"Saint Paul Tsis Yog Koj" (English translation: Saint Paul Is Not You) embodies the melody that resonates within me as I venture beyond the environment where I was raised. My transition to Minnesota following my undergraduate degree, driven by a desire to deepen my understanding of the Hmong community, brought significant challenges. I navigated the pain of being absent during my father's passing, the sting of missing milestone family gatherings, and the bittersweet realization of how much my hometown of Fresno, California, continued to evolve without me.

 

As I mature and explore unfamiliar facets of my identity, this song serves as a testimonial for my ongoing personal and professional development, capturing the two primary emotions: the complexity of adopting a new home that never feels mine entirely, and the delicate balance of embracing fresh opportunities while holding my childhood experiences close as a source of inspiration and guidance.