Halla Emmons, Special to The Denisonian—

A Community Advisor, or CA, is responsible for residents of a certain building, or floor of a building. Stacking the responsibilities of working as a CA on top of another job could definitely become overwhelming. 

But how about adding four additional jobs and a self-made business in your home country that you manage overseas? That is the work life of Anthony Le ‘27, one of two CAs for the second floor of Shorney, a first-year residence hall.

He also works as a First Year Fellow, a docent for the admissions office, as well as a teacher’s assistant and office assistant for economics. Le is also an entrepreneur and founder of “American Excellence,” which is a tutoring company he began at the end of his high school career in his home country of Vietnam. 

The company assists students in “test prep” for an exam called the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

He began tutoring when he received the score of an 8.5 out of 9 on the IELTS, which, according to Le, was “an unprecedented score,”  in his province of Quang Tri.

“I was the first, and until now, the only one who ever got that score,” Le said.

He received many requests for tutoring. When he decided the demand was more than he could handle on his own, he began crafting his team of eight tutors which he coaches himself, even while in the U.S.

Le has also written plays, directed shows, acted, and danced. Last year he performed in a student POC production and it was the first time he got to choreograph his own dance.

“That was one of the highlights of last year,” Le said.

When asked why he chose Denison, he said, “the possibilities are endless.”

He remembered reading about a triple major Denison senior while looking into the school. Le was astounded by the fact that “having three majors is a possibility here.” Le himself is pursuing a double major in Applied Math and Financial Economics with a minor in Computer Science and is on the pre-engineering track. Considering everything he does, Le states that his schedule does not stress him. 

“The thing is, I am very selective in terms of what job do I want to do,” Le said. 

Whenever he chooses a job, he wants it to be emotionally rewarding or allow him to build more identity capital and grow his skills. Therefore, he would not view his many jobs as stressful.                                          

“I really enjoy doing this or, I know I am building the skills like, I’m learning new things on the way,” is the mindset Le has that allows him to enjoy each job he has.

Le wants to serve others, which is seen through his attitude about his work. 

“I am here to be a resource,” Le said, for his residence and other students to “take advantage of.” He wants everyone, “to be able to build connections.”

Isabel Abbott ‘28 views him as a reliable resource as her CA. Earlier this year, she aspired to go to DU Lead, but due to certain dietary restrictions she had, she was unable to attend. Abbott expressed her concerns about missing the opportunity to Le, who happened to be a leader on the trip.

“He said that it didn’t really make that much of a difference, that I still had leadership qualities regardless of whether or not I go,” Abbott said.

Le has helped her in a variety of different situations.

“He is literally my savior!,” Abbott said when recalling the time he helped her fix the sweltering heat in her dorm at the beginning of the semester.

Daniel Marcus ‘28 first met Le when he was the docent for his campus tour last year.

“I reconnected with him when I got to campus this year.” Marcus said. Le has served as a mentor to Marcus.

“You guys are here to thrive, not to dive,” Le said and he seems to follow this closely.

Both Abbott and Marcus believe Le is a great fit as a CA. 

“He makes good judgments and is also an incredibly safe person to speak to,” said Marcus, “[h]e has totally inspired me to become one myself,” referring to becoming a CA.

Le has so much time to keep growing and discovering himself which, like his jobs, he has a positive attitude about.

“Though I don’t know what is ahead or what is in store for me,” Le says, “I open myself to the universe and trust the unfolding of my life.”