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The Power of Words

“Language is the road map of a culture. It tells you where its people come from and where they are going," said author Rita Mae Brown. This quote encapsulates the story of Quyen Tran, a first-generation Vietnamese international student and Communications professional. Quyen's love for language, nurtured from a young age by her parents, sparked a passion for storytelling that ultimately led her to the communications field.    

Originally from Danang, a city the size of San Diego, in central Vietnam. Quyen Tran now calls Tampa Bay her second home. She's a proud incoming senior at the University of South Florida. Through grit and creativity, Quyen has cultivated nearly two years of industry experience in different roles. Currently, she's the content marketing intern at Jabil, a manufacturing solutions company headquartered in St. Petersburg, FL.    

In this Q&A, Quyen discusses her early influences, navigating cultural gaps, and her perspective on the broader immigrant experience.   

The interview has been lightly edited for clarity.   

Early Influences & Passion:   

V. Châu: Tell us about your background and what initially sparked your interest in communications and PR.  

Quyen Tran: I was accepted into a competitive gifted program in high school as an English major. This program nurtured my passion for the beauty of words and their power to tell stories.   

My parents, both educators, fueled this passion from a young age. My mom, an English professor, instilled in me a love for understanding the nuances of language. Through English classes and exposure to history and culture, I learned to craft messages that resonate with different audiences and was fascinated to share beautiful messages to the world. This logic and fascination became the foundation for my interest in communications.   

V. Châu: What did your family think about the career choice you were pursuing?   

Quyen Tran: Funny enough, my family did not initially support me when I first expressed interests in the PR and communications field, especially since neither of them followed this path. As I reflect on my childhood, however, they've in one way or another shaped my future path. My parents are fans of poetry and literature; they read and write a lot. My dad is a living encyclopedia of Vietnamese poetry and could read countless poems verbatim. That love and passion for writing, words, and poetry have been gifted to me since day one and has continued to inspire me in this journey.    

V. Châu: Did you have any mentors or role models in Vietnam or during your studies who influenced your career path?   

Quyen Tran: During my first internship, I was fortunate enough to be mentored and supervised by Melissa Wolfe, the Senior Marketing Communications Officer at the USF Foundation. Her guidance and encouragement have proved invaluable as I continue to find my footing in the industry. Similar inspirations have come from Elizabeth Taylor, a close friend and PRSA Tampa Bay mentor. Both women have left a lasting impression with their humility and desire to uplift young professionals like me.   

Bridging Cultural and Knowledge Gaps   

V. Châu: What unique challenges or opportunities did you encounter as an international student entering the U.S. PR field?   

Quyen Tran: My constant self-doubts made entering the field challenging. The language barrier was a hurdle, nor did I truly feel like I belonged in the industry. Over time, something clicked. I had come to realize my bilingualism and unique perspectives are strengths that distinguish me from others, not weaknesses. Growing up in Vietnam gives me a different frame of reference that allows me to see things in a new light. The challenge? Sometimes, things get lost in translation as I shift between Vietnamese and English in my head, so I’m unable to convey what I truly mean.    

V. Châu: That's great to know you're seeing the opportunities within the challenges you're experiencing as a first-gen PR professional. What are some ways you're bridging these cultural and knowledge gaps?    

Quyen Tran: I tackle these challenges by constantly throwing myself out of my comfort zone and being a voracious reader.  If I struggle in conversations, I put myself under pressure to interact and chat with as many people as possible to gain more confidence in speaking. If the issue is with my writing flow, I read up on how other authors have tackled it to inform my writing style. I also find value in asking for help from others. Being honest and seeking constructive feedback when I’m unsure has gone a long way, especially at the start of my career. All of these practices combined have helped me grow into a better PR professional.   

Advice and Inspiration   

V. Châu: What advice would you give aspiring first-generation students interested in communications and PR?   

Quyen Tran: This path takes a lot of believing in yourself. I had a lot of doubts early on and have learned to be patient and give myself time. Ultimately, I’ve come to realize that no matter what other people think of me, I'm the one who is walking in this journey. It's my responsibility to stick to what I believe in and make the right choice for myself.    

My first year was the hardest. I used to call my mom all the time when the future seemed uncertain. The best advice she gave me was to give it time and have confidence that opportunities would come my way. I didn't believe that at first, but it was true that as time went by, I met people willing to uplift me in my journey and have been fortunate to cultivate valuable skills in the industry. These further concrete my faith that good things take time, and I should be patient in pursuing this passion.     

V. Châu: How can communication professionals ensure their practices are inclusive and welcoming to individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences?   

Quyen Tran: We must approach people of different backgrounds and experiences with an open mind.  I've had assumptions made about me based on my ethnicity, and often wish more people would take a moment to hear my story first. Because of these experiences, I’ve learned to approach others with an open mind, free of judgments and prejudices. These experiences create opportunities for me and others in the field to find unique details that make stories truly special, rather than relying on generalizations. Embracing differences enhances our abilities as writers and communicators.        

V. Châu: As we celebrate Immigrant Heritage Month, what does being an immigrant mean to you and how has it shaped your approach to communications?   

Quyen Tran: The best part about it all has been further developing myself as a person. When I look back, I realize that if I had stayed in Vietnam, I would always take for granted what was considered 'the norm' over there. Now that I'm studying in the US and gaining a more diverse perspective, my understanding of the world has expanded. Growing up in Vietnam, I was used to stepping outside my door and being greeted by a sea of street vendors where I could grab food at a very reasonable price. Here in the US, I usually wake up, and my options are pastries and coffee from either Dunkin' or Starbucks. If I stayed in Vietnam, this experience would not have occurred to me.   

Moving away from everything you're familiar with means learning to appreciate your past and embracing your present. Stepping out of this comfort zone has really challenged me to discover how my life can take shape. The decision to stay here on my own, to find out who I am to myself, and to decide the life that I want to live has opened new opportunities for me to define what happiness means to me. 

As a communications professional, that journey and shift of landscape make me more empathetic to others. Having experienced challenges like language and cultural barriers, I can relate to those with similar experiences, which helps me write stories featuring those whose voices have previously not been heard in the media.   

Share Your Story!
In celebration of Immigrant Heritage Month, this blog series seeks to amplify the stories of first-generation PR and Communications professionals through the lens of the immigrant experience. We hope you'll find a bit of yourself reflected in these stories of personal and professional growth.     

If Quyen's story resonates with you, connect with her on LinkedIn! Do you have a first-gen PR and Communications experience you'd like to share? Fill out this interest form, and we'll reach out with more information. Learn more about DEI initiatives at PRSA Tampa Bay here.   

About the Author   
V. Châu is a first-gen communications professional and company culture champion with over a decade of cross-sector experience in sales, marketing, and communications. They are a lifelong learner specializing in brand storytelling for small businesses, corporate clients, and social impact organizations. Currently, V. is a member of the PRSA Tampa Bay DEI committee. 

A note: While this article is focused on Immigrant Heritage Month, we at PRSA Tampa Bay are committed to and actively incorporate diversity, equity & inclusion (DE&I) into our programming and posts throughout the year to ensure all communities and histories are not forgotten, not a trend and not limited to one moment in time. DE&I takes all of us, all the time.