While some people are content with themselves with only showing off their singing prowess in the shower, Senior Vivian Huynh has carried her passion for singing past the bathroom doors and onto stages.
Huynh started singing since she was three years old at the dinner table but didn’t start performing until she was seven. Her first performance drew in one of her biggest crowds, according to Huynh.
“It was actually one of my biggest crowds,” Huynh said. “It was for the Vietnamese community and the event was a fundraiser to raise money for disabled veterans from the Vietnam War in Vietnam.”
Huynh was nervous at first since it was her first performance but she was able to let loose and have fun.
“I did feel awkward though because all I did on stage was sway side to side but I really enjoyed the adrenaline from performing that one time,” Huynh said. “Since then my passion for performing has only grown stronger.”
The majority of her performances are for the Vietnamese community in the Bay Area for human rights activism in Vietnam. Huynh also occasionally performs for Interact Benefit Shows and Charity Dinners.
“I used to perform like every weekend when I was in middle school and freshman year, but I slowed down these past three years,” Huynh said.
Huynh is motivated to continue singing and performing because of the message that she is able to convey through her performances.
“Honestly, there are days when I feel so self-conscious of my singing because I’m not as big locally as other people are and I psych myself into thinking that people wouldn’t want to listen to [my singing],” Huynh said. “But what really pulls me through those times is my desire to tell people a story: a story that says yes, I’ve been there. I’ve done that but I’m still here.”
Huynh also hopes to inspire people like her with insecurities to expose themselves onto a platform that will make them vulnerable, but also empower them with confidence and become stronger, according to Huynh.
Huynh has faced many obstacles throughout her singing career, including her parent’s disapproval of auditioning for singing competitions.
“I’ve even had serious talks with my family about auditioning,” Huynh said. “It’s just timing and the fact that I’m still in high school kind of blocks the ability to freely audition and compete. I’ve been raised with the “education first priority” sort of mindset, so when I came to my family about this the first time, they were very against it.”
After talking to her family more about auditioning, they’re now considering letting her audition a year or so after starting college, Huynh continued.
“As of now, I’m only planning on pursuing music locally,” Huynh said. “I don’t think I’ll get anywhere far with it just yet. I also want to have time for myself to explore what kind of music I really want to pursue and just look for more practice to find my voice.”
Huynh has performed at many different events, but the most memorable performance for her was one that happened this past year for the Vietnamese community.
“During my performance as I was singing, I looked around to look at the audience,” Huynh said. “I was able to spot a couple of people shedding tears from my singing, which I found out later. I think at that moment it really hit me that my singing could have that much of an effect on people and I think it’s those types of memories that really keep me going as a singer.”
Singing is a stress reliever for Huynh. Since singing and performing has been a part of Huynh’s life since she was a child, this talent has definitely shaped her into the person that she is today.
“A lot of people who sing and perform would say this, but singing really is my form of release,” Huynh said. “Whenever I’m stressed out or stuck in a bad position, I can always use singing as a way to relax and relieve my stresses. I honestly think that without singing, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. It’s made me stronger as a person even though I rely on it to make me feel better. It’s been a big factor in my life of helping me become independent.”