Growing up, I didn’t have a role model, not in the traditional sense. I was the type of kid who didn’t believe in idolizing other humans. I saw people as flawed, complex, and too multidimensional to fit into neat boxes of heroism or perfection. The idea of placing someone on a pedestal felt disingenuous to me. I didn’t need to be like anyone else, I just needed to figure out how to be the best version of myself.
At the time, I saw that as strength. Now, I realize it was also a form of protection.
As a young girl, especially one navigating cultural intersections, identity, and expectations, it felt easier to be my own compass than to try to mirror someone else’s map. I didn’t want to risk being disappointed. I didn’t want to align myself with someone only to find out they weren’t who I thought they were. So I chose independence over admiration.
But as I’ve grown, my perspective has shifted.
Adulthood has a funny way of humbling you. It shows you how difficult it is to build, to lead, to hold space in rooms not built for you. And more importantly, it shows you how powerful it can be to see someone who looks like you, speaks like you, or dreams like you, doing something extraordinary.
Recently, I’ve found myself deeply moved by people like Anh Thu Nguyễn, the founder of Asian Women in Aerospace & Aviation (AWAA). I came across her work during a time when I was wrestling with doubt, questioning my own place in industries where Asian women are rarely centered, let alone celebrated. Her presence, her vision, and her unapologetic dedication to creating a space for us changed something in me.
She didn’t just build a community, she made it possible for others to imagine themselves soaring in spaces we were once told we didn’t belong.
Anh Thu isn’t a role model in the way I used to define them, as someone “perfect” or above critique. She’s a role model because of how she shows up, how she advocates, and how she builds. Her courage and commitment have made me feel less alone, and more powerful in my identity. In witnessing her journey, I’ve been inspired to rethink what leadership looks like, and more importantly, what I can look like within it.
For the first time, I understood the point of role models, not as people to worship, but as people who light the path. People who challenge the belief that we have to do everything alone. People who remind us that it’s okay to be human and still be remarkable.
Now, I no longer see having a role model as a sign of weakness or dependency. I see it as a gift. I see it as a source of strength, wisdom, and belonging.
And I’m grateful that I finally let myself receive it.
She was a role model and inspiration to many.
This news is devastating. She leaves an incredible legacy behind and impactful footprint on the world.
🕊️🤍
khirstyn 