The word “Ananda” means happiness, and Ananda Huynh embodies that very sentiment. Living in Bristol, Tennessee, Huynh has always been one of the few Asian American students in her hometown. At home, she found herself immersed in her Vietnamese culture, a stark difference from school.
“This may sound cliche, but my culture brings me a sense of community and belonging,” said Huynh.
When visiting larger cities such as Atlanta, Georgia, or Knoxville, Tennessee, Huynh found that very feeling of belonging: places that fostered communities for Vietnamese culture to flourish. They remind her of her memories of being in Vietnam. Through music, food, and clothing, Ananda hopes to revisit the country soon and to be reunited with her family.
“[In these big cities], I felt included and part of a majority rather than minority,” said Huynh.
Huynh has made it a duty to herself to uphold her Vietnamese heritage. She’s fluent in the language though she sometimes finds herself googling certain words that confuse her, constantly furthering her knowledge. She prioritizes being able to carry these sacred family traditions for generations.
“I believe that because I am a first-generation child in the United States, it is much easier to lose my Vietnamese culture to the influence of American life. Often times making [me] feel like a foreigner to [my] own country,” said Huynh
She intends to further her education at University of Tennessee Knoxville majoring in Interior Architecture, a dream that stemmed from her first visit to Vietnam in elementary school.
“Seeing the major differences in building layout and design from [Vietnam] compared to the United States was so interesting to me, and that feeling of excitement from seeing a layout so different than what I was used to seeing has stayed with me ever since I first visited,” said Huynh.
Selfless motivation is what empowers Ananda Huynh to choose this career. Her end goal is “to share these ideas and emotions with people who are exploring new designs as well as families who want to have the feeling of ‘home’ in a different country.”