Letter for the approval of Admission to The Graduate School of Georgetown University

By BaDung Le



Stories from childhood hold a special place in our hearts. Whether bedtime fairy tales, summer afternoon tall tales or family anecdotes, these memories subtly influence our views of life and of human relationships.

For any culture, the most treasured stories are those of national heritage passed on from generation to generation. I remember how I would stop to listen as the village elders told stories of the birth of Vietnam, of her struggles with neighboring powers and the glories of her leaders and military heroes. These tales evoke sentiments of nationalism and loyalty. However, their underlying message conveys the moral virtues and the need for tolerance and understanding of cultural and societal diversity. The values instilled in my youth are lessons that have guided my life and inspired my love and desire to pursue a career in foreign service.

In the wake of the Vietnam War and the rise of the Communist regime, the life I knew changed forever. My personal and professional aspirations were severely tested and subjected to profound scrutiny. Closed off from the modern world, Vietnam languished under the weights of poverty and government suppression. My parents managed to flee during the 11th hour of the Fall with my siblings. The other older children, including myself, were left behind. The hopes of children are easily forgotten under such conditions, and I questioned whether mine would ever come to fruition. For the next nine years, I lived under Communist rule, witnessing first-hand the various attempts at economic restructuring and the country's desperate need for modernization. When my siblings and I finally left for the U.S.A, it was with a heavy heart.

Life in the United States of America represented a new beginning and an international experience far surpassing a mere visit abroad. Arriving at age 17, I found myself in the awkward position of neither having a child's easy adaptability nor an adult's maturity to overcome culture shock. I faced the triple challenges of adjusting to a new life, completing high school with honors within nine months and resolving the heightened traumas of adolescence. The cultivation of skills such as determination, discipline, flexibility and humor shaped my success then, and in all my endeavors since.

As a result of all these events, my professional goals also changed direction. Having achieved a degree in electrical engineering, I was recruited for GE's Edison Engineering Program, widely known for its developments of future innovators in the field. My subsequent assignments involved GE's Aircraft Control Systems, where I supported the design of some of the latest technology deployed during the Gulf War. I was also the founder of Digital Logic, Incorporated, my engineering experience has broadened to include an entrepreneurial dimension. In addition, I successfully completed my Master degree in Electrical Engineering with thesis while maintaining a rigorous work schedule. My success in engineering is based on my abilities to communicate with clients and peers, to be keenly analytical, to organize and comprehend volumes of detailed information, to research and be innovative when the answer is not clear and to effectively work within a team environment as well as independently.

As I direct my career towards foreign service, I bring the knowledge and qualities of character gleaned from my life experiences, my educational and professional background and most importantly, my genuine love of international affairs. The "world" is no longer confined to a neighborhood, a country's borders or the water's horizon. Through advances in technology, we, as individuals or as groups, are capable of affecting situations far removed from our personal spheres. Thus, an open dialogue and channels for cooperative effort in international relations have never had more significant import as they do now. Studies show that while global trade has increased in the past few years, the most dramatic increase has taken place among countries within the trading blocs of North America, EC and the Pacific Rim. In light of recent US trade talks with Japan, the issue of the Pacific Rim countries deserve further exploration. The dragons and mini-dragons are helping to expand the region by opening facilities and trade in their less developed neighbors, one of which is Vietnam. As the trade bloc becomes more unified in its objectives and regulations, the US government must consider the policy implications in negotiating not only with each individual country but the whole bloc as well.

My background and knowledge for Far East customs and procedures lend themselves to making a contribution in this particular aspect of foreign service. Through the Graduate Foreign Service Program of the Georgetown University, I hope to gain the necessary academic and practice foundation. It is an opportunity to explore international issues with colleagues in an enthusiastic and innovative environment, grounded by the knowledge of the responsibility we hold as the future world leaders. My professional goals include joining the State Department and becoming a vital force in shaping U.S. political and economic policies for the Far East. When I listened to the childhood stories, I had dreamt of finding my place within the Vietnamese government and working to influence its policies towards other countries. Today, I find myself in a unique position to make those kinds of influences as a diplomatic emissary of the U.S. government. The ultimate goal of international relations is providing a means of communications between societies, and in that sense, I will finally be "going home."