Khanh Nguyen, a refugee displaced by the Vietnam War, came to America, ‘The Land of Opportunity’, in the late 1990’s in search for a better life. His education began in a refugee camp outside of Manila, Philippians for eight months in 1989. Through the sponsorship of catholic charities, he made his way into the United States of America in Orange County, California. Culture shocked, a new journey began.

Khanh stayed within the Vietnamese community for the next five years as adaptation kicked in and he struggled with the lack of understanding of the new foreign language, English. For most refugees, adaptation means doing whatever it takes to provide for his family through whatever means necessary. He became aware that gang life was looming on the inevitable if he stayed in southern California. Remembering his people’s struggles and not forgetting where and why he came to the Land of Opportunity, he made one of the most crucial and important moves of his life to Louisville, Kentucky.

Torn between two cultures, he struggled to understand his emotions and the world around him. He regressed back into old habits, acting up in school. This time, his cry for help didn’t go unnoticed. His Spanish teacher understood and saw what was happening. She kept him after class and taught him how to channel all his aggression in the form of art. Little did he know at the time that using art as an outlet for his confusion and anger was the beginning of his healing process.

Now understanding the importance of education, he was hungry for more knowledge and began his quest of understanding himself and the world around him. With passion as his guide and curiosity as his drive, his journey has led him back to California; continuing his ardent search for different ways to express the abstract through modeling and acting.

So begins a new chapter of his life. Khanh has an open mind and is willing to cooperate with photographers and directors to fulfill his creative endeavors.

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