Sareang Nhim interview
Item
Title
Sareang Nhim interview
Creator
Nhim, Sareang
Banh, Jenny
Relation
Central Valley Southeast Asian Successful Voices
Coverage
Fresno, California
Date
7/10/2017
Rights
Copyright has been transferred to Fresno State
Identifier
SCMS_casv_00007
extracted text
>> Let's start. Are you active in the Cambodian community?
>> No. I used to be at one point in time, but it's just been a lot more difficult for me nowadays with work.
>> So thank you so much for agreeing to be interviewed. If you can say your name, date, and also spell
your name as well and give me verbal permission to interview you for our [inaudible] Asians so make sure
[inaudible].
>> Okay. So, my name is Saereang Nhim spelled Saereang, last name is Nhim. Today's date is July 10th,
2017, and I do give you verbal permission to interview me for the successful Southeast Asian.
>> Thank you so much.
>> You're welcome.
>> Okay. So, what is your gender?
>> Female.
>> Don't tell me the date but just tell me the birth year.
>> 1986.
>> What is your ethnic group?
>> Cambodian.
>> When were you born.
>> In Fresno, California.
>> What was your undergrad major?
>> Business administration with an option in human resource management.
>> What is your generation in the United States?
>> I think I would be considered first generation because my parents migrated here 1979, 1980.
>> So your parents migrated here and then you came -- were you born here?
>> I was born here.
>> I guess if you were born here you would be second.
>> I would be second. Second generation.
>> Because a lot of people came as a child so they ->> Oh, okay. They were considered first.
>> Their kids are 1.5. They came before [inaudible].
>> So I was wondering what 1.5 was so that's if they came here and were educated.
>> They came after. Below 18 but like, you know, yes. So, just before you [inaudible] Cambodia [inaudible].
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>> Oh, okay. That makes sense.
>> So you were born here?
>> Yes. I was born here.
>> So you're officially second generation.
>> Second generation. Okay.
>> Okay. What is your mother and father's highest education?
>> Unknown. So, my dad had a little bit of education prior going into the monastery.
>> Your father's a monk?
>> He went to the monastery while he was in Cambodia but then actually left and joined the military. So, he
joined the military so he never completed education. And then my mom, she lived in a more rural part of
Cambodia so she doesn't have any formal education at all.
>> [Inaudible] the rural parts.
>> It was in [inaudible]. My dad's from [inaudible]. My mom's from [inaudible].
>> Okay. Great. That's important because some Cambodian [inaudible]. They actually care. What is your
GPA?
>> GPA 2.77. A lot of it actually derived from my younger days where I was a bit more careless during my
first couple of years of college. Like just starting out fresh from high school. I didn't have a lot of guidance.
So, when I actually went to Fresno State I transferred over with, I want to say with a 2.6 or a 2.5 GPA just
right at borderline, and then I made it a lot more difficult. I didn't realize that it'll affect me in upper division,
and it's a lot harder to raise a GPA when it gets to that point already.
>> But you graduated and [inaudible]. What's your ultimate degree aspiration? What do you want to ->> Ultimately, I do want to get my master's or even my doctorate.
>> In what?
>> In business.
>> Oh, interesting. So like MBA.
>> I do want to get my MBA with an option in human resource. I've actually also considered, just most
recently, I took a human psychology class more towards -- what is it, IO psychology so industrial
organizational psychology, and that's actually a little more interesting because you're learning about culture.
You're learning about how people think, how that'll affect work.
>> Definitely. What was your socioeconomic background in your family? Were they working class?
>> Low. So, we were -- my parents when they first came here, they both worked but eventually what my
parents did was they started off in Eastland, Texas. There was -- yes.
>> Oh, wow. How'd they come to Texas?
>> So they were sponsored by the Catholic charities to come to America by the Catholic charities. So, they
migrated to the United States with both my parents, my adopted brother, as well as my oldest brother. So
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that was around 1980, and after a couple of years, about after two years to my second oldest brother; he
was actually born in Eastland, Texas. But my parents, my dad actually sponsored my uncle and his family so
they were actually in the Philippines during that time, in the camps in the Philippines, and in order for them
to be able to financially support my uncle and his family, there were more options as far as economic
support from the government in Los Angeles. So, they moved from Eastland, Texas, they drove.
>> You're kidding?
>> No.
>> Wow.
>> So, they drove from Eastland ->> How did they know anyone from Los Angeles?
>> They didn't.
>> Okay.
>> I don't know what they did but my parents they somehow found out there was more supports. They
were able to get on government aid?
>> Was it Long Beach?
>> No. It was actually Los Angeles. It was near Chinatown, Los Angeles. I actually was -- I was curious
about it. A couple of years ago we actually drove by where they lived and they lived in a studio at the time.
>> Okay. Are you Chinese-Cambodian?
>> My dad is. His great-grandfather is full blooded Chinese, but we don't know our Chinese heritage. Like
we don't know if we're Cantonese or Mandarin, so we always just say we're straight Cambodian. We don't
know that heritage at all.
>> Because you went to Chinatown, no?
>> Well, they lived in Chinatown. There was actually -- there were -- what they had said, there was a few
Cambodians that lived in that area but they never lived in Long Beach. They actually settled in Chinatown or
in Los Angeles.
>> So [inaudible] your father separated you from the Cambodian community. Was that intentional?
>> It was unintentionally.
>> Unintentionally.
>> So then afterwards, they found out that there was actually more of a Cambodian community in Fresno.
>> And not Long Beach?
>> Yes. The cost of living probably at the time. So, they ended up moving from Los Angeles to Fresno
probably about 80 -- earlier in the years of -- late '83, early '84. They moved to Fresno, and that's pretty
much where they ->> Was that Stockton or Sacramento or Fresno?
>> It was Fresno, California. Yes. So, we've been here since about 1983, 1984. But very low-cost, pretty
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much living off of government support. After -- there was actually a total of seven of us including my
adopted brother, and with both my parents it's nine. We were living in a two-bedroom.
>> Common story.
>> Yes.
>> Great. Did you go to high school? Was it a public or a private high school?
>> I went to the public high school but it was a vocational high school.
>> What was it called?
>> Duncan Poly.
>> Where is that?
>> So, Duncan Poly Technical was actually in Fresno. It's located off of Cedar and Dakota.
>> Where is Duncan? What's a vocational high school?
>> What's a -- so there's vocational because they offer different career paths that you're able to actually
study. I actually studied business so there was business, health, ag, mechanics, health. Just various career
pathways that you can actually go into. The reason why my parents at -- my home school was actually
Mclane High School and that was off of Cedar Clinton. But my parents -[ Inaudible comment ]
My parents didn't want us to go there. As far as he felt like it was high in violence and just he didn't want
any of that to rub off on us. So, he pushed us towards Duncan because Duncan was more reputable to be.
At the time, you were required to write an essay in order to get in.
>> Oh, really?
>> Yes. And then you had to have a certain GPA. Your attendance had to be -- so everything had to be up
to par in order for you to get accepted. And then it wasn't based on a lottery. They actually had to review
your application in order for you to get accepted.
>> And then, what was the ethnic makeup?
>> It was ->> Were you the only Cambodian?
>> No, there was some Cambodians but it was again predominantly Hmong.
>> Really?
>> Yes. It was predominantly Hmong.
>> You're kidding. Wow.
>> We had some Cambodians, but like I said, it was predominantly a Hmong population.
>> What were the other ethnic groups?
>> There were very -- I would say 1% African-American. Another 1 or 2% Caucasian, and then the rest
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were Hispanics.
>> Was it predominant Hispanics?
>> I would say it was predominantly Hmong.
>> Oh, really?
>> Yes. It was predominantly a Hmong population on campus.
>> Oh, interesting. So, do many Cambodians go to college? And why do they go and why do they not go?
>> I would say based on my graduating class, out of my group of friends, there were a few Cambodians,
and I can only recall maybe two or three.
>> So, if you don't go to college, what are you going to do?
>> A lot of them went straight into work. Like, for example, me, it took me a lot longer. I understood that
my parents couldn't financially help all of us.
>> Sorry. It's okay. All the interviews have been sort of triggering. I'm sorry, but [inaudible], we can skip
this part if you want.
>> No.
>> We can talk about other things.
>> So we went to work. But I think like a lot of them right now, even now I see a lot of them just being
comfortable. Advancing in their trade once they get in, but I just feel like it's not enough.
>> So, thank you. I'm sorry to bring up the memories. If you were not a woman, do you think gender
makes an effect because [inaudible], well not a lot. A few. [Inaudible] said her parents [inaudible] you don't
have to do it if you don't want to. You could just marry a donut store owner.
>> Wow. Really.
>> Yes. So, it came up twice in the interviews so do you think your life would be easier had you [inaudible]?
>> No. My parents are complete opposites.
>> Okay. Really.
>> Yes. My parents -- I wouldn't say were complete opposites but I don't want to talk down on a lot of the
cultural norms that Cambodians have. They strayed away from cultural norms. I've heard of that where a lot
of Cambodian parents, even nowadays, where they're like, "Either marry a guy that's more well-off," my
parents are complete opposite. Do what makes you -- and they've always instilled in us knowledge is power.
>> So, if you don't want me to ask these questions, I can just move on.
>> Oh, you're fine.
>> I don't want to ->> Yes. But they've always instilled in us knowledge is power, and they told us that knowledge is basically
the one thing that can never be taken away. And I mean, I'm not surprised that I've heard that some
women are told, "Don't worry about it. Marry someone with a higher status and then you'll be fine," but my
parents, especially mom, she's really big on us going as far as we can.
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>> And your mom had no formal education.
>> No form of education. She's 64 and currently still working.
>> Wow. That's impressive.
>> And she works in a company that does not have any translators. She's been there for, I think, 18 years
now, and she's learned English on the job.
>> So, it seems you have very proactive parents moving around from Texas to LA to ->> And you know what? Despite my dad having a lot of barriers, he wasn't afraid. He was pretty much -because we were involved in highly [inaudible] sports when we were younger. So, he would be that one
parent that's at all your practices.
>> Wow.
>> Yes.
>> That's actually very rare for Asian parents.
>> Very rare. He was one of the only Asian men or fathers that would attend. So, he was at every single
one of our -- we all played volleyball. So, I played volleyball from the time I was in elementary school up
until middle school. I stopped in high school because I didn't want -- Duncan Poly didn't have any sports. So,
in order for us to play a sport ->> You didn't have sports?
>> Yes. That was another thing. They didn't have sports. You could play for your home school which I just
didn't like the fact that I was playing for a different school rather than my own school, so I just stopped it
altogether. But my dad was a great supporter. [Inaudible comment]
>> Yes. So very rare, but he was at every single practice, at every game with his camcorder.
>> Wow. Okay. What is your -- do Cambodian students have strong leadership with administrators or
faculty?
>> At the beginning, I would say no. And I'm not sure why. It wasn't until now I think that I realized during
my upper division the last semester actually that I've been really in contact with professors for extra
guidance, and I'm not quite sure why. I mean, I've had a few teachers in the past that have actually kept in
contact with but it was for the time being during high school and stuff, but never really [inaudible]. I think,
to an extent, yes. Because if [inaudible] instilled in you, I think we're hindering ourselves from getting
valuable information, having that extra guidance. I mean, even after graduation, I'm realizing how much
keeping in touch with professors is such a big help for extra guidance, for references.
>> I had a Laos student who just emailed me. He's really shy, and he's like, "Do you know of any jobs." I'm
like, "Oh, thank you for emailing me." Out of nowhere.
>> Wow.
>> Yes. I was like, "I actually do."
>> Yes. I actually relied on two different professors this past semester in HR management. I've been with
my current company for going on 11 years. So, I started -- pretty much worked my whole entire 20's.
>> What company is it?
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>> It's a local -- Ray Fisher Pharmacy. So, I've been with them for 11 years, but I'm looking to venture out
and pretty much get more experience in a larger company. So, I've relied with talking with professors as to
how to approach things. I just -- what should I do as far as -- or I'll keep them updated during my job
search process and just asking for extra guidance and advice. Reassurance. I mean, I had a professor that
actually told me, "You'll do great. You're actually one of my great presenters," and I've always thought I was
okay but, you know, sometimes we all need that little bit of reassurance and reminder that we're just fine.
You just have to be confident in yourself.
>> [Inaudible]. You're very successful so you made it. So great. So, what makes a good professor and what
makes a bad professor and have you ever be mentored?
>> I think what makes a good professor is one that shows interest in the subject matter itself. But not only
that, just providing valuable experience. It makes a huge difference if a professor just studies the subject
versus one that's been in the shoes of that certain profession. And it actually helped these last couple, I
would say since I got to Fresno State, I think it made a huge difference. Instead of being at Fresno City
College where I felt there wasn't a sense of direction. And when I got to Fresno State, I felt that the
teachers just had more knowledge, more life experience that kind of relate or tie into the subject. They're
just more engaging.
>> Oh, great. Have you ever been mentored at Duncan high school? Was there any kind of perception of
Cambodian students like a high, neutral, or low presentations?
>> There was what? I'm sorry.
>> Adjunct in high school, did you have -- I guess I would say Southeast Asian, but do they think of all of
you guys as a high level up on college or neutral or low applicants?
>> I would say low. I mean, based on my experience and on my graduating class, I can honestly think of
probably only three or four that went on to get a college education. Maybe five. But other than that -- there
was a handful of us. A majority of the men just like statistics, did not go on.
>> What did they do?
>> I see some of them just struggling because we do keep in touch as far as our reunion page. Some of
them are just working entry level jobs, but I don't see -- I mean, I see some of them now. There's one,
actually one of my friend, he actually went back and realized that he needed a trade or a skill to help him
especially with the family. So, he went back and went into nursing.
>> Oh, wow. Which is a very stable ->> Yes.
>> Great. The second part is, do the teachers treat you and your co-ethnic peers, like how do they treat you
guys? You said [inaudible] but they didn't expect you to get a job?
>> At the high school. You know what, they actually had a very high expectation for us to get to a job. The
unique thing about Duncan was that from your freshman year, starting in your freshman year, they prepare
you to be ready for your career. So, you've learned how to do your resumes. For example, I actually did
business so my freshman year I did keyboarding. My sophomore year I did accounting, and it was all done
by paper so I did an actual ledger, and then my junior year I was in what they called Regional Occupational
Program, and I did a virtual enterprise class. So, we actually learned how to run our own business. And then,
my senior year I was in careers and [inaudible] marketing. So, every single year we have what we called a
portfolio. And the portfolio displays all of your work, all your exemplary work from your class [inaudible], and
you would actually present it to someone within the field. So, they would bring people from all over the
community and then we would call it career day. So, you would actually dress up and interview like you're in
a room for a job.
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>> Did you get interview prep?
>> Yes. So, we actually were interviewed prepped. We were actually informed what to do, how to groom
yourself, proper grooming everything. So, we were actually given a lot of guidance as far as that and then,
like I said, on career day, we were ready to present our best work and act like we were interviewing for a
job.
>> Did you get a lot of jobs? I mean, did the people in your schools, did they get a lot of jobs?
>> The people that were in the health program, actually a lot of them became CNA's. They were actually
certified nursing assistants. I did careers in marketing so right out of high school, I actually worked at the
mall. With that program, I was hired.
>> Which mall?
>> Fashion Fair. So, I was hired at a retail store and that was directly [inaudible]. So, if you showed the
boss that you were doing a great job, then the store manager, they actually hire you on. So, I was hired on
seasonal and then I was kept on permanently.
>> Wow. That's great. That's very impressive. And then what about the other type of -- I mean, the medical
got jobs.
>> Medical got jobs.
>> What about the other ->> I'm not sure about the AG because it was kind of limited. They were like FFA, the Future Farmers of
America's Club and stuff, but I'm not sure what they really ->> Did they become farmers?
>> No. I don't think so or they don't have the [inaudible] tech jobs or anything like that because they do
take care of animals. And I'm not sure if the mechanics get certified or anything like that but they actually
work on the vehicles there. So, I'm not sure about the other programs but I know for certain that the health
program, they were CNA's, and then the business program, we were able to get various jobs. I think there
was also a medical office assistant so they were able to work in medical offices. They actually had a finance
program where they were actually at banks. So, there were different options that we had available.
>> Those are very prestigious jobs particularly towards Southeast Asians with language skills.
>> Correct.
>> Great. Do you remember any notable media depictions? Did you ever see a movie about Cambodians on
the TV?
>> I think specifically Gangland.
>> What's that?
>> It was a TV show about gangs.
>> When? Like 90s?
>> No. It was actually, I want to say probably 2000. It was a couple of years ago. I don't remember the
channel but it was called Gangland and it actually showed --
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>> Okay. I'll have to find it.
>> -- it showed the two main Southeast Asian gangs in Fresno area.
>> No. No.
>> Yes. And it showed Cambodians negative.
>> Really?
>> Yes.
>> Is it a public -- how big is it?
>> It was done by NBC if I'm not mistaken.
[ Inaudible comment ]
>> They talked about the gangs itself and the violence that it caused and who was involved, like the
cultures involved or the ethnic groups.
>> And you said the 2000s?
>> In the 2000s [inaudible].
>> You saw this?
>> Yes. It was really funny because I just felt like it was a depiction of -- I mean, gangs are a problem but I
feel like it portrayed a picture of our ethnic group being pretty much troublemakers, and it doesn't represent
everybody. I mean, it doesn't represent the whole statistics. So, I mean, I actually went to the Bay area, and
I had a friend that says, "Oh, wow. You Cambodians are pretty dangerous in Fresno."
>> You're kidding me.
>> No. And he was Filipino. He goes, "You guys are pretty dangerous in Fresno," and I'm like, "What are
you talking about," and he goes, "Gangland." You know it might be on Netflix.
>> It's called Gangland?
>> It's called Gangland and it was ->> Is it about African-American or Latino gangs?
>> There's some that is about African-Americans.
>> All gangs.
>> But they'll have different episodes.
>> Is it a documentary?
>> It's like a documentary. So, this particular episodes was about the [inaudible] and TRG in Fresno. It was
quite funny because I actually had a friend that said, "Wow. You Cambodians are pretty dangerous in
Fresno," and I'm like, "Not all of Fresno is like that." We're not all like that.
>> That's a good point. So, you went to college. [Inaudible]?
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>> I felt like it didn't. I think there was -- my high school itself had more of a focus on your career path not
necessarily furthering my high school education. I actually had a conversation with my younger sister
recently and I felt like we weren't pushed enough. I think at a regular high school because there's not a
focus on vocation, that we'll have more push on higher education.
>> That's a good point. What are the [inaudible]?
>> We were given the regular classes but I didn't feel like there was much talk of college because what I've
heard from other people at different schools, there were clubs or student organizations like Upward Bound
that talked a lot about college.
>> Do you have [inaudible]?
>> I don't remember us ever having it.
>> [Inaudible] college.
>> I don't remember us having [inaudible]. So, we didn't have a lot of those organizations.
[ Inaudible comment ]
See my cousin, he went to high school here in Fresno. He went to Sunnyside and he went through
[inaudible]. Sunnyside is off [inaudible].
[ Inaudible comment ]
>> It'll be on the south end. Closer to the south end of Fresno. It's further south.
>> South. Did you go on 21?
>> The best way to actually get there is the 180.
>> 180. Okay. I'm going to go ahead and look at all these stories. [Inaudible].
>> But yes, a lot of the regular high schools didn't have AVID, Upward Bound. Duncan Poly wasn't one of
them.
>> [Inaudible] what are some successful things [inaudible]. So, this part is on barriers. We talk a lot about
barriers moving a lot, et cetera. Do you think any other barriers, and particularly for a male, a Cambodian
male, what are the barriers? I mean, is it just general and what would you say? Health barriers? Do you take
care of children? Do you take care of your mom and dad?
>> For men or just for me in general?
>> You in general but barriers you've seen in the community.
>> For me in general it was actually just the work life balance. My parents rely heavily on me.
>> Oh, really?
>> Yes.
>> Are you the oldest?
>> No. I'm the oldest girl. So, in our culture, regardless of you not being the oldest but if you're a girl,
you're kind of expected to be that extra helping hand for your parents whether it be financial, emotionally,
physically, whatever it is and everything, your parents lean on you a lot. I mean, until this day, I remember file:///C/...l%20Valley%20Southeast%20Asian%20Successful%20Voices/Files%20for%20upload/19_Sareang_Nhim_Cambodian_F.clean.txt[3/10/2022 9:08:29 AM]
>> Is that to read their letters?
>> Yes. Read their letters and send out the correspondents.
>> My parents don't speak English so I know what you're talking about.
>> My younger brother, he's five years younger. So, when he was in high school, I was more or less like a
parent. So, I was the one that was checking up on his homework, disciplining him, and it wasn't my parents
that said, "Hey. You know what? You're failing." It was me because my parents were like, "Well, we don't
understand. You're old enough. You should do it." So, I was more or less like a parent and my brother who
was only five years younger than I was.
>> That is a lot of work. And he worked. How many hours does he work in college?
>> In college, well starting out, I was working about 25 or 30. And then probably a couple of months after I
turned 20, I ended up getting a full-time job so I actually took a break from school for a while, and then
when I got back into school, I was going part-time. So, I would pick up a class here and there. And it
honestly wasn't until probably about three, maybe four years ago where I said, you know, I need to buckle
this and just start -- so I was doing 40 plus hours at the office, and I was taking anywhere from four to five
classes. This last semester, I actually worked 40 plus hours and took six classes.
>> That's amazing. [Inaudible] extraordinary.
>> So I think this last semester despite taking six classes is probably one of my best. I ended up with a 3.0
which I mean I'm still a bit disappointed because I was hoping for more, but it wasn't too bad [inaudible].
>> [Inaudible] classes. You took two semesters in one semester.
>> Yes. So, I took six classes, and I was still working a full-time job.
>> That's pretty amazing actually. So, is there anything about that I didn't ask you about any barriers on the
pathway to lead to success.
>> I think barriers as far as -- I think finance was a lot of it. A lot of ->> Did you get financial aid?
>> I did but I still just felt like that wasn't enough. Like just to financially support myself. My parents tried to
help us as much as they could but I just felt that need, I didn't want to be a burden on them. Even with my
brothers. So, we went to work, and I mean, as many hours as we could get because more hours means
more money for us.
>> And then what about all your brothers, do they also work?
>> Yes. My sister, she started working at 16, and she worked at the mall as well. She worked at in the food
court. My brother, he's six years older than I am, and he, at one point in time, he was going to school and
was working two or three jobs at the same time.
>> Wow. So, [inaudible] success, you are very extraordinary.
>> Thank you.
>> You are. It's very rare [inaudible] also Cambodia [inaudible]. So, what is it about you that made you
pursue it when the mass majority did not? So, was it like this in third grade? [Inaudible]. Why didn't you
quit?
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>> Well, see I've always -- ever since I was a child, I've wanted success. I've changed my career paths a
lot. As a child, I wanted to be a teacher because I wanted to help everyone out.
>> Would you like to be a teacher now?
>> I would. But I honestly, I would rather be a mentor. Because I lacked the guidance, I would actually
rather go into counseling and just help people out. I mean, right now, my current job I'm the HR manager or
HR generalist and one of my main -- the main thing I love about my employees is I'm their voice. I push for
them, and I always tell them -- that job is the stepping stone. It's not something that they can retire in so I
am that voice behind them that says, "You know what? You can do better for yourself. I want you guys to
succeed. I want you guys to feel the future. Don't live in the present now. The present's great but take this
experience and gain more knowledge."
>> Are they Asian?
>> Some of them are Asian. There's one that's actually Hmong, and I've pushed her. She's in her late 30s,
and I keep telling her, "You got this. Don't let time, don't let age, don't let anything be a factor. You can
actually get this done as long as you put your mind to it." And I told them, "I may not have kids but I have a
lot of responsibility." My brother and his wife actually live with us now and they both work full-time. So, at
one point in time, there was actually -- this last fall semester, I was overwhelmed. I worked a full-time job. I
was taking the same as last semester. I took about four or five classes over the fall, and my brother has
three children. Well, at that time, his wife worked late and he also worked late. So, what it meant for me
was I went from sometimes work to school back to work, and then back to school. I had to get off and then
I'd actually be sitting down with these kids and doing their homework with them. So, I told her, "I'm not a
parent but I know what you're going through. It's not impossible." I told her, "Make that time. I mean, I
know you have a younger," she has a teenager, and I'm like, "It's possible. Sit down and actually do
homework. Make it a great activity and just sit down together. It's a matter of you making time and a matter
of how bad do you want it."
>> So why are you so helpful? I mean, you are very helpful to your family, to your relatives, to your
brothers and sisters. Is it your personality that you have a kind of helpful personality?
>> I think what makes me happy is seeing other people succeed as well. I don't think success comes from
yourself achieving something. It comes from helping others.
>> Great. When you're looking back at your life because you are the rare [inaudible], do you think that
anyone helped you [inaudible] Hmong [inaudible] or educational helpers like mentors or financial help or
structural help, [inaudible]? What are the helps that got you to that [inaudible]? Thinking back, like what are
the things - there's many things, right; but what were the many things that helped you?
>> I think family. My cousin. He was actually a rough critiqued.
>> The what?
>> He's a rough critiqued. The one that actually has [inaudible].
>> He's older or younger?
>> My cousin is older. My aunt had nine children so he was, I think, either I think her fourth child.
>> First generation or second generation?
>> He is one and a half. Yes, he's a one and a half, and he always told us, if he did it with coming to
America without knowing any English and getting as far as he did ->> He [inaudible]?
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>> Yes.
>> That's amazing. So, he came at 11. How old is he?
>> I think he was probably around that age. He was pretty young and maybe even nine, 10 around that
age.
>> And he came to Fresno.
>> They were in Los Angeles for a little bit and then Fresno. But he always told us, he goes, "If I did it and I
had no problem," he went from, I want to say, he graduated from Roosevelt High School. I'm not sure if he
went Fresno City College or not. Went to Fresno State for a little bit and then he went to UC Davis. So, he
received his bachelor's and his doctorate from UC Davis in bio chem.
>> Less than .001%. But if you're looking at him and also as a male, why did he make it? So, you have sort
of a family of scholars. You all made it. Why did he make it? Is it just your older family?
>> I think it's because he wrote a part in his dissertation pretty much saying that from what he came from.
So, I think he wanted to put off it and to prove to everybody that he can do it.
>> That [inaudible] inspired you a lot, motivation.
>> I think it does. It kind of [inaudible]anything's possible. He came here not knowing any English. What is
my excuse? I mean, we can always say time is a factor but I mean how many times does one say time is a
factor?
>> Good point. [Inaudible]. Was there any time that you wanted to quit?
>> There's been a lot of times.
>> But what made you keep going? What made you keep going?
>> The guts.
>> [inaudible] 10th grade [inaudible]?
>> I love learning. I love learning and then I just -- the sky is the limit, and I just truly believe that
knowledge is power, and if you empower yourself, you can empower others.
>> Great point. Great. So, this is actually -- so [inaudible] part in any Cambodian dance group or [inaudible]
community center, [inaudible] Cambodian things that helped you at all [inaudible]?
>> You know what? Well, when I was actually during my elementary school days apart from middle school
days, I was in a Cambodian school called KEEP.
>> I'm sorry?
>> KEEP, it was Khmer Emerging Education Program.
>> That's a very important -- I have to look this up.
>> KEEP.
>> KEEP.
>> Yes. It was called Khmer, Khmer.
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>> Mer. Okay.
>> Emerging.
>> Emerging.
>> Education.
>> Education. Okay.
>> Program.
>> What is this?
>> So, it was actually a Cambodian school that we had to go to twice a week. It was on a Thursday and
Friday evening, so on top of regular school.
>> Thursday and Friday.
>> Thursday and Friday evenings.
>> At what time?
>> I want to say it was from four to six. So, two hours. Four hours total every week. They're no longer
around. There's not as many parents that send all their kids there. There's actually a separate program now
that they have a smaller classroom, but I forgot they used to have lots of classes.
>> And you went through this all?
>> I went through it.
>> Oh, interesting.
>> So, I went through it since I was in -- I forgot what grade but I actually went on to the highest level and
what they actually teach you is how to read, write, read, write, read, write, and also the history and the
culture of Cambodia.
>> That's very important.
>> So actually I'm fluent in reading and writing. I've lost a few touch so it takes me a little bit sometimes to
read stuff, but I actually know how to read and write in Cambodian.
>> That's a main thing. [Inaudible] generation.
>> It's very difficult and a lot of people -- yes, we had to pretty much learn everything but my dad he
bought a whiteboard. So, if we weren't at the local library, community library to check out books and read in
English, I would be at home studying on the whiteboard and writing in Cambodian.
>> My God. That's impressive. You have a very educationally focused family. [Inaudible].
>> My dad [inaudible] so aside from also the education part of it, during high school, I was involved in -- we
did Cambodian dance performances.
>> You did?
>> Yes. So I actually did participate in the cultural shows and --
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>> Were you in Cambodian club and you -- at Fresno State?
>> No, I wasn't. I was only there for -- I started in January 2015, and I didn't finish. So, I didn't have time
to necessarily join any clubs. The only one I actually got involved in was after this last semester, the last two
semesters actually was the HR club, but otherwise ->> There's an HR Club?
>> Yes. The Society for Human Resource Management but otherwise it was just between my work schedule
and school, it was difficult for me to get involved on campus and really do anything outside of that.
>> I was talking to the -- I actually interviewed the president of Cambodian's Student's Association. He was
saying it was difficult to get the Cambodians to go to events because the [inaudible]. That's pretty big.
>> I think I had class that night too so it was difficult for me.
>> okay, great. So, this is the part that people love the most. But actually, before I get to the what do you
want Fresno State to change, what makes Fresno State a warm environment for you? Or what can we do to
make a warmer for you -- well, you need to graduate but what can we do to make it a warm environment
[inaudible]?
>> Well overall, I had a great experience at Fresno State except for one professor; but otherwise, I'm
speaking on behalf of the business program but we had a lot of professors that showed great care and
concern. A lot of interest for their students and stuff and everything. I mean, I didn't feel anything chilly
about the program. It felt like a very warming experience.
>> Oh, great.
>> So, I mean, I didn't really have an issue and it was just great the last couple of semesters where we
were pretty much familiar with which students -- they were -- in your same major and options, so it was
great seeing familiar faces and actually interacting with the same professors over and over.
>> Did you graduate with business at graduation?
>> Yes.
>> Oh, okay.
>> So, I walked with the business school; the Craig School of Business.
>> Oh, great. So, this -- so just tell me if you need this or not. Smaller classes; yes or no? Does that make
sense or no effect?
>> No effect.
>> Co-ethics professors. If you had all Cambodian professors, any effect?
>> No. I would probably like to see more diversity. The business program didn't ->> You didn't have Asian professors?
>> I'm trying to think back. I don't think I had any Asian -- well, I had one that was Indian. She was my
leadership management teacher. I think it was leadership teacher, but other than that, we didn't have [Inaudible comment]
>> I don't think there's really any difference but I think it would be great to have -- I mean, just a different
culture experience. I mean, things can be different for some professors versus another.
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>> What about co-ethnics [inaudible]?
>> No. I like the diversity. That's one of the special things about the valley that diversity of students.
>> What about the ethnic clubs? More ethnic clubs, less, no difference?
>> I would say no difference.
>> Okay. What about college success workshops? [Inaudible] and workshop [inaudible]?
>> I don't really attend any workshops, but I ->> What did you want us to focus -- because they don't have that many so [inaudible]?
>> I would say start at the high school level. Involve -- I think it will be a great idea for looking to see more
success in the Southeast Asian community to address these students right in high school because ->> Do you want us to go to Duncan High School then?
>> The whole thing has changed in the past. I know it's changed a lot more. They don't do the
requirements that they had us do, but I think in general a lot of the high schools that's in the area like
Sunnyside, Roosevelt, that has a lot of Cambodian population, probably the McLane.
>> Sunnyside, Roosevelt.
>> And McLane.
>> Okay.
>> I would say, it would be a great idea to actually address the importance of college education to some of
these students.
>> Is high school too late? Should we reach out to sixth graders?
>> I think sixth grade would be a good idea or middle schoolers.
>> Middle schoolers. [Inaudible]. And what would you want? Would you want to [inaudible] Cambodian
[inaudible] campus [inaudible] or what would you?
>> I would say yes and just -- or even just -- yes, I would say a tour would be better because a
presentation might not be as intriguing for them so a campus tour would be great. But just college
awareness in general because some of these students are coming in that are middle school or high school.
Some of their parents, they were teenagers when they had them so I don't think some of them actually were
able to have higher educations.
>> So if you don't know the Cambodian community very well? How do we get the buy-in from the
community to get their kids -- [inaudible]. How do we get the community to buy-in to come to school
[inaudible]?
>> The holistic center where my brother is kind of involved with during weekends, they actually have a few
Cambodian students and they range -- it's a Cambodian Holistic Center. It's like a cultural center in
Southeast Fresno.
>> It's called holistic?
>> The Cultural Holistic.
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>> H or ho?
>> Hol.
>> Holistic center.
>> Yes. And they actually have ->> So, [inaudible] have an Asian Fresno Symposium. We invited all the Asian group but [inaudible].
>> Oh, no one showed up or very little?
>> Students came from Cambodian. [Inaudible] so how do we get the buy-in to get them there?
>> They actually recently -- the Cambodian community does it every year. They do a graduation ceremony.
I don't know if you're aware of that. They do it ->> No, I didn't.
>> They just had it on June ->> What's a graduation ceremony? What's that?
>> So what they do is they actually honor -- and I was actually busy that weekend, but I attended it when I
was in high school. And it's actually honoring Cambodian high school graduates or college graduates and
stuff. So, the Cambodian community actually puts this on every single year. I forgot how many years it's
been going on now, but they do it every year mid-June. They just had it on ->> Mid-June?
>> Yes. Every year mid-June, they contact as many graduates as they can and honor them at the
ceremony.
>> That's great. Where is it located?
>> It's at Mosqueda Community Center.
>> How do you spell that?
>> Mosqueda. But I think it's put on by the Cambodian Reconciliation. I think it's Cambodian Reconciliation
Group or something like that. I don't remember the exact name.
>> So, it's hard to get buy-in [inaudible] co-ethnic and then also [inaudible].
>> Correct.
>> So [inaudible] if they don't come [inaudible] ->> Actually there's a -- a good person to get in contact too with is Kacey Chan. She's a middle school
teacher, I believe, for Singer High School and she's getting more involved with the Cambodian Fresno.
Singer Middle School. Or my brother, he would be a great contact actually. Yes, my brother, [inaudible], he
works for Fresno County Office of Education and he's very involved. He was actually, I want to say two or
three years ago, he was educator of the year.
>> Wow. That's impressive. You have become a very prestigious family.
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>> Thank you.
>> Interesting.
>> Yes. He was educator of the year two or three years ago.
>> So I'm just going to put that out there for you, but there is one women who actually put on a Laotian
[inaudible] she brought in over 100 Lao kids to Fresno State. She's a young woman that went to [inaudible]
and then [inaudible] all day [inaudible]. Keeping in mind that you and others could do something like that.
There seems to be a lot of people who want to help, but there's just one woman who [inaudible]. I notice
that there's a lot of people that really want to help with their community.
>> Yes. There's actually quite a few. We have quite a few successful Cambodians within the area. We had a
[inaudible] a police officer Denny. And he's actually a part of the holistic center.
>> Oh, really?
>> Yes.
>> Oh, wow.
>> He helps out with the dance. The holistic center has a dance group. They do, they teach students -they're actually there every Friday and Sunday.
>> Oh, wow. You also told [inaudible] one woman [inaudible]. Something to think about. [Inaudible] in the
audience I was thinking, what about the [inaudible] as well. Okay. So, is there anything I didn't ask you
about success [inaudible]? If not, we'll go to the last question.
>> No.
>> Okay. So, thank you again for being interviewed [inaudible].
>> No, it's okay.
>> It's very [inaudible].
>> Oh, no don't.
>> So, you have a successful job. [Inaudible]. What do you say to the third or fourth generation who come
after you, who will be coming five years or 10 years [inaudible]. What can you tell them as advice to keep
going [inaudible].
>> Perseverance is key. There can be many obstacles in the road that can hinder you from reaching a goal
during that time, but it's not that that goal will ever be impossible to reach. There's always other paths you
can take to complete that goal, and I always tell them time and time again, time isn't a factor. It doesn't
matter how long it takes you to finish. You're in a race against yourself. So, don't ever compare yourself to
others. Go at your own pace but you will get there.
>> Is there any advice you have for Cambodian males?
>> They can get there too. It's pretty much generalized. Perseverance is key. You know, how bad do you
want it? It's a matter of what do you want for yourself five years down the line, 10 years down the line? Do
you see yourself where you're at today or do you want to further yourself so that you can be not just
financially successful but then emotionally successful. And what I mean by emotionally successful, being
happy. Being happy with yourself. Being happy and content with the job that you have. I mean, a lot of
people wake up and feel like they hate their job. You know, reach for that job that you wake up wanting to
go to, and it doesn't feel like it's a task to get done but rather just a part of your daily routine that makes
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you happy.
>> So thank you.
>> You're very welcome. That was actually it.
>> So, we talked --
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>> No. I used to be at one point in time, but it's just been a lot more difficult for me nowadays with work.
>> So thank you so much for agreeing to be interviewed. If you can say your name, date, and also spell
your name as well and give me verbal permission to interview you for our [inaudible] Asians so make sure
[inaudible].
>> Okay. So, my name is Saereang Nhim spelled Saereang, last name is Nhim. Today's date is July 10th,
2017, and I do give you verbal permission to interview me for the successful Southeast Asian.
>> Thank you so much.
>> You're welcome.
>> Okay. So, what is your gender?
>> Female.
>> Don't tell me the date but just tell me the birth year.
>> 1986.
>> What is your ethnic group?
>> Cambodian.
>> When were you born.
>> In Fresno, California.
>> What was your undergrad major?
>> Business administration with an option in human resource management.
>> What is your generation in the United States?
>> I think I would be considered first generation because my parents migrated here 1979, 1980.
>> So your parents migrated here and then you came -- were you born here?
>> I was born here.
>> I guess if you were born here you would be second.
>> I would be second. Second generation.
>> Because a lot of people came as a child so they ->> Oh, okay. They were considered first.
>> Their kids are 1.5. They came before [inaudible].
>> So I was wondering what 1.5 was so that's if they came here and were educated.
>> They came after. Below 18 but like, you know, yes. So, just before you [inaudible] Cambodia [inaudible].
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>> Oh, okay. That makes sense.
>> So you were born here?
>> Yes. I was born here.
>> So you're officially second generation.
>> Second generation. Okay.
>> Okay. What is your mother and father's highest education?
>> Unknown. So, my dad had a little bit of education prior going into the monastery.
>> Your father's a monk?
>> He went to the monastery while he was in Cambodia but then actually left and joined the military. So, he
joined the military so he never completed education. And then my mom, she lived in a more rural part of
Cambodia so she doesn't have any formal education at all.
>> [Inaudible] the rural parts.
>> It was in [inaudible]. My dad's from [inaudible]. My mom's from [inaudible].
>> Okay. Great. That's important because some Cambodian [inaudible]. They actually care. What is your
GPA?
>> GPA 2.77. A lot of it actually derived from my younger days where I was a bit more careless during my
first couple of years of college. Like just starting out fresh from high school. I didn't have a lot of guidance.
So, when I actually went to Fresno State I transferred over with, I want to say with a 2.6 or a 2.5 GPA just
right at borderline, and then I made it a lot more difficult. I didn't realize that it'll affect me in upper division,
and it's a lot harder to raise a GPA when it gets to that point already.
>> But you graduated and [inaudible]. What's your ultimate degree aspiration? What do you want to ->> Ultimately, I do want to get my master's or even my doctorate.
>> In what?
>> In business.
>> Oh, interesting. So like MBA.
>> I do want to get my MBA with an option in human resource. I've actually also considered, just most
recently, I took a human psychology class more towards -- what is it, IO psychology so industrial
organizational psychology, and that's actually a little more interesting because you're learning about culture.
You're learning about how people think, how that'll affect work.
>> Definitely. What was your socioeconomic background in your family? Were they working class?
>> Low. So, we were -- my parents when they first came here, they both worked but eventually what my
parents did was they started off in Eastland, Texas. There was -- yes.
>> Oh, wow. How'd they come to Texas?
>> So they were sponsored by the Catholic charities to come to America by the Catholic charities. So, they
migrated to the United States with both my parents, my adopted brother, as well as my oldest brother. So
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that was around 1980, and after a couple of years, about after two years to my second oldest brother; he
was actually born in Eastland, Texas. But my parents, my dad actually sponsored my uncle and his family so
they were actually in the Philippines during that time, in the camps in the Philippines, and in order for them
to be able to financially support my uncle and his family, there were more options as far as economic
support from the government in Los Angeles. So, they moved from Eastland, Texas, they drove.
>> You're kidding?
>> No.
>> Wow.
>> So, they drove from Eastland ->> How did they know anyone from Los Angeles?
>> They didn't.
>> Okay.
>> I don't know what they did but my parents they somehow found out there was more supports. They
were able to get on government aid?
>> Was it Long Beach?
>> No. It was actually Los Angeles. It was near Chinatown, Los Angeles. I actually was -- I was curious
about it. A couple of years ago we actually drove by where they lived and they lived in a studio at the time.
>> Okay. Are you Chinese-Cambodian?
>> My dad is. His great-grandfather is full blooded Chinese, but we don't know our Chinese heritage. Like
we don't know if we're Cantonese or Mandarin, so we always just say we're straight Cambodian. We don't
know that heritage at all.
>> Because you went to Chinatown, no?
>> Well, they lived in Chinatown. There was actually -- there were -- what they had said, there was a few
Cambodians that lived in that area but they never lived in Long Beach. They actually settled in Chinatown or
in Los Angeles.
>> So [inaudible] your father separated you from the Cambodian community. Was that intentional?
>> It was unintentionally.
>> Unintentionally.
>> So then afterwards, they found out that there was actually more of a Cambodian community in Fresno.
>> And not Long Beach?
>> Yes. The cost of living probably at the time. So, they ended up moving from Los Angeles to Fresno
probably about 80 -- earlier in the years of -- late '83, early '84. They moved to Fresno, and that's pretty
much where they ->> Was that Stockton or Sacramento or Fresno?
>> It was Fresno, California. Yes. So, we've been here since about 1983, 1984. But very low-cost, pretty
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much living off of government support. After -- there was actually a total of seven of us including my
adopted brother, and with both my parents it's nine. We were living in a two-bedroom.
>> Common story.
>> Yes.
>> Great. Did you go to high school? Was it a public or a private high school?
>> I went to the public high school but it was a vocational high school.
>> What was it called?
>> Duncan Poly.
>> Where is that?
>> So, Duncan Poly Technical was actually in Fresno. It's located off of Cedar and Dakota.
>> Where is Duncan? What's a vocational high school?
>> What's a -- so there's vocational because they offer different career paths that you're able to actually
study. I actually studied business so there was business, health, ag, mechanics, health. Just various career
pathways that you can actually go into. The reason why my parents at -- my home school was actually
Mclane High School and that was off of Cedar Clinton. But my parents -[ Inaudible comment ]
My parents didn't want us to go there. As far as he felt like it was high in violence and just he didn't want
any of that to rub off on us. So, he pushed us towards Duncan because Duncan was more reputable to be.
At the time, you were required to write an essay in order to get in.
>> Oh, really?
>> Yes. And then you had to have a certain GPA. Your attendance had to be -- so everything had to be up
to par in order for you to get accepted. And then it wasn't based on a lottery. They actually had to review
your application in order for you to get accepted.
>> And then, what was the ethnic makeup?
>> It was ->> Were you the only Cambodian?
>> No, there was some Cambodians but it was again predominantly Hmong.
>> Really?
>> Yes. It was predominantly Hmong.
>> You're kidding. Wow.
>> We had some Cambodians, but like I said, it was predominantly a Hmong population.
>> What were the other ethnic groups?
>> There were very -- I would say 1% African-American. Another 1 or 2% Caucasian, and then the rest
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were Hispanics.
>> Was it predominant Hispanics?
>> I would say it was predominantly Hmong.
>> Oh, really?
>> Yes. It was predominantly a Hmong population on campus.
>> Oh, interesting. So, do many Cambodians go to college? And why do they go and why do they not go?
>> I would say based on my graduating class, out of my group of friends, there were a few Cambodians,
and I can only recall maybe two or three.
>> So, if you don't go to college, what are you going to do?
>> A lot of them went straight into work. Like, for example, me, it took me a lot longer. I understood that
my parents couldn't financially help all of us.
>> Sorry. It's okay. All the interviews have been sort of triggering. I'm sorry, but [inaudible], we can skip
this part if you want.
>> No.
>> We can talk about other things.
>> So we went to work. But I think like a lot of them right now, even now I see a lot of them just being
comfortable. Advancing in their trade once they get in, but I just feel like it's not enough.
>> So, thank you. I'm sorry to bring up the memories. If you were not a woman, do you think gender
makes an effect because [inaudible], well not a lot. A few. [Inaudible] said her parents [inaudible] you don't
have to do it if you don't want to. You could just marry a donut store owner.
>> Wow. Really.
>> Yes. So, it came up twice in the interviews so do you think your life would be easier had you [inaudible]?
>> No. My parents are complete opposites.
>> Okay. Really.
>> Yes. My parents -- I wouldn't say were complete opposites but I don't want to talk down on a lot of the
cultural norms that Cambodians have. They strayed away from cultural norms. I've heard of that where a lot
of Cambodian parents, even nowadays, where they're like, "Either marry a guy that's more well-off," my
parents are complete opposite. Do what makes you -- and they've always instilled in us knowledge is power.
>> So, if you don't want me to ask these questions, I can just move on.
>> Oh, you're fine.
>> I don't want to ->> Yes. But they've always instilled in us knowledge is power, and they told us that knowledge is basically
the one thing that can never be taken away. And I mean, I'm not surprised that I've heard that some
women are told, "Don't worry about it. Marry someone with a higher status and then you'll be fine," but my
parents, especially mom, she's really big on us going as far as we can.
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>> And your mom had no formal education.
>> No form of education. She's 64 and currently still working.
>> Wow. That's impressive.
>> And she works in a company that does not have any translators. She's been there for, I think, 18 years
now, and she's learned English on the job.
>> So, it seems you have very proactive parents moving around from Texas to LA to ->> And you know what? Despite my dad having a lot of barriers, he wasn't afraid. He was pretty much -because we were involved in highly [inaudible] sports when we were younger. So, he would be that one
parent that's at all your practices.
>> Wow.
>> Yes.
>> That's actually very rare for Asian parents.
>> Very rare. He was one of the only Asian men or fathers that would attend. So, he was at every single
one of our -- we all played volleyball. So, I played volleyball from the time I was in elementary school up
until middle school. I stopped in high school because I didn't want -- Duncan Poly didn't have any sports. So,
in order for us to play a sport ->> You didn't have sports?
>> Yes. That was another thing. They didn't have sports. You could play for your home school which I just
didn't like the fact that I was playing for a different school rather than my own school, so I just stopped it
altogether. But my dad was a great supporter. [Inaudible comment]
>> Yes. So very rare, but he was at every single practice, at every game with his camcorder.
>> Wow. Okay. What is your -- do Cambodian students have strong leadership with administrators or
faculty?
>> At the beginning, I would say no. And I'm not sure why. It wasn't until now I think that I realized during
my upper division the last semester actually that I've been really in contact with professors for extra
guidance, and I'm not quite sure why. I mean, I've had a few teachers in the past that have actually kept in
contact with but it was for the time being during high school and stuff, but never really [inaudible]. I think,
to an extent, yes. Because if [inaudible] instilled in you, I think we're hindering ourselves from getting
valuable information, having that extra guidance. I mean, even after graduation, I'm realizing how much
keeping in touch with professors is such a big help for extra guidance, for references.
>> I had a Laos student who just emailed me. He's really shy, and he's like, "Do you know of any jobs." I'm
like, "Oh, thank you for emailing me." Out of nowhere.
>> Wow.
>> Yes. I was like, "I actually do."
>> Yes. I actually relied on two different professors this past semester in HR management. I've been with
my current company for going on 11 years. So, I started -- pretty much worked my whole entire 20's.
>> What company is it?
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>> It's a local -- Ray Fisher Pharmacy. So, I've been with them for 11 years, but I'm looking to venture out
and pretty much get more experience in a larger company. So, I've relied with talking with professors as to
how to approach things. I just -- what should I do as far as -- or I'll keep them updated during my job
search process and just asking for extra guidance and advice. Reassurance. I mean, I had a professor that
actually told me, "You'll do great. You're actually one of my great presenters," and I've always thought I was
okay but, you know, sometimes we all need that little bit of reassurance and reminder that we're just fine.
You just have to be confident in yourself.
>> [Inaudible]. You're very successful so you made it. So great. So, what makes a good professor and what
makes a bad professor and have you ever be mentored?
>> I think what makes a good professor is one that shows interest in the subject matter itself. But not only
that, just providing valuable experience. It makes a huge difference if a professor just studies the subject
versus one that's been in the shoes of that certain profession. And it actually helped these last couple, I
would say since I got to Fresno State, I think it made a huge difference. Instead of being at Fresno City
College where I felt there wasn't a sense of direction. And when I got to Fresno State, I felt that the
teachers just had more knowledge, more life experience that kind of relate or tie into the subject. They're
just more engaging.
>> Oh, great. Have you ever been mentored at Duncan high school? Was there any kind of perception of
Cambodian students like a high, neutral, or low presentations?
>> There was what? I'm sorry.
>> Adjunct in high school, did you have -- I guess I would say Southeast Asian, but do they think of all of
you guys as a high level up on college or neutral or low applicants?
>> I would say low. I mean, based on my experience and on my graduating class, I can honestly think of
probably only three or four that went on to get a college education. Maybe five. But other than that -- there
was a handful of us. A majority of the men just like statistics, did not go on.
>> What did they do?
>> I see some of them just struggling because we do keep in touch as far as our reunion page. Some of
them are just working entry level jobs, but I don't see -- I mean, I see some of them now. There's one,
actually one of my friend, he actually went back and realized that he needed a trade or a skill to help him
especially with the family. So, he went back and went into nursing.
>> Oh, wow. Which is a very stable ->> Yes.
>> Great. The second part is, do the teachers treat you and your co-ethnic peers, like how do they treat you
guys? You said [inaudible] but they didn't expect you to get a job?
>> At the high school. You know what, they actually had a very high expectation for us to get to a job. The
unique thing about Duncan was that from your freshman year, starting in your freshman year, they prepare
you to be ready for your career. So, you've learned how to do your resumes. For example, I actually did
business so my freshman year I did keyboarding. My sophomore year I did accounting, and it was all done
by paper so I did an actual ledger, and then my junior year I was in what they called Regional Occupational
Program, and I did a virtual enterprise class. So, we actually learned how to run our own business. And then,
my senior year I was in careers and [inaudible] marketing. So, every single year we have what we called a
portfolio. And the portfolio displays all of your work, all your exemplary work from your class [inaudible], and
you would actually present it to someone within the field. So, they would bring people from all over the
community and then we would call it career day. So, you would actually dress up and interview like you're in
a room for a job.
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>> Did you get interview prep?
>> Yes. So, we actually were interviewed prepped. We were actually informed what to do, how to groom
yourself, proper grooming everything. So, we were actually given a lot of guidance as far as that and then,
like I said, on career day, we were ready to present our best work and act like we were interviewing for a
job.
>> Did you get a lot of jobs? I mean, did the people in your schools, did they get a lot of jobs?
>> The people that were in the health program, actually a lot of them became CNA's. They were actually
certified nursing assistants. I did careers in marketing so right out of high school, I actually worked at the
mall. With that program, I was hired.
>> Which mall?
>> Fashion Fair. So, I was hired at a retail store and that was directly [inaudible]. So, if you showed the
boss that you were doing a great job, then the store manager, they actually hire you on. So, I was hired on
seasonal and then I was kept on permanently.
>> Wow. That's great. That's very impressive. And then what about the other type of -- I mean, the medical
got jobs.
>> Medical got jobs.
>> What about the other ->> I'm not sure about the AG because it was kind of limited. They were like FFA, the Future Farmers of
America's Club and stuff, but I'm not sure what they really ->> Did they become farmers?
>> No. I don't think so or they don't have the [inaudible] tech jobs or anything like that because they do
take care of animals. And I'm not sure if the mechanics get certified or anything like that but they actually
work on the vehicles there. So, I'm not sure about the other programs but I know for certain that the health
program, they were CNA's, and then the business program, we were able to get various jobs. I think there
was also a medical office assistant so they were able to work in medical offices. They actually had a finance
program where they were actually at banks. So, there were different options that we had available.
>> Those are very prestigious jobs particularly towards Southeast Asians with language skills.
>> Correct.
>> Great. Do you remember any notable media depictions? Did you ever see a movie about Cambodians on
the TV?
>> I think specifically Gangland.
>> What's that?
>> It was a TV show about gangs.
>> When? Like 90s?
>> No. It was actually, I want to say probably 2000. It was a couple of years ago. I don't remember the
channel but it was called Gangland and it actually showed --
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>> Okay. I'll have to find it.
>> -- it showed the two main Southeast Asian gangs in Fresno area.
>> No. No.
>> Yes. And it showed Cambodians negative.
>> Really?
>> Yes.
>> Is it a public -- how big is it?
>> It was done by NBC if I'm not mistaken.
[ Inaudible comment ]
>> They talked about the gangs itself and the violence that it caused and who was involved, like the
cultures involved or the ethnic groups.
>> And you said the 2000s?
>> In the 2000s [inaudible].
>> You saw this?
>> Yes. It was really funny because I just felt like it was a depiction of -- I mean, gangs are a problem but I
feel like it portrayed a picture of our ethnic group being pretty much troublemakers, and it doesn't represent
everybody. I mean, it doesn't represent the whole statistics. So, I mean, I actually went to the Bay area, and
I had a friend that says, "Oh, wow. You Cambodians are pretty dangerous in Fresno."
>> You're kidding me.
>> No. And he was Filipino. He goes, "You guys are pretty dangerous in Fresno," and I'm like, "What are
you talking about," and he goes, "Gangland." You know it might be on Netflix.
>> It's called Gangland?
>> It's called Gangland and it was ->> Is it about African-American or Latino gangs?
>> There's some that is about African-Americans.
>> All gangs.
>> But they'll have different episodes.
>> Is it a documentary?
>> It's like a documentary. So, this particular episodes was about the [inaudible] and TRG in Fresno. It was
quite funny because I actually had a friend that said, "Wow. You Cambodians are pretty dangerous in
Fresno," and I'm like, "Not all of Fresno is like that." We're not all like that.
>> That's a good point. So, you went to college. [Inaudible]?
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>> I felt like it didn't. I think there was -- my high school itself had more of a focus on your career path not
necessarily furthering my high school education. I actually had a conversation with my younger sister
recently and I felt like we weren't pushed enough. I think at a regular high school because there's not a
focus on vocation, that we'll have more push on higher education.
>> That's a good point. What are the [inaudible]?
>> We were given the regular classes but I didn't feel like there was much talk of college because what I've
heard from other people at different schools, there were clubs or student organizations like Upward Bound
that talked a lot about college.
>> Do you have [inaudible]?
>> I don't remember us ever having it.
>> [Inaudible] college.
>> I don't remember us having [inaudible]. So, we didn't have a lot of those organizations.
[ Inaudible comment ]
See my cousin, he went to high school here in Fresno. He went to Sunnyside and he went through
[inaudible]. Sunnyside is off [inaudible].
[ Inaudible comment ]
>> It'll be on the south end. Closer to the south end of Fresno. It's further south.
>> South. Did you go on 21?
>> The best way to actually get there is the 180.
>> 180. Okay. I'm going to go ahead and look at all these stories. [Inaudible].
>> But yes, a lot of the regular high schools didn't have AVID, Upward Bound. Duncan Poly wasn't one of
them.
>> [Inaudible] what are some successful things [inaudible]. So, this part is on barriers. We talk a lot about
barriers moving a lot, et cetera. Do you think any other barriers, and particularly for a male, a Cambodian
male, what are the barriers? I mean, is it just general and what would you say? Health barriers? Do you take
care of children? Do you take care of your mom and dad?
>> For men or just for me in general?
>> You in general but barriers you've seen in the community.
>> For me in general it was actually just the work life balance. My parents rely heavily on me.
>> Oh, really?
>> Yes.
>> Are you the oldest?
>> No. I'm the oldest girl. So, in our culture, regardless of you not being the oldest but if you're a girl,
you're kind of expected to be that extra helping hand for your parents whether it be financial, emotionally,
physically, whatever it is and everything, your parents lean on you a lot. I mean, until this day, I remember file:///C/...l%20Valley%20Southeast%20Asian%20Successful%20Voices/Files%20for%20upload/19_Sareang_Nhim_Cambodian_F.clean.txt[3/10/2022 9:08:29 AM]
>> Is that to read their letters?
>> Yes. Read their letters and send out the correspondents.
>> My parents don't speak English so I know what you're talking about.
>> My younger brother, he's five years younger. So, when he was in high school, I was more or less like a
parent. So, I was the one that was checking up on his homework, disciplining him, and it wasn't my parents
that said, "Hey. You know what? You're failing." It was me because my parents were like, "Well, we don't
understand. You're old enough. You should do it." So, I was more or less like a parent and my brother who
was only five years younger than I was.
>> That is a lot of work. And he worked. How many hours does he work in college?
>> In college, well starting out, I was working about 25 or 30. And then probably a couple of months after I
turned 20, I ended up getting a full-time job so I actually took a break from school for a while, and then
when I got back into school, I was going part-time. So, I would pick up a class here and there. And it
honestly wasn't until probably about three, maybe four years ago where I said, you know, I need to buckle
this and just start -- so I was doing 40 plus hours at the office, and I was taking anywhere from four to five
classes. This last semester, I actually worked 40 plus hours and took six classes.
>> That's amazing. [Inaudible] extraordinary.
>> So I think this last semester despite taking six classes is probably one of my best. I ended up with a 3.0
which I mean I'm still a bit disappointed because I was hoping for more, but it wasn't too bad [inaudible].
>> [Inaudible] classes. You took two semesters in one semester.
>> Yes. So, I took six classes, and I was still working a full-time job.
>> That's pretty amazing actually. So, is there anything about that I didn't ask you about any barriers on the
pathway to lead to success.
>> I think barriers as far as -- I think finance was a lot of it. A lot of ->> Did you get financial aid?
>> I did but I still just felt like that wasn't enough. Like just to financially support myself. My parents tried to
help us as much as they could but I just felt that need, I didn't want to be a burden on them. Even with my
brothers. So, we went to work, and I mean, as many hours as we could get because more hours means
more money for us.
>> And then what about all your brothers, do they also work?
>> Yes. My sister, she started working at 16, and she worked at the mall as well. She worked at in the food
court. My brother, he's six years older than I am, and he, at one point in time, he was going to school and
was working two or three jobs at the same time.
>> Wow. So, [inaudible] success, you are very extraordinary.
>> Thank you.
>> You are. It's very rare [inaudible] also Cambodia [inaudible]. So, what is it about you that made you
pursue it when the mass majority did not? So, was it like this in third grade? [Inaudible]. Why didn't you
quit?
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>> Well, see I've always -- ever since I was a child, I've wanted success. I've changed my career paths a
lot. As a child, I wanted to be a teacher because I wanted to help everyone out.
>> Would you like to be a teacher now?
>> I would. But I honestly, I would rather be a mentor. Because I lacked the guidance, I would actually
rather go into counseling and just help people out. I mean, right now, my current job I'm the HR manager or
HR generalist and one of my main -- the main thing I love about my employees is I'm their voice. I push for
them, and I always tell them -- that job is the stepping stone. It's not something that they can retire in so I
am that voice behind them that says, "You know what? You can do better for yourself. I want you guys to
succeed. I want you guys to feel the future. Don't live in the present now. The present's great but take this
experience and gain more knowledge."
>> Are they Asian?
>> Some of them are Asian. There's one that's actually Hmong, and I've pushed her. She's in her late 30s,
and I keep telling her, "You got this. Don't let time, don't let age, don't let anything be a factor. You can
actually get this done as long as you put your mind to it." And I told them, "I may not have kids but I have a
lot of responsibility." My brother and his wife actually live with us now and they both work full-time. So, at
one point in time, there was actually -- this last fall semester, I was overwhelmed. I worked a full-time job. I
was taking the same as last semester. I took about four or five classes over the fall, and my brother has
three children. Well, at that time, his wife worked late and he also worked late. So, what it meant for me
was I went from sometimes work to school back to work, and then back to school. I had to get off and then
I'd actually be sitting down with these kids and doing their homework with them. So, I told her, "I'm not a
parent but I know what you're going through. It's not impossible." I told her, "Make that time. I mean, I
know you have a younger," she has a teenager, and I'm like, "It's possible. Sit down and actually do
homework. Make it a great activity and just sit down together. It's a matter of you making time and a matter
of how bad do you want it."
>> So why are you so helpful? I mean, you are very helpful to your family, to your relatives, to your
brothers and sisters. Is it your personality that you have a kind of helpful personality?
>> I think what makes me happy is seeing other people succeed as well. I don't think success comes from
yourself achieving something. It comes from helping others.
>> Great. When you're looking back at your life because you are the rare [inaudible], do you think that
anyone helped you [inaudible] Hmong [inaudible] or educational helpers like mentors or financial help or
structural help, [inaudible]? What are the helps that got you to that [inaudible]? Thinking back, like what are
the things - there's many things, right; but what were the many things that helped you?
>> I think family. My cousin. He was actually a rough critiqued.
>> The what?
>> He's a rough critiqued. The one that actually has [inaudible].
>> He's older or younger?
>> My cousin is older. My aunt had nine children so he was, I think, either I think her fourth child.
>> First generation or second generation?
>> He is one and a half. Yes, he's a one and a half, and he always told us, if he did it with coming to
America without knowing any English and getting as far as he did ->> He [inaudible]?
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>> Yes.
>> That's amazing. So, he came at 11. How old is he?
>> I think he was probably around that age. He was pretty young and maybe even nine, 10 around that
age.
>> And he came to Fresno.
>> They were in Los Angeles for a little bit and then Fresno. But he always told us, he goes, "If I did it and I
had no problem," he went from, I want to say, he graduated from Roosevelt High School. I'm not sure if he
went Fresno City College or not. Went to Fresno State for a little bit and then he went to UC Davis. So, he
received his bachelor's and his doctorate from UC Davis in bio chem.
>> Less than .001%. But if you're looking at him and also as a male, why did he make it? So, you have sort
of a family of scholars. You all made it. Why did he make it? Is it just your older family?
>> I think it's because he wrote a part in his dissertation pretty much saying that from what he came from.
So, I think he wanted to put off it and to prove to everybody that he can do it.
>> That [inaudible] inspired you a lot, motivation.
>> I think it does. It kind of [inaudible]anything's possible. He came here not knowing any English. What is
my excuse? I mean, we can always say time is a factor but I mean how many times does one say time is a
factor?
>> Good point. [Inaudible]. Was there any time that you wanted to quit?
>> There's been a lot of times.
>> But what made you keep going? What made you keep going?
>> The guts.
>> [inaudible] 10th grade [inaudible]?
>> I love learning. I love learning and then I just -- the sky is the limit, and I just truly believe that
knowledge is power, and if you empower yourself, you can empower others.
>> Great point. Great. So, this is actually -- so [inaudible] part in any Cambodian dance group or [inaudible]
community center, [inaudible] Cambodian things that helped you at all [inaudible]?
>> You know what? Well, when I was actually during my elementary school days apart from middle school
days, I was in a Cambodian school called KEEP.
>> I'm sorry?
>> KEEP, it was Khmer Emerging Education Program.
>> That's a very important -- I have to look this up.
>> KEEP.
>> KEEP.
>> Yes. It was called Khmer, Khmer.
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>> Mer. Okay.
>> Emerging.
>> Emerging.
>> Education.
>> Education. Okay.
>> Program.
>> What is this?
>> So, it was actually a Cambodian school that we had to go to twice a week. It was on a Thursday and
Friday evening, so on top of regular school.
>> Thursday and Friday.
>> Thursday and Friday evenings.
>> At what time?
>> I want to say it was from four to six. So, two hours. Four hours total every week. They're no longer
around. There's not as many parents that send all their kids there. There's actually a separate program now
that they have a smaller classroom, but I forgot they used to have lots of classes.
>> And you went through this all?
>> I went through it.
>> Oh, interesting.
>> So, I went through it since I was in -- I forgot what grade but I actually went on to the highest level and
what they actually teach you is how to read, write, read, write, read, write, and also the history and the
culture of Cambodia.
>> That's very important.
>> So actually I'm fluent in reading and writing. I've lost a few touch so it takes me a little bit sometimes to
read stuff, but I actually know how to read and write in Cambodian.
>> That's a main thing. [Inaudible] generation.
>> It's very difficult and a lot of people -- yes, we had to pretty much learn everything but my dad he
bought a whiteboard. So, if we weren't at the local library, community library to check out books and read in
English, I would be at home studying on the whiteboard and writing in Cambodian.
>> My God. That's impressive. You have a very educationally focused family. [Inaudible].
>> My dad [inaudible] so aside from also the education part of it, during high school, I was involved in -- we
did Cambodian dance performances.
>> You did?
>> Yes. So I actually did participate in the cultural shows and --
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>> Were you in Cambodian club and you -- at Fresno State?
>> No, I wasn't. I was only there for -- I started in January 2015, and I didn't finish. So, I didn't have time
to necessarily join any clubs. The only one I actually got involved in was after this last semester, the last two
semesters actually was the HR club, but otherwise ->> There's an HR Club?
>> Yes. The Society for Human Resource Management but otherwise it was just between my work schedule
and school, it was difficult for me to get involved on campus and really do anything outside of that.
>> I was talking to the -- I actually interviewed the president of Cambodian's Student's Association. He was
saying it was difficult to get the Cambodians to go to events because the [inaudible]. That's pretty big.
>> I think I had class that night too so it was difficult for me.
>> okay, great. So, this is the part that people love the most. But actually, before I get to the what do you
want Fresno State to change, what makes Fresno State a warm environment for you? Or what can we do to
make a warmer for you -- well, you need to graduate but what can we do to make it a warm environment
[inaudible]?
>> Well overall, I had a great experience at Fresno State except for one professor; but otherwise, I'm
speaking on behalf of the business program but we had a lot of professors that showed great care and
concern. A lot of interest for their students and stuff and everything. I mean, I didn't feel anything chilly
about the program. It felt like a very warming experience.
>> Oh, great.
>> So, I mean, I didn't really have an issue and it was just great the last couple of semesters where we
were pretty much familiar with which students -- they were -- in your same major and options, so it was
great seeing familiar faces and actually interacting with the same professors over and over.
>> Did you graduate with business at graduation?
>> Yes.
>> Oh, okay.
>> So, I walked with the business school; the Craig School of Business.
>> Oh, great. So, this -- so just tell me if you need this or not. Smaller classes; yes or no? Does that make
sense or no effect?
>> No effect.
>> Co-ethics professors. If you had all Cambodian professors, any effect?
>> No. I would probably like to see more diversity. The business program didn't ->> You didn't have Asian professors?
>> I'm trying to think back. I don't think I had any Asian -- well, I had one that was Indian. She was my
leadership management teacher. I think it was leadership teacher, but other than that, we didn't have [Inaudible comment]
>> I don't think there's really any difference but I think it would be great to have -- I mean, just a different
culture experience. I mean, things can be different for some professors versus another.
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>> What about co-ethnics [inaudible]?
>> No. I like the diversity. That's one of the special things about the valley that diversity of students.
>> What about the ethnic clubs? More ethnic clubs, less, no difference?
>> I would say no difference.
>> Okay. What about college success workshops? [Inaudible] and workshop [inaudible]?
>> I don't really attend any workshops, but I ->> What did you want us to focus -- because they don't have that many so [inaudible]?
>> I would say start at the high school level. Involve -- I think it will be a great idea for looking to see more
success in the Southeast Asian community to address these students right in high school because ->> Do you want us to go to Duncan High School then?
>> The whole thing has changed in the past. I know it's changed a lot more. They don't do the
requirements that they had us do, but I think in general a lot of the high schools that's in the area like
Sunnyside, Roosevelt, that has a lot of Cambodian population, probably the McLane.
>> Sunnyside, Roosevelt.
>> And McLane.
>> Okay.
>> I would say, it would be a great idea to actually address the importance of college education to some of
these students.
>> Is high school too late? Should we reach out to sixth graders?
>> I think sixth grade would be a good idea or middle schoolers.
>> Middle schoolers. [Inaudible]. And what would you want? Would you want to [inaudible] Cambodian
[inaudible] campus [inaudible] or what would you?
>> I would say yes and just -- or even just -- yes, I would say a tour would be better because a
presentation might not be as intriguing for them so a campus tour would be great. But just college
awareness in general because some of these students are coming in that are middle school or high school.
Some of their parents, they were teenagers when they had them so I don't think some of them actually were
able to have higher educations.
>> So if you don't know the Cambodian community very well? How do we get the buy-in from the
community to get their kids -- [inaudible]. How do we get the community to buy-in to come to school
[inaudible]?
>> The holistic center where my brother is kind of involved with during weekends, they actually have a few
Cambodian students and they range -- it's a Cambodian Holistic Center. It's like a cultural center in
Southeast Fresno.
>> It's called holistic?
>> The Cultural Holistic.
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>> H or ho?
>> Hol.
>> Holistic center.
>> Yes. And they actually have ->> So, [inaudible] have an Asian Fresno Symposium. We invited all the Asian group but [inaudible].
>> Oh, no one showed up or very little?
>> Students came from Cambodian. [Inaudible] so how do we get the buy-in to get them there?
>> They actually recently -- the Cambodian community does it every year. They do a graduation ceremony.
I don't know if you're aware of that. They do it ->> No, I didn't.
>> They just had it on June ->> What's a graduation ceremony? What's that?
>> So what they do is they actually honor -- and I was actually busy that weekend, but I attended it when I
was in high school. And it's actually honoring Cambodian high school graduates or college graduates and
stuff. So, the Cambodian community actually puts this on every single year. I forgot how many years it's
been going on now, but they do it every year mid-June. They just had it on ->> Mid-June?
>> Yes. Every year mid-June, they contact as many graduates as they can and honor them at the
ceremony.
>> That's great. Where is it located?
>> It's at Mosqueda Community Center.
>> How do you spell that?
>> Mosqueda. But I think it's put on by the Cambodian Reconciliation. I think it's Cambodian Reconciliation
Group or something like that. I don't remember the exact name.
>> So, it's hard to get buy-in [inaudible] co-ethnic and then also [inaudible].
>> Correct.
>> So [inaudible] if they don't come [inaudible] ->> Actually there's a -- a good person to get in contact too with is Kacey Chan. She's a middle school
teacher, I believe, for Singer High School and she's getting more involved with the Cambodian Fresno.
Singer Middle School. Or my brother, he would be a great contact actually. Yes, my brother, [inaudible], he
works for Fresno County Office of Education and he's very involved. He was actually, I want to say two or
three years ago, he was educator of the year.
>> Wow. That's impressive. You have become a very prestigious family.
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>> Thank you.
>> Interesting.
>> Yes. He was educator of the year two or three years ago.
>> So I'm just going to put that out there for you, but there is one women who actually put on a Laotian
[inaudible] she brought in over 100 Lao kids to Fresno State. She's a young woman that went to [inaudible]
and then [inaudible] all day [inaudible]. Keeping in mind that you and others could do something like that.
There seems to be a lot of people who want to help, but there's just one woman who [inaudible]. I notice
that there's a lot of people that really want to help with their community.
>> Yes. There's actually quite a few. We have quite a few successful Cambodians within the area. We had a
[inaudible] a police officer Denny. And he's actually a part of the holistic center.
>> Oh, really?
>> Yes.
>> Oh, wow.
>> He helps out with the dance. The holistic center has a dance group. They do, they teach students -they're actually there every Friday and Sunday.
>> Oh, wow. You also told [inaudible] one woman [inaudible]. Something to think about. [Inaudible] in the
audience I was thinking, what about the [inaudible] as well. Okay. So, is there anything I didn't ask you
about success [inaudible]? If not, we'll go to the last question.
>> No.
>> Okay. So, thank you again for being interviewed [inaudible].
>> No, it's okay.
>> It's very [inaudible].
>> Oh, no don't.
>> So, you have a successful job. [Inaudible]. What do you say to the third or fourth generation who come
after you, who will be coming five years or 10 years [inaudible]. What can you tell them as advice to keep
going [inaudible].
>> Perseverance is key. There can be many obstacles in the road that can hinder you from reaching a goal
during that time, but it's not that that goal will ever be impossible to reach. There's always other paths you
can take to complete that goal, and I always tell them time and time again, time isn't a factor. It doesn't
matter how long it takes you to finish. You're in a race against yourself. So, don't ever compare yourself to
others. Go at your own pace but you will get there.
>> Is there any advice you have for Cambodian males?
>> They can get there too. It's pretty much generalized. Perseverance is key. You know, how bad do you
want it? It's a matter of what do you want for yourself five years down the line, 10 years down the line? Do
you see yourself where you're at today or do you want to further yourself so that you can be not just
financially successful but then emotionally successful. And what I mean by emotionally successful, being
happy. Being happy with yourself. Being happy and content with the job that you have. I mean, a lot of
people wake up and feel like they hate their job. You know, reach for that job that you wake up wanting to
go to, and it doesn't feel like it's a task to get done but rather just a part of your daily routine that makes
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you happy.
>> So thank you.
>> You're very welcome. That was actually it.
>> So, we talked --
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