LARLY LEE

LARLY LEE is a contributor to the new book “A Career in Student Affairs: Reflections from Hmong Student Affairs Educators.” In his chapter, titled "HOPE," Larly shares with us about hope for tomorrow, for a brighter future, and for light at the end of the tunnel, even when the way forward is uncertain. One constant in his life is his hope—the hope to pursue your own goals rather than following the beaten path. Instead, he encourages forging your own way and leaving a mark.

“Growing up, my family was poor, and we relied on food stamps. We lived in Oroville, California, and stayed in a small two-bedroom house which we had rented from our landlord neighbor who was also Hmong. I was one out of nine siblings. I shared one room with six of my older brothers. Growing up, I was not sure what I was going to do for the rest of my life. It was easy to have picked the gang life since the Hmong community in Oroville was heavily involved, but I had no motive to be one. I had no mentors to guide me in the right direction…I walked a path unknown to me just like the same thing my parents had to navigate between two worlds. Though my path was unclear, I was determined and hopeful no matter how challenging it was going to be…I hope to continue connecting with students and be able to share stories of struggles to pave the way for healing through the tool of education as it has been a healing experience for me...” - Larly Lee.

A CAREER IN STUDENT AFFAIRS highlights the unique experiences of Hmong student affairs professionals from a wide range of professional levels, institutional settings, and functional areas. Each author shares a journey into student affairs and how this was navigated to become a student affairs career. Each chapter also concludes with advice for Hmong students who are considering a career in student affairs and provides insights for prospective and current Hmong college students. This book is a great resource for student affairs professionals, faculty, and institutional leaders working with Hmong students exploring career options in higher education. Because many of the professionals were the first in their family to enter higher education, reading their experiences can be very beneficial to many Hmong students.