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Anson Nguyen

9x

Finalist

2x

Winner

General information

Location
Sarasota, FL
Age
21
Gender
Male
US Citizenship
US Citizen

Hobbies & Interests

  • Singing
  • Dance
  • Advocacy And Activism
  • Criminal Justice
  • Social Justice
  • Social Sciences
  • Journalism
  • Writing
  • Video Editing and Production
  • Public Health
  • Mental Health
  • Piano
  • Politics and Political Science
  • Psychology
  • International Relations

Reading

  • Academic
  • Cultural
  • Young Adult
  • Humor
  • Sociology
  • Education

I read books daily.

Bio

Hi there! I'm Anson (he/him), and I'm an undergraduate student at Brown University ('27) studying Sociology and Modern Culture and Media. I've spent over three years working and writing across media, nonprofit, corporate, and academic sectors, honing my skills at the intersections of social justice, creative development, and data analysis. I've tackled and researched pivotal social issues: from reproductive justice and sex ed in a post-Roe world, to pandemic responses at the height of COVID-19, to immigrants and LGBTQ+ youth amidst Trump-era crackdowns. With a relentless passion for social & reproductive justice, I've partnered extensively with community and nonprofit organizations. Previously, I was the editor-in-chief of a national youth magazine reaching thousands with Planned Parenthood and was even a finalist for the 2023 "Favorite LGBTQ+ Youth Activist" award in Sarasota. I currently teach sex education classes to dozens of students in public high schools and facilitate health promotion to hundreds of peers on Brown's campus, work I've been doing for 5+ years. In my free time, I love to dance—my friends call me "Dancin' Anson!" As a queer Vietnamese-American immigrant and as the first person in my family to go to college, I am truly humbled, grateful, and blessed to be able to pursue higher education. Unfortunately, I currently do not qualify for financial aid and have to pay over $90,000 out-of-pocket this year alone. As I continue my higher ed journey, I'd love your support to help make my dreams come true. Let's work together to be bold and make a change!

Education

Brown University

Bachelor's degree program

2023 – 2027

Majors:
  • Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
  • Sociology
GPA4.0 GPA

State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota

Associate's degree program

2021 – 2023

Majors:
  • Social Sciences, General
GPA4.0 GPA

Riverview High School

High School

2019 – 2023

GPA4.0 GPA

Miscellaneous

Majors of interest:
Sociology and Anthropology, Social Sciences, General, Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies, Other, Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management, Radio, Television, and Digital Communication

Career

  • Assistant Manager

    Arts · Family Nail Salon

    Jan 2013 – Jan 2023

Miscellaneous

Dream career field:
Higher Education
Dream career goals:
Creating positive change through social justice
Has nursing license:
No

Future Interests

  • Advocacy
  • Politics
  • Volunteering
  • Philanthropy
Your Dream Music Scholarship
“Break My Soul” by Beyoncé As a Queer Vietnamese American immigrant and reproductive justice activist, I consistently find myself the target of hateful rhetoric and discrimination. During the height of COVID, this often took the form of xenophobic comments about my race, and within my right-wing Floridian community, slurs attached to my queerness are just as common. On days when I feel like throwing in the towel, Beyoncé’s “Break My Soul” inspires me to persevere even in the height of this marginalization. As an advocate with Planned Parenthood, I’ve been harassed and looked down upon by protesters, classmates, and even family. As I’ve walked through Planned Parenthood’s doors, through my headphones, Beyoncé’s infectious chorus, repeating the mantra “You won’t break my soul,” has drowned out the screams of protesters, relaying an unrelenting message of optimism and bringing newfound courage. I’m reminded that my goals of advocating for comprehensive sex education and LGBTQ+ allyship remain impactful no matter the naysayers, and the motivation from an artistic icon like Beyoncé never fails to reinvigorate me. Even in the height of reactionary waves against social justice: the overturning of Roe V. Wade, Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay Bill,” I know that through my work, “I'm buildin' my own foundation… and I'm takin' my new salvation,” across my community — laying the groundwork for change, even when it feels like our government is moving backward. Whether I’m calming peers down during pregnancy scares or sharing my story within magazine articles to thousands of youth and sex educators across the country, I strive to center empathy and open-mindedness as a catalyst for progressive political change — never allowing my soul to be broken, and uplifting others’ souls in the process.
@frankadvice National Scholarship Month TikTok Scholarship
Anson Nguyen Student Profile | Bold.org