Hi, my name is Iulieta Chan-Tung.

I was born and raised on the beautiful island of Samoa until the summer of 2004 when our family of six moved to the United States. Searching for a better future and life, but upon making this decision was a tremendous price our family had to pay. My parents, siblings and I uprooted ourselves from the environment we’ve only known for most of our lives to an unfamiliar and strange country.

The first several months of our arrival, it was very difficult trying to familiarize ourselves with the new environment and especially trying to assimilate to the American culture. Despite all the obstacles we‘ve been through as a family, my parents still remained faithful and strong of the American dream that my siblings and I will become prosperous and successful in this “country of opportunities”. With the support of my dear parents, I finished my senior year of High School at Andrew P. Hill before becoming a student at Evergreen Valley College.

I now hold an active position at EVC as a student ambassador, senator for the Associated Student Government and a tutor for one of the special programs on campus, the Asian and Pacific Islanders Resources for Excellence Program. I am also an active member of the Pacific Islander Club and Diversity Action Council at EVC.

This past spring semester, I was very fortunate to be the lucky recipient of the NPIEN scholarship. Receiving the scholarship was both a thrilling experience and an honor. It was the first award I have ever received. The scholarship had helped me financially especially when I had to deal with the expensive cost of books. I wouldn’t have been able to purchase some of the books I needed for my classes this semester if it wasn’t for the money I received from the scholarship.

Thank you, NPIEN, for your support.