As soon as I stepped onto American soil, I sensed the beginning of a fresh chapter in my life. Having fled Communist China, I was so excited to start my new life in America. Everything that lay ahead was uncharted territory: a new language, a new culture, and a different environment. Even though I should have been scared, I wasn't. What kept me strong and moving forward was that I now had the freedom to express myself openly, to think without limitations, and to embrace countless possibilities. This newfound start was nothing short of invigorating. I treasured the privilege of unrestricted speech and thought, and it felt like a rebirth to me.
Friends encouraged me to move to California, where I would have more opportunities.
I dedicated myself entirely to my education.
My top priorities included learning English, immersing myself in the culture, and pursuing business courses. As time passed, I successfully acquired a work visa, enabling me to work as a bilingual secretary for a computer company while continuing my studies. Working and going to school was difficult, and I often found myself studying and writing essays into the wee hours of the morning, but I knew it would all be worth it.
My English proficiency improved, and after a little more than two years I finished my studies and secured a job working for an international shipping company. I did very well at this eight-to-five job but didn't see it as an exciting career path. Having spent many years as a teacher, I was exploring various career options where I could be my own boss and grow my own business. That is when I became interested in real estate.
About this time I met my husband, Dave.
We fell in love and eventually made plans to get married. My son was still back in China, and we both wanted to move him to California with us and become a family. We got married and shortly after that we made the decision to purchase a house, We met a Realtor with First Team named, Jack. He showed us homes in several cities and eventually found us the perfect home in Fountain Valley with great schools for my son, who was then in Middle School.
I told Jack about my desire to get into real estate. He saw my potential and determination so he encouraged me to meet with his First Team manager, Wally. Wally directed me to their real estate school, where I studied, got my license in October 1997, started working as an agent at First Team, and very enthusiastically immersed myself in real estate classes and trainings. My husband admired my determination and was very supportive of my quest to become a successful Realtor. It's worth noting that one broker even humorously quipped to my husband, 'If your wife becomes a Realtor, you won't need to work anymore,' a comment that brought smiles all around.
Soon after starting my real estate career, I made my first sale where I represented firsttime home buyers. I'll never forget the feeling of handing the keys to the buyers of their first home. Their excitement and heartfelt gratitude for all the help that I had given them was overwhelming. I was definitely 'hooked” on being a Realtor and knew that I had chosen the perfect career path for myself.
Ey my second year in real estate I had already achieved the esteemed 'Hall of Fame' award from my company.
Fast forward to today, and I have proudly served as a Realtor for nearly 26 years.
Throughout this time, I've had the privilege of assisting countless individuals in making one of the most significant decisions of their lives, and the rewards have been immeasurable.