“It wasn’t something I planned or anything. One day everything was normal and then I had to move from Louisiana to Michigan to help my grandparents with their restaurant called Pho Mekong. At first it felt like I was being thrown into something way bigger than I was ready for. It was tough, honestly. I didn’t know anyone here and everything about Michigan felt so different. Running a restaurant was nothing like I expected; it wasn’t just taking orders and cooking it was managing everything from making sure things run smoothly to dealing with customers. I didn’t even know where to start. But I didn’t want to let my grandparents down, so I just started doing what needed to be done. Slowly, I got the hang of things helping in the kitchen, figuring out how to take orders and making sure the place stayed organized. It’s been a challenge but it’s taught me a lot. I’m proud of what I’ve built here, and it’s made me feel like I can actually make a difference. It’s way more than just a job now: it’s part of who I am,” Sr. Alec Trejo said.