Never Lose Who You Are

Name: Tammy
Pronouns: she/her
Title: Lead Operations Strategy Analyst
Location: Lake Park, Utah

My personal brand

I’m a hard worker and love to help others. I’m resourceful and will use all means to make sure a task is completed successfully. I’m a firm believer in reflecting on recent challenges to improve.

Purpose and passion

Besides a good cup of coffee, I’m motivated by my children. Every morning I wake up excited to support my kids and ensure they lead a healthy, fulfilling life. They’re the reason I push myself so hard to be successful in my career. This fall, I’m starting school to work towards my bachelor's degree. I want them to know it is never too late to start working towards your dreams—and I’ll support them as they chase theirs.

Impactful moments in life

The day I became a mother at 18 years old, my life changed. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do or how I’d navigate life with someone else depending on me. I thought my life was over—trying to finish high school and needing to find a job to take care of my daughter. I sacrificed all I could to ensure she was taken care of. I wanted her to know I was strong and independent, and when I look back on where I was and how far I’ve come, it makes me so happy to know my three beautiful kids depend on me, and I’ll never let them down.

As an Asian woman married to a Black man, I recognize the challenges we face as an interracial couple. A few years back, my husband and I took a trip down to Florida. We stopped by a mom-and-pop restaurant for lunch, sat down, and waited for the server to come by for our order. We noticed several groups being seated, waited on, and served after us. No one came to check on us or take our order. As we sat there waiting, I couldn’t help but notice I was the minority. At that moment, it set in—I was the reason they refused to take our order. After 30 minutes of waiting, we got up and walked out of the restaurant. The owner rushed out asking “How come you’re leaving? You didn’t eat yet.” We explained the situation, the emotions we were feeling, and how awful it was for us to be treated unfairly. The owner apologized and invited us back in, then did everything she could to ensure our experience was better. I will always stand up for what is right.