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Holding space for the stories that built us and the voices that move us forward.
I AM A BROTHER.
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"We value family over almost anything. Because we came here together."
Dalis comes from a complex background of Cambodian, Vietnamese, and Chinese heritage, and his family’s immigration story is marked by the legacy of war and resilience. Born in the U.S., he grew up in a household shaped by the struggles and hopes of his parents who fled Cambodia during the aftermath of the Vietnam War and the Khmer Rouge regime.
When asked about his family’s origins, Dalis shared, “My family is from Battambang, which is like a western region of Cambodia, closer to Thailand,” and also from “Phnom Penh, which is the capital.” He described how his family cherished their home in Cambodia, both the countryside and the city, but were forced to leave due to “the Vietnam War that started it,” followed by the rise of the Communist Party in Cambodia. The brutal regime “would kill people if they didn’t want to be a part of his views,” forcing Dalis’s family to flee to a refugee camp in Thailand, then the Philippines, and finally to the U.S. The journey took “five to seven years” and involved immense stress and uncertainty.
Growing up in an immigrant household meant high expectations and strict discipline. He said he was expected to “study like no other,” though he didn’t consider himself gifted, just “smart.” Being the oldest of five siblings placed a heavy burden on Dalis. “I’m the third parent, basically,” he said. “Everything that has to do with my siblings, I have to take care of, too.” His mom relied on him for discipline and homework help. He described the role as a chore, but one he took on because he is the oldest. The responsibility forced him to mature quickly, and he stated “I basically just had to raise myself”.
Dalis reflected on the emotional toll of this upbringing, he wished he could have “been happy” and “not grow up so fast.” His mother, who struggled with personal issues, often treated him more like a younger brother than a son, leading to a complicated family dynamic where “she sees me more as a younger sibling” and often “relies more on me than their father to do stuff for them.”
At home, the family dynamic is a mix of love, frustration, and stubbornness. “There’s two kids, and then three adults,” Despite this, he said, “we’re a happy family” overall.
One of the key things Dalis wishes people understood about the immigrant experience is the hard work and sacrifice involved. “My family who came here came from nothing,” he explained. His grandmother raised six children, building a stable home and income from scratch, despite tragic losses along the way: “Two of her kids died coming here... one from sickness and the other from starvation.” This history of struggle and perseverance is foundational to who Dalis is.
Join the story
Holding space for the stories that built us and the voices that move us forward.
I AM A BROTHER.
I AM A BROTHER.
"We value family over almost anything. Because we came here together."
Dalis comes from a complex background of Cambodian, Vietnamese, and Chinese heritage, and his family’s immigration story is marked by the legacy of war and resilience. Born in the U.S., he grew up in a household shaped by the struggles and hopes of his parents who fled Cambodia during the aftermath of the Vietnam War and the Khmer Rouge regime.
When asked about his family’s origins, Dalis shared, “My family is from Battambang, which is like a western region of Cambodia, closer to Thailand,” and also from “Phnom Penh, which is the capital.” He described how his family cherished their home in Cambodia—both the countryside and the city—but were forced to leave due to “the Vietnam War that started it,” followed by the rise of the Communist Party in Cambodia. The brutal regime “would kill people if they didn’t want to be a part of his views,” forcing Dalis’s family to flee to a refugee camp in Thailand, then the Philippines, and finally to the U.S. The journey took “five to seven years” and involved immense stress and uncertainty.
Growing up in an immigrant household meant high expectations and strict discipline. He said he was expected to “study like no other,” though he didn’t consider himself gifted, just “smart.” Being the oldest of five siblings placed a heavy burden on Dalis. “I’m the third parent, basically,” he said. “Everything that has to do with my siblings, I have to take care of, too.” His mom relied on him for discipline and homework help. He described the role as a chore, but one he took on because he is the oldest. The responsibility forced him to mature quickly, and he stated “I basically had to just grow up myself”.
Scroll to read more
Holding space for the stories that built us and the voices that move us forward.
Holding space for the stories that built us and the voices that move us forward.
Scroll to read more
"We value family over almost anything. Because we came here together."
Dalis comes from a complex background of Cambodian, Vietnamese, and Chinese heritage, and his family’s immigration story is marked by the legacy of war and resilience. Born in the U.S., he grew up in a household shaped by the struggles and hopes of his parents who fled Cambodia during the aftermath of the Vietnam War and the Khmer Rouge regime.
When asked about his family’s origins, Dalis shared, “My family is from Battambang, which is like a western region of Cambodia, closer to Thailand,” and also from “Phnom Penh, which is the capital.” He described how his family cherished their home in Cambodia, both the countryside and the city, but were forced to leave due to “the Vietnam War that started it,” followed by the rise of the Communist Party in Cambodia. The brutal regime “would kill people if they didn’t want to be a part of his views,” forcing Dalis’s family to flee to a refugee camp in Thailand, then the Philippines, and finally to the U.S. The journey took “five to seven years” and involved immense stress and uncertainty.
Growing up in an immigrant household meant high expectations and strict discipline. He said he was expected to “study like no other,” though he didn’t consider himself gifted, just “smart.” Being the oldest of five siblings placed a heavy burden on Dalis. “I’m the third parent, basically,” he said. “Everything that has to do with my siblings, I have to take care of, too.” His mom relied on him for discipline and homework help. He described the role as a chore, but one he took on because he is the oldest. The responsibility forced him to mature quickly, and he stated “I basically just had to raise myself”.
Dalis reflected on the emotional toll of this upbringing, he wished he could have “been happy” and “not grow up so fast.” His mother, who struggled with personal issues, often treated him more like a younger brother than a son, leading to a complicated family dynamic where “she sees me more as a younger sibling” and often “relies more on me than their father to do stuff for them.”
At home, the family dynamic is a mix of love, frustration, and stubbornness. “There’s two kids, and then three adults,” Despite this, he said, “we’re a happy family” overall.
One of the key things Dalis wishes people understood about the immigrant experience is the hard work and sacrifice involved. “My family who came here came from nothing,” he explained. His grandmother raised six children, building a stable home and income from scratch, despite tragic losses along the way: “Two of her kids died coming here... one from sickness and the other from starvation.” This history of struggle and perseverance is foundational to who Dalis is.
The struggle that it took my parents to come here and become successful in a foreign place is something that is always on my mind.
Holding space for the stories that built us and the voices that move us forward.
Holding space for the stories that built us and the voices that move us forward.
"We value family over almost anything. Because we came here together."
Dalis comes from a complex background of Cambodian, Vietnamese, and Chinese heritage, and his family’s immigration story is marked by the legacy of war and resilience. Born in the U.S., he grew up in a household shaped by the struggles and hopes of his parents who fled Cambodia during the aftermath of the Vietnam War and the Khmer Rouge regime.
When asked about his family’s origins, Dalis shared, “My family is from Battambang, which is like a western region of Cambodia, closer to Thailand,” and also from “Phnom Penh, which is the capital.” He described how his family cherished their home in Cambodia, both the countryside and the city, but were forced to leave due to “the Vietnam War that started it,” followed by the rise of the Communist Party in Cambodia. The brutal regime “would kill people if they didn’t want to be a part of his views,” forcing Dalis’s family to flee to a refugee camp in Thailand, then the Philippines, and finally to the U.S. The journey took “five to seven years” and involved immense stress and uncertainty.
Growing up in an immigrant household meant high expectations and strict discipline. He said he was expected to “study like no other,” though he didn’t consider himself gifted, just “smart.” Being the oldest of five siblings placed a heavy burden on Dalis. “I’m the third parent, basically,” he said. “Everything that has to do with my siblings, I have to take care of, too.” His mom relied on him for discipline and homework help. He described the role as a chore, but one he took on because he is the oldest. The responsibility forced him to mature quickly, and he stated “I basically just had to raise myself”.
Dalis reflected on the emotional toll of this upbringing, he wished he could have “been happy” and “not grow up so fast.” His mother, who struggled with personal issues, often treated him more like a younger brother than a son, leading to a complicated family dynamic where “she sees me more as a younger sibling” and often “relies more on me than their father to do stuff for them.”
At home, the family dynamic is a mix of love, frustration, and stubbornness. “There’s two kids, and then three adults,” Despite this, he said, “we’re a happy family” overall.
One of the key things Dalis wishes people understood about the immigrant experience is the hard work and sacrifice involved. “My family who came here came from nothing,” he explained. His grandmother raised six children, building a stable home and income from scratch, despite tragic losses along the way: “Two of her kids died coming here... one from sickness and the other from starvation.” This history of struggle and perseverance is foundational to who Dalis is.
Scroll to read more