeah, that's like, you know, you're still going to get those comments, but I think overall, everyone is just so proud of what's happening right now. And I guess like, one last message to leave you with is that no matter where we come from, no matter what are our passes like in our heritage, I think everyone is special in their old individual way and can contribute. And I think it goes back to that question, you asked me about that melting pot of us and, and I truly believe that because America has such a mounting pot, that's why we are at this stage and and this, we've been so successful, you know what I mean? Um, throughout history, and I think that if we continue to nurture this difference and teach our Children that that's one of our strengths that I think it would just propel us even further into the future.