“My parents risked everything on a fishing boat, it wasn’t just reaching land that saved us it was finding community willing to see potential in strangers.
I was ashamed of being a refugee. Now I know it’s my greatest strength.”
Eric Em’s story is one of resilience, identity, and the power of community.
Born in Vietnam and brought to Australia as a baby on a refugee boat, Eric survived bullying, racism, and deep shame growing up. Today, he uses that lived experience to guide STEM professionals through barriers he once faced himself.
In this emotional and powerful conversation, we explore:
- His family’s refugee journey and months in a Malaysian asylum camp
- The shame and prejudice he endured in Australian schools
- How kindness from local families helped him find belonging
- The strength he discovered in his cultural identity
- Why inclusion is a responsibility, not a gesture
• How leaders can remove systemic barriers for diverse voices
This week on What We Teach Our Children, Eric shares his extraordinary story and how it shaped the person and parent he is today. It’s a powerful reminder that belonging is something we build through our actions, word by word, gesture by gesture.
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Together, we can be the change we want to see in the world — one story at a time.
