When I was a kinder kid, Dad used to read me many stories repeatedly, so many times that eventually, I could look at the pictures and retell the exact words, even though I didn’t know how to read. And he watched me with so much joy.
Dad taught me to love listening to and telling stories. He taught me that you don’t have to know how to do something perfectly; you just have a go and enjoy it.
When I was in primary school in Vietnam, we were often taught to memorise ideas and copy what the teacher taught us so we could get high grades in literature. Dad taught me just to write, not just to get the best grade, but to write from the heart.
Dad taught me that it was okay not to follow the rules when you create or do what everyone else was doing.
When I became a teenager, I remember we listened to music together all the time at our house. I went through a phase of loving boy bands. Like many teenagers, I thought they were the coolest people in the world. I even told him, “Dad, you’re not as good-looking as the boys!” He just smiled. And when he travelled overseas, he still bought me their limited-edition album.
Dad taught me to love music and showed me how music can connect people at all stages of life.
When I was in my late teens back in Vietnam, I loved learning English as a second language. I joined a camp that was led by a group of Americans, which was quite expensive compared to what my parents were earning. That was my first time having conversations in English and learning about a different culture, and I loved it. Of course, part of it was because America was where my favourite boy band came from :D. I asked Dad if I could do the camp one more time. He gave me all his savings so I could do it a second time.
Dad taught me to follow my passions and dreams. He believed that one of the most important lessons to learn is to have an open mind to see a world beyond the one we already know.
When I was a grown-up, he moved to Australia to be with us and to be treated for cancer. He went through a bone marrow transplant, chemotherapy, pain and fatigue in hospital. Yet he still made friends with other patients and helped a trainee doctor because he used to work as a doctor in Vietnam.
Dad taught me to love people, and that you can always give something to others, even when you’re going through the worst yourself.
When he was 70, recovering from cancer and starting a new life in a foreign country without knowing the language, he was still motivated to learn English so he could become more independent and build a brand-new life here at 70.
And today, he’s well, and he still loves stories, music and people. He is a free spirit, keeps an open mind, gives 200% of himself to his family and community, and never stops learning.
Dad taught me that if you have all of that, the sky is the limit.
He’s the best dad and teacher in the world. I love him very much!
I’m so lucky that today I love stories, read, write, teach, find meaning from helping people. I play music to find joy and use music to connect migrant community and above of all I never stop learning. These are the things that I now try to instil in my own children.
Happy Father’s Day to all the wonderful Fathers in the world.