Nicholas Nguyen, Others Before Self
Nicholas Nguyen has always wanted to give back. “My family emigrated from Vietnam.
Because of the help they were given in this country, I have always wanted to give
back,” he said. He will soon get the chance to do just that. After working with several
non-profit organizations in the DFW area, Nicholas will soon head to Ecuador for an
assignment with the Peace Corps.
“People talk about their calling,” Nguyen said. "And I have always felt that
it was my calling to help others.” He credits his experience at UD with developing
his interest in international non-profit work. “Concentrating in Human Sciences in
the Contemporary World,” he said, “opened my eyes to how different cultures interact
and sparked a desire in me to understand the world from different perspectives. Learning
about the Western tradition at UD made me interested looking at the world from the
opposite side.” During his time at UD, Nguyen volunteered in a variety of areas, including
during his visit to Rome. “Volunteering helps you understand a foreign country on
a day-to- day basis.” Nguyen tutored small children and helped in a soup kitchen as part
of the Marino Volunteer Program in Rome. “I had been thinking about international
work, but going to Rome convinced me that volunteering abroad is my future,” he said.
