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Holding space for the stories that built us and the voices that move us forward.
I AM A CREATIVE.
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"Home wasn’t just a physical place anymore. It became more of an internal thing"
When P first arrived, he didn’t come with his parents at first, he lived with his aunt and uncle while his parents traveled back and forth between Cambodia and the U.S. That separation blurred the idea of home for him, “It became a little more muddled,” he explains. “Home wasn’t just a physical place anymore. It became more of an internal thing.”
Back in Cambodia, home had meant a roof over his head, a familiar life, and a sense of normalcy. But here in the U.S., things were different. “We were well off back home, but when I moved here, it wasn’t the best circumstances,” he says. That meant moving around a lot, adjusting to new living situations, and trying to find stability in an unfamiliar environment.
School was another big challenge. P attended an international school in Cambodia that used English, so he felt somewhat adjusted to Western school curriculum. Still, he worried about fitting in, “I was scared of going to a new school alone, not living with my parents, and worried people would judge me.” He recalls moments of feeling self-conscious sharing his culture with others, “I was honestly like a really quiet kid and I didn't really like share that side of myself or anything. I felt like, ‘I’m American now,’ you know?” It wasn’t until he connected with the Cambodian community in Stockton that he started to feel more comfortable and confident. “Being surrounded by that community helped me come out of my shell. I’m really proud of that now.”
Despite the struggles, P has grown into his identity, both as a person and a designer. “I become more expressive and take up more space and I feel like that really shows in my like personal design style. I enjoy bright colors and like super loud, visual languages” he laughs. “But my immigrant experience taught me a lot of strength and resilience.” Living through financial instability, adjusting to new homes, and juggling family responsibilities shaped how he sees the world and himself.
Join the story
Holding space for the stories that built us and the voices that move us forward.
I AM A CREATIVE.
I AM A CREATIVE.
"Home wasn’t just a physical place anymore. It became more of an internal thing"
When P first arrived, he didn’t come with his parents at first, he lived with his aunt and uncle while his parents traveled back and forth between Cambodia and the U.S. That separation blurred the idea of home for him, “It became a little more muddled,” he explains. “Home wasn’t just a physical place anymore. It became more of an internal thing.”
Back in Cambodia, home had meant a roof over his head, a familiar life, and a sense of normalcy. But here in the U.S., things were different. “We were well off back home, but when I moved here, it wasn’t the best circumstances,” he says. That meant moving around a lot, adjusting to new living situations, and trying to find stability in an unfamiliar environment.
School was another big challenge. P attended an international school in Cambodia that used English, so he felt somewhat adjusted to Western school curriculum. Still, he worried about fitting in, “I was scared of going to a new school alone, not living with my parents, and worried people would judge me.” He recalls moments of feeling self-conscious sharing his culture with others, “I was honestly like a really quiet kid and I didn't really like share that side of myself or anything. I felt like, ‘I’m American now,’ you know?” It wasn’t until he connected with the Cambodian community in Stockton that he started to feel more comfortable and confident. “Being surrounded by that community helped me come out of my shell. I’m really proud of that now.”
Despite the struggles, P has grown into his identity, both as a person and a designer. “I become more expressive and take up more space and I feel like that really shows in my like personal design style. I enjoy bright colors and like super loud, visual languages” he laughs. “But my immigrant experience taught me a lot of strength and resilience.” Living through financial instability, adjusting to new homes, and juggling family responsibilities shaped how he sees the world and himself.
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
"Home wasn’t just a physical place anymore. It became more of an internal thing"
When P first arrived, he didn’t come with his parents at first, he lived with his aunt and uncle while his parents traveled back and forth between Cambodia and the U.S. That separation blurred the idea of home for him, “It became a little more muddled,” he explains. “Home wasn’t just a physical place anymore. It became more of an internal thing.”
Back in Cambodia, home had meant a roof over his head, a familiar life, and a sense of normalcy. But here in the U.S., things were different. “We were well off back home, but when I moved here, it wasn’t the best circumstances,” he says. That meant moving around a lot, adjusting to new living situations, and trying to find stability in an unfamiliar environment.
School was another big challenge. P attended an international school in Cambodia that used English, so he felt somewhat adjusted to Western school curriculum. Still, he worried about fitting in, “I was scared of going to a new school alone, not living with my parents, and worried people would judge me.” He recalls moments of feeling self-conscious sharing his culture with others, “I was honestly like a really quiet kid and I didn't really like share that side of myself or anything. I felt like, ‘I’m American now,’ you know?” It wasn’t until he connected with the Cambodian community in Stockton that he started to feel more comfortable and confident. “Being surrounded by that community helped me come out of my shell. I’m really proud of that now.”
Despite the struggles, P has grown into his identity, both as a person and a designer. “I become more expressive and take up more space and I feel like that really shows in my like personal design style. I enjoy bright colors and like super loud, visual languages” he laughs. “But my immigrant experience taught me a lot of strength and resilience.” Living through financial instability, adjusting to new homes, and juggling family responsibilities shaped how he sees the world and himself.
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.
Scroll to read more
"Home wasn’t just a physical place anymore. It became more of an internal thing"
When P first arrived, he didn’t come with his parents at first, he lived with his aunt and uncle while his parents traveled back and forth between Cambodia and the U.S. That separation blurred the idea of home for him, “It became a little more muddled,” he explains. “Home wasn’t just a physical place anymore. It became more of an internal thing.”
Back in Cambodia, home had meant a roof over his head, a familiar life, and a sense of normalcy. But here in the U.S., things were different. “We were well off back home, but when I moved here, it wasn’t the best circumstances,” he says. That meant moving around a lot, adjusting to new living situations, and trying to find stability in an unfamiliar environment.
School was another big challenge. P attended an international school in Cambodia that used English, so he felt somewhat adjusted to Western school curriculum. Still, he worried about fitting in, “I was scared of going to a new school alone, not living with my parents, and worried people would judge me.” He recalls moments of feeling self-conscious sharing his culture with others, “I was honestly like a really quiet kid and I didn't really like share that side of myself or anything. I felt like, ‘I’m American now,’ you know?” It wasn’t until he connected with the Cambodian community in Stockton that he started to feel more comfortable and confident. “Being surrounded by that community helped me come out of my shell. I’m really proud of that now.”
Despite the struggles, P has grown into his identity, both as a person and a designer. “I become more expressive and take up more space and I feel like that really shows in my like personal design style. I enjoy bright colors and like super loud, visual languages” he laughs. “But my immigrant experience taught me a lot of strength and resilience.” Living through financial instability, adjusting to new homes, and juggling family responsibilities shaped how he sees the world and himself.