I never like to exaggerate my life or my story of what makes me, me! From one glance at me, you could probably tell that I am your typical Asian teenager, almost 20- who has had a pretty normal, not too-interesting life. But, when you peel back a layer from the onion, although some aspects of my life are boring, I would say that I am one unique person.

Growing up, I never fully embraced who I was. I hesitated to talk about being adopted or having a congenital heart disease. I guess it’s because people often made it into a bigger deal than I felt it was. I mean yes, being adopted is special, but I never wanted people to pity me or treat me differently because I couldn't keep up with fast-paced activities or climb steep stairs—though I always tried my best. I didn't want my heart condition to define me or hold me back from doing what other kids could do with a breeze.

I had heart surgery in China and, against the odds, survived. Doctors didn’t expect me to live this long, but here I am today- alive and healthy. I owe a lot to my adoptive parents, who pushed me to exercise and stay fit. I took taekwondo (I’m a recommended black belt, by the way), ran on the treadmill, and climbed stairs regularly. While I didn’t always enjoy these activities, looking back, I’m grateful for how they contributed to my health today.

My adoption story is unique. Because of my heart condition, I wasn’t adopted until I was four years old. My adoptive parents were my last hope; in China, after three failed adoption attempts, I would have been forced to stay there permanently. But spoiler alert, I got adopted! My adopted family are immigrants from Vietnam, yet I am Chinese. I never really struggled with cultural identity since I practiced a lot of Vietnamese traditions and grew up in an Asian community, but I bet if I had been adopted into a non-Asian family, my life would not be what it is like today. So I am beyond blessed that the stars aligned and I still got to experience the Asian cultures and traditions.

Of course, I do get the question that every adoptee gets, “Do you ever want to find out who your real parents are?” and quite frankly- no, I do not. I don’t have a desire, as of right now, because I recognize how truly blessed I am and the family I have right now is all I need. Instead of feeling insecure about my story, I’m proud of it. I live each moment fully, knowing that my heart—both literally and figuratively—is a constant reminder of why and how I’m here.