About Me

Personal Background

Hi, my name is Tran Nguyen. I am a second-generation Vietnamese Canadian born in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

My parents immigrated to Canada by boat in the early 90s, in search of an opportunity to build a better life for themselves.

While I was still little, my family decided to relocate to Hamilton, Ontario, where I have lived, grown up, went to school, and worked for essentially my entire life.

Having parents who grew up in war and poverty played a key role in shaping my views, values, and approaches in life, particularly when it came to navigating my own identity, as being both Vietnamese and Canadian.

As a child, I was able to witness firsthand, the challenges, and barriers that many immigrant and underprivileged groups like my parents had to face daily to fit in and survive in Canada.

These experiences, over time, gradually brewed up a sense of responsibility and passion in me, particularly during my adolescence to stand up for what’s right and help those in need.

Despite arriving in Canada with literally nothing, my parents worked tirelessly every single day, making tremendous sacrifices to give my sister, brother and me a better life.

It’s probably fair of me to say that my optimistic outlook and personal approaches to life are heavily attributed to my upbringing, and lived experiences during my childhood and youth. These experiences have been instrumental in shaping who I am today, and helping me navigate through adversities in life.

Nevertheless, I cannot express how grateful I am for all the love, teachings, and sacrifices that my family have made for me in life. Through them, I’ve learned integrity, humility and the importance of staying grounded, appreciative, positive and honest in life.

Career Aspirations

Transitioning from Forensic Science and Psychology to Urban Planning

As a kid growing up, I remember always being a very creative mind thinker with an inquisitive nature, always pondering in curiosity about how things worked. I loved art class and had an insatiable appetite for learning about science, especially when it came to biology, physics, forensic science, and sociology classes.

My dream as a kid was to become either a detective cracking unsolvable crimes or a physicist unraveling the mysteries of our universe.

As you may guess, I was quite a big science nerd as a kid. I remember tuning into the Discovery Channel every weekend and being so fascinated by shows on Big Foot, the Bermuda Triangle, UFOs, and parallel universes.

My fascination with science, particularly quantum physics, stems largely from its element of mystery and portrayal in sci-fiction literature. Quantum physics is a lot like working to unravel a grand mystery. One that has been ongoing since the beginning of human history, and one that could potentially explain the origin and existence of our entire universe, and change the course of humanity.

Furthermore, it always seems like the more we uncover about the universe, the more we realize how much remains unknown. It’s this interplay of mystery and boundless possibilities that has always captivated my fascination and interest.

After finishing high school, I followed my interests by enrolling in the Forensic Psychology Specialist program at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM).

Overall, my first year in the program was insightful, engaging, and thought-provoking. For any readers out there, who may be interested or know someone interested in forensic science, I can’t recommend UTM’s program enough. It’s among the best, if not – the best, in Canada.

While I deeply enjoyed studying criminology and forensic science in my first year, I discovered a deeper passion for social psychology, especially in helping those experiencing mental health issues and trauma. A large part of this realization was significantly influenced by my own experiences with social anxiety disorder during middle school.