For Jadyn Nguyen, a 2019 graduate of DSST: Green Valley Ranch High School, identity isn’t just about where you come from—it’s about how you grow, who supports you and what you give back.

“Growing up, I felt safest when my parents explained their family and friendships to me,” Jadyn recalls. One of those early places of comfort was Pho 888, a Vietnamese restaurant that became a second home of sorts.

“When you walk in, you’re immediately greeted by the smell of beef bone pho broth. The servers there knew my dad because we’re Vietnamese and we ate there often,” he recalled. “Their friendly nature taught me to be warm and kind when I was in school at DSST.”

At school, Jadyn’s quiet warmth mirrored the experience of many AAPI students—curious, observant, and trying to find a place to belong. “As a shy, quiet Asian kid, I only understood how to be warm and kind to whoever would talk to me. Warmness like the first sip of pho broth on a cold Colorado evening.”

That started to change when Jadyn joined DSST’s E-Ship program, where entrepreneurship and identity came together in a transformative way. “It wasn’t until I found the DSST E-Ship program that I burst out of my shy turtle shell,” he said. “Through E-Ship, I gained new self-confidence because I had something that I was deeply interested in: entrepreneurship and storytelling! I give thanks to Mr. Jeremy Wick and Mr. Nicholas Kukucka for nurturing my curiosity and creating a school program that made me feel like I belonged.”

Through E-Ship, Jadyn discovered that being a student wasn't just a phase; it was a powerful lens for connection and curiosity. “My biggest lesson in E-Ship is learning how to leverage ‘my student identity.’ I could frame my outreach as a student seeking to learn,” Jadyn said. “My identity as a student gave me a clear purpose: to learn, which made others more open to meeting.”

As a young entrepreneur and community builder today, Jadyn draws strength and inspiration from AAPI leaders who uplift others, like Mimi Luong, the owner of Truong An Gifts and an anchor of Denver’s Far East Center.

“She hosts festival-style events like Lunar New Year and the Mid-Autumn Festival,” Jadyn said. “I once asked her why she commits to these events, and she said, ‘it’s because this is where I grew up and I’m proud of our culture. I don’t want people to forget about us.’ Mimi inspires me because she’s a symbol of the quote, ‘if not now, when? If not me, who?’”

Jadyn is now 23 and owns his own business, Penkhay J, LLC. He also serves as the Community Hub Manager for the Social Fabric Hub, a new Asian community space in Centennial launched by the Colorado Asian Culture Education Network (CACEN).

“We want to help you feel good about being in community and inspire serendipitous connections!”

For current AAPI students at DSST and beyond, Jadyn’s advice is both grounded and hopeful. 

“As the eldest in my family, it was expected that I attend college and ‘get a good job’” he said. “I knew that I wanted to pursue my entrepreneurial path. At the time, this gravely upset my Mom, but I knew I was doing what I felt was right for my own path… I wish more people understood how to pursue their dreams AND responsibly rely on their family for support.”

Finding your voice and your place in the world can start with something familiar—like a bowl of pho—and grow into something bold, like a business, a community space or a lifelong passion.

“Your cultural identity is your foundation, but it doesn’t define you. You can use your AAPI identity as the first step for learning more about your interests and passions.”