AAPI Heritage month: The persistence of calling

In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, I wanted to recognize someone whose life deeply shaped my own sense of purpose and service to others – my mother, Amy Chan.

My mother grew up in post-World War II hardship and uncertainty. She fled from China to Hong Kong in the 1940s, unsure of what her future would hold or, at times, even where her next meal would come from. As the oldest daughter of six children, she carried heavy burdens in a world that offered little encouragement for girls to dream beyond survival.

In China in the early 1900s, systemic illiteracy was common, especially among women. Education was not seen as necessary for girls. Many young women, my mother included, were told: get married, start a family, and accept the life in front of you.

But my mother wanted more. She pursued schooling relentlessly because she knew education was her path out of poverty and her key to freedom and independence.

In the 1950s, nursing was one of the few professional paths available to women of my mother’s socio-economic status. She chose nursing and made it her mission to excel, pouring herself into that calling with discipline, resolve, and pride.

The photograph posted here is one of my favorites. It’s my mom as a young staff nurse at a hospital in Hong Kong—one of her first jobs and proudest moments. It represents not only a career milestone, but the triumph of her dedication.

My mom continued practicing nursing in both Hong Kong and the United Kingdom, facing no small degree of hardship. Yet she never allowed those barriers to define her or distract her from her goals.

Her story inspires me deeply during AAPI Heritage Month for many reasons.

First, I respect people who create opportunities where none seem evident. My mother’s work ethic became the foundation for my own. She taught me that resilience is often quiet, steady, and faithful.

Second, my mother had a mentor who advocated for her and opened doors that otherwise may have remained closed. None of us succeed alone. We all need mentors and champions—people who believe in our potential before we fully see it ourselves. I have been fortunate to have mentors and friends who did the same for me, and I have been privileged to mentor students and young professionals for decades.

Finally, my mother found her calling as a Labor and Delivery nurse. She found joy in helping bring life into the world. Her work was in service of something greater than herself. That example helped me find my own calling as a mediator—helping people navigate conflict, broker peace, and move toward resolution.

This AAPI Heritage Month, I honor my mother not only for what she overcame, but for the legacy she created. Her life reminds me that peace and purpose are built with persistence, one courageous step at a time.