Born and raised in Seattle, AZ spent his childhood dreaming big. He wanted to play baseball, learn the cello, and like many kids, spend hours playing video games.
But home wasn’t always a stable place. His parents weren’t able to take care of him. “Unfortunately, my mom was addicted to drugs and became absent because of it,” AZ said.
“It was me, my dad, and my grandma, bouncing around from house to house, sometimes living in just one room because my dad was trying to live like that American dream that he romanticized when he came here from the Philippines,” AZ said. “Due to so much poverty and discrimination, especially as an immigrant Asian coming into Seattle, mental health was not very important, or it wasn’t really focused on or valued in the household.”
... When he got to the University of Washington, he found a community that became like family. Joining the UW dance team gave him a sense of belonging and confidence. “Dance was a way for me to kind of express myself, express my emotions and really connect with people,” said AZ. “That was like a great outlet for me to keep going to college.”
In 2023, AZ graduated with a degree in geography and data science. It was a milestone that once felt out of reach. He is grateful to SHA for helping him find stability and opportunity along the way.
“Seattle Housing Authority was so on top of it, always answering my emails, always willing to meet with me and always willing to work and provide me with like the best resources,” he said.
Find the full article at Seattle Housing Authority Stories.