Editor's note: This is the first in a periodic series spotlighting those in formation for religious life in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

I was born in Vietnam in 1973, one of ten in my family. During the Fall of Saigon in 1975 my family lost all their property and my father was sent to the "re-education" camp for five days.

Thinking of their children's future, my parents decided to flee the communist regime. We escaped on a fishing boat, with a maximum capacity of 60 people. By the time we left there were 131 people crammed next to each other. We were at sea for four days until, finally, an American oil dwelling ship picked us up. We were dropped off in Thailand and finally arrived in the United States in May of 1981.

After a few months in San Francisco, we moved to the City of Orange. My parents' way of earning a living was by sewing clothes and the children all helped out. During the day we attended school, and after school we either helped with the house chores or with the sewing works.

Obtaining a good education was very important to my parents, so my siblings and I worked really hard to be good students. After high school, I attended UC San Diego, graduated with a degree in Bioengineering and found a job as a cancer researcher for a pharmaceutical company in San Diego.

Meanwhile, I became more aware of an inner "tugging" --- God's invitation calling me to religious life.

In 1995 I made my first Spiritual Exercise Retreat and continued to make one every year for the next seven years. Under the guidance of my spiritual director, I made my Election in 2002 and experienced with clarity and with repeated confirmations that God was calling me to a consecrated life.

After my decision to enter religious life, I began my search for the right congregation and read about the life of St. Jeanne de Lestonnac, foundress of the Sisters of the Company of Mary Our Lady. What inspired me the most was St. Jeanne's spirit of discernment to seek God's will, her life of deep prayer, and her desire to educate "the person" to grow in all facets of life, but especially in the faith.

The more I search the more I find that the Company of Mary is where God calls me to serve: from its Ignatian Spirituality to the life of Saint Jeanne de Lestonnac, to the multicultural heritage of the Sisters, especially its mission and the Sisters simplicity of daily living.

On April 7, 2005, I became a postulant of the Company of Mary. Life in the convent has been filled with times of personal and communal prayers, along with my ministry as a math teacher at a local high school, daily community life, as well as personal time for spiritual reading and relaxation. I firmly believe that God has led me thus far and will continue to guide me under the protection of Mary.

For information about religious life, contact the Office of Vocations, (213) 637-637-7248 or visit www.archdiocese.la/ministry/vocations/.