About Me

People I run into often ask, "Where are you from?"

I usually tell them, "Give me a few more minutes, amigo.

Don’t just ask where I’m from. Ask what kind of person I am. Ask where I’m going, and who I’ll become.

Ask what values and principles I uphold, and what kind of people I’d like to be with.

It’s dangerous to judge someone by their hometown, even though it’s convenient. It’s just as dangerous as judging a book by its cover.

I’m from Samaria, but that doesn’t make me a Samaritan.

If you asked me what kind of person I would like to be, I’d say I strive to be a Jedi, a knight, a gunslinger, a gentleman—even though it’s outdated and perhaps too Don Quixote-like for these times.

And if you asked me what kind of people I’d like to be with, I’d say poets and thinkers, not those shameless scoundrels and clowns, ruthless tyrants, and war criminals.

Being yourself is lifelong career.

Virginia Woolf

01

The Name

My name is Victor, Vic for short. I got my name after the French writer, Victor Hugo.

Les Misérables by Victor Hugo is one of my favorite books. I especially admire Bishop Myriel, a character who embodies the spirit of Christ through his compassion and selflessness.

Forget not, never forget that you have promised me to use this silver to become an honest man. ... Jean Valjean, my brother: you belong no longer to evil, but to good. It is your soul that I am buying for you. I withdraw it from dark thoughts and from the spirit of perdition, and I give it to God!

Myriel to Valjean, Les Misérables

02

The Past

I used to be working as an editor with a magazine, and then moved to internet education industry.

I loved those jobs, not only because I enjoy writing and find creative work fulfilling, but also because I derive satisfaction from inspiring others.

And what made it the cherry on top was meeting great people—people who didn’t work just for money, people who cared about social responsibility, and people who cared about fairness.

Those were the golden times of my life.

03

The New Challenges

I’ve never imagined I’d be a salesman. I’m naturally shy, not particularly talkative, and definitely not a “people person.” I didn’t want to be like the salespeople I’d encountered—those who were quick to make promises and deceive others. I didn’t want to be one of them.

But you never know what life has in store. It’s a long story, one I can’t fully explain right now. To put it simply, something happened, and I had to change my career once again.

After a number of unsuccessful attempts, I made the decision to enter the world of international sales. The main reason was that I wanted to stay connected to the outside world, even in a relatively isolated physical space. Additionally, I had some experience in the import business, driven by my passion for 3C products.

However, it wasn’t easy. The challenges were numerous. Doing sales as a hobby is one thing, but making it a career is something else entirely. Besides lacking experience and people skills, I also struggled with spoken English. But despite all that, I had to follow this path and push forward, no matter what.

It wasn’t easy. Opportunities were scarce at the time. Eventually, I found an opening in the electronics component sales industry.

But here’s the catch: it was with a small company that had significant procurement issues. I had to deal with a lot of defective products.

This wasn’t the environment I was looking for, so I left as soon as I realized what I was up against.

After a lengthy period of job-hunting and interviews, one kind young lady from my hometown gave me a piece of advice I’ll never forget:

“You know what it’s like in this business, and I can see that you’re someone who values life. But if you stick to the no-deception policy, what will you do when you’re hungry?” I didn’t get the job, and I knew I had blown my chance when I fumbled my English self-introduction.

But she was right. I do have a demand for life. Even when I’m hungry, I still love the “useless things”—like poetry, reading, flowers, and the sun.

She was also right in pointing out that there were times when I had no money and went hungry.

So, what choice did I make?
I took a part-job at a logistics center as a porter, earning about $2 an hour.

It was pure, heavy physical labor. On the constantly moving assembly line, I had to lift and move heavy objects—sometimes weighing hundreds of pounds—and load them into trucks.

Despite growing up in a rural area where hard work was part of life, I had never experienced anything like this before.

I kept panting like a cow, my heart racing as if it would leap out of my chest, sweat pouring down my face. I often wondered if I might collapse from exhaustion at any moment.

But I kept going. Many others, taller and stronger than I, would slip away from work, sometimes refusing to take their wages. But I kept going.

At first, I could only work one day before needing two days to recover. But eventually, I managed to work ten days in a row.

At first, people doubted me, but after getting to know me, different assembly lines started requesting me because they knew I could work hard, was willing to help, and could be relied upon.

So, if you ask me whether I regret it, my answer is: Never!
If I had to make the same decision again, I’d choose the same path.
The work was physically demanding, but at least it didn’t weigh on my conscience. In fact, I used it as a way to understand the lives of others—the ones we often overlook in our daily lives. It helped me understand the struggles of my hardworking parents, the lives of William Somerset Maugham and George Orwell when they worked as porters, and the experiences of Jean Valjean and the Jews in Auschwitz.

During times of adversity, all I could do was find the courage to face it head-on.

The night is long that never finds the day.

William Shakespeare, The Taming of the Shrew

04

The New Hope

During my long period of being laid off, I once encountered an employer who said something like: "Since you don’t have a choice, you have to live with me, even if I don’t pay you equally."

Well, that judgment was completely wrong.

I am a man who demands more from life, and that also makes me picky. I can’t stand things like manipulation from a foolish employer or working in a toxic environment. I take a hard look at a company’s values, as I’ve been around the block and know what matters.

So, the waiting was long.

But when God closes a door, He opens a window. Thankfully, I finally got the chance to start a new chapter. A decent factory, with a great boss and wonderful colleagues who are committed to doing the right thing, the right way—and who are willing to share, support, and help each other.

The industry is meaningful, and that makes the work worth dedicating myself to.

I am truly grateful for this opportunity and cherish it, as it is the best shot I've had in the past two years of this turbulent period. I hope I can seize this chance, find my way out, and finally bring my life back to normal.

Hi, there!

But I know, somehow, that only when it is dark enough can you see the stars.

Martin Luther King, Jr.