About Guy:

Growing up, I never thought I’d ever have to move away from the place I considered home. I was afraid to leave the place and people I was comfortable with. Over time, the idea of isolation transformed into exploration. I find myself eager to try new things, experience new cultures, and meet new people. I purposely put myself into situations that others may consider uncomfortable, where I am forced to learn something new if I wanted to succeed.

I was born in Thailand in a very touristy city, perhaps one of the top destinations in the country. Many consider the city a heavy red-light district, and although the fact holds true, the city (and entire country, in this case) relies heavily on the hospitality industry. I remember as a young boy, walking into what seemed like a palace of a hotel lobby, admiring everything from the solid granite floors to lavish decorations throughout the hotel. I remember seeing men in well-tailored suits, and how I wanted to grow up to be like them.

As I grew older, the idea became simply a childhood dream and completely vanished at one point in time. It wasn’t until the end of my high school years where I revisited that thought. I couldn’t figure out what I wanted to do with my life or who I wanted to be, then a trip back to Thailand changed it all. The trip was no different than any previous trips I’ve taken, except the fact that high school was coming to an end and college applications was nearing. For whatever reason, that childhood dream that I’ve practically forgotten about returned and I’ve essentially made it one of my life goals to achieve it.

Unlike many high school graduates, I was fortunate enough to know exactly what I wanted to study in college. I knew that hospitality was the major I wanted to pursue, as I was very interested in the subject. I only applied to universities that had strong hospitality programs such as UNLV, Cal State Pomona, and SDSU (my top choice). However, I was denied acceptance to all of them because my high school grades weren’t good enough. I ended up going to community colleges for my general education and was finally accepted into SDSU three years later. As my last semester in school with five and a half years to get my bachelors degree in hospitality and tourism management, I couldn’t be more proud of myself for sticking with my goal and not regretting a single decision I’ve made to achieve it.

In my own opinion, integrity is a quality every leader should work and live by in both professional and personal life. Making good moral decisions whether it is recognized or not should be a consistent habit of a leader. Also, being selfless and allowing your team to thrive even if you have to step back is something a leader should embrace. I hope to not only lead but also inspire others to lead. I enjoy team building and creating bonds with others. I also would never ask others to do anything I wouldn’t; so leading by example is a principle that I always keep in mind.