A military brat herself, Zenaida Zeller-Nguyen, "Zeny" to all of us, "Zit-naida" to her close friends (because, they say, she had a lot of zits while growing up!?
) was born in 1973 to a Filipina (Inopacan, Leyte) mother and a retired Chief Hospital Corpsman father (Long Prairie, Minnesota) who served 20 years in the Navy as FMF "doc". In the course of her childhood she attended 4 schools and lived in 7 houses. She spent several years stateside from Washington State to Oahu, Hawaii, to San Diego, California, to Pensacola, Florida, with four years in the Philippines and three tours in Okinawa, Japan during which she graduated from a Japanese-American high school, Kobayashi High. In 2001, Zeny graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor's degree in Business. She wanted to be an accountant, but the timing was off that year she graduated. In Florida, she says, she can only take a 2-part CPA exam every 2 years, and if she fails the 1st part, she has to retake the whole thing all over again. She is married, and used to live in Forest Lake, Florida with her husband, Leon Nguyen and their two sons, Sean Michael born on 22 Mar 2000 in Pensacola, FL. Matthew Dung (pronounced "YUNG") born on 2 Nov 2002 and a daughter, Alexa Lynn born on 26 Apr 1996. Upon graduation, she was burnt out with college and work, that she thought she needed a break. And military caught her fancy --- against the wishes of her dad, who warned her of the military's double standard(?!). Corpsman was the rating she got coming out of Boot Camp. Leon (27) is 3 years her junior. They met at a Mexican Restaurant called Senior Pedro, where they both worked. They knew each other for about 8 years, before they got married. They didnt think they ever went on a formal "date". She claimed they kinda just got together, and the rest was history. Very private people indeed. Zeny is the only child of very hardworking parents. She's not ashamed to say she's a military brat. Not that she had to stand in formation or she had to pass inspection Saturday morning, or make her bed like military man would. Actually, I'm revealing my own family here (hahaha) or perhaps, most military families do things in exactly that way, but her father allowed Zeny more latitude and freedom than other brats she says. In my opinion, the good discipline and lessons of life exist inside the culture of the military and it manifests in Zeny, to varying degrees. Active duty for seven years, she now shapes her own destiny. We conversed on the phone for an hour...
Q: Your most important/proudest accomplishments before or during the Navy enlistment.
Z: Receiving my NAM. I finally got one after 7 years.
Q: What is your philosophy of reference?
Z: Dont ask anything out of me, that you cannot give back.
Q: In the military, what are some aspects of your present position that you like? some aspects of your present position that you dislike?
Z: I like the people I work with. We are like family and stick together. We are very straightforward with each other, so we know where we stand at all times. We also respect each other. DISLIKE, my department gets pulled for everything. We are only a staff of three.
Q: What do you see yourself doing five or ten years from now? OR where do you see yourself going from here?
Z: Hopefully, getting my master's degree.
Q: You had education, what would you say you learned from your college/graduate school experiences that you see being carried over to your life today?
Z: Theres always a lot to learn. Always thirst for knowledge.
Q: What does success mean to you? How do you judge it?
Z: In order for someone to succeed, they have had to fail a lot. But if you learned from your mistakes and not make the mistakes again, then you have succeeded.
Q: What things give you the greatest satisfaction?
Z: Being a good mommy and wifey.
Q: Describe your most rewarding experience.
Z: Birth of my two sons and my daughter.
Q: Are you a person who likes to "try new things," or "stay with regular routines"?
Z: Im a little of both. I tend to stay with regular routines, but if I can approve my "regular routine", then I will try something new.
Q: What have you read lately, and what are you reading now?
Z: Still reading the Bible.
Q: What are your 3 (or more) favorite reference books?
Z: 1. Catcher on the Rye 2. Tale of two cities 3. Pride and Prejudice.
Q: If you can interview one "rich and famous" people, who would you want to it to be?
Z: Definitely TOM CRUISE.
Q: Whats your favorite expression, in either Tagalog or English?
Z: What goes around comes around. I am such a firm believer of that saying.
Q: Special talents you possess, singing? musical instruments playing? oratory, etc
Z: No, Im totally white in that department. I have no rhythm or talents.
Q: What was the most fun thing you did this year, Fil-Am or not?
Z: Playing Volleyball in our FAN team.
Q: What are the personal characteristics and qualities that you would bring to this Fil- Am organization that would be particularly helpful?
Z: My great sense of humor.
Q: As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Z: Ive always wanted to be a Naval Aviator. My dream was crushed, when they told me I couldnt be a pilot, because my eyesight was bad.
Q: What was your first job? What kinds of jobs have you had?
Z: My first job was baby sitting then I was a counselor for day camp, then I was a secretary, then I was an assistant manager at Senior Pedro, I also worked as food service worker at Crackers, I was also a waitress. Now Im in the Navy.
Q: How did you decide on your career?
Z: I havent really had time to work on my career. I just have a job. Navy.
Q: What were the hardest choices that you ever had to make? Do you feel like you made the right choices?
Z: Its really personal. Im still angry with myself for doing it, and no, it wasnt the right choice.
Q: Who was the person that had the most positive influence on your life? Why?
Z:
Thats so easy, I would have to say my PAPA. He is so supportive of me. He always knows what to say to me to make my situation or myself feel better. He never passes judgment on me, even though Ive disappointed him a couple of times and had our disagreements. He always keeps me up to date with everything. He is so easy to talk to. He always listens to me. He is always there for me.
Q: Is there a person that really changed the course of your life by something that he/she did? What did the person do?
Z: Yes, Leon. He married me.
Q: What U.S. or Philippine President have you admired the most and why?
Z: Lincoln, The Gettysburg address got to me.
Q: As you see it, what are the biggest problems that face the Philippines and how do you think they could be solved?
Z: Poverty. I think that the government needs to think about its people and treat them right. Clean the place. Have housing projects if need be and create jobs for them. Need to set a higher education standards. Make English a second language.
Q: If you could change something about yourself, what would it be?
Z: Everything. I need a lot of improvements.
Q: What was the most stressful experience that you ever lived through? What helped you get through it?
Z: College, I bailed and joined the Navy. I took me 3 years to get back on the College path again.
Q: What is the scariest thing that has ever happened to you personally?
Z: My father in-laws death. I was nowhere prepared for it at all. Id always thought that he would be around even though he was sick.
Q: What kinds of musical instrument(s) have you learned to play?
Z:
Clarinet. I played it in middle school and I havent played ever since.
Q: What are your hobbies? What do you like to do when you were not working?
Z: Shopping and volleyball. I love my times with my family. Catching up with their lives. It feels good.
Q: What is the most amazing thing that has ever happened to you?
Z:
Being a MOMMY !!!
Q: What is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you?
Z: My pants ripped. I guess they were tight.
Q: What are the most beautiful place you have ever visited and what was it like?
Z: Naples, aside from the trash and driving and people, the place is very beautiful. So, full of history and artifacts and rich architecture.
Q: Is there anything you have always wanted to do, but haven't?
Z: Travel first class.
Q: Who is your favorite musical group? song? singer?
Z: N sync and anything of Britney Spears.
Q: What is your favorite TV program?
Z: CSI, FRAZIER, FRIENDS, SEX IN THE CITY, WILL AND GRACE.
Q: Who is your favorite author? What is your favorite book?
Z: Charles Dickens. I love the "tale of the two cities.
Q: What is your favorite sport? Who is your favorite athlete?
Z: Volleyball, Gabrielle Reese.
Q: What is your favorite meal? What is your favorite drink?
Z: Anything Japanese and anything tequila.
Zeny's favorite color is RED. She sees red nowadays and can't wait to get out of the Navy. She believes her PAPA was right about the double standard re: women in the military, enlisted vs officers etc... She's a very opinionated young lady who's got high aspirations for her family. Leon and she prioritized to go to this side of the world and see other European countries, instead of staying stateside and do the daily grind working 9 to 5. They want more out of life, they're young and free. What I was finding was that, learning from their own mistakes, they are shaping their three children in ways so powerful and deeply penetrating that are no different than the way she was brought up by her PAPA. Even as they work in civilian careers (Leon has a degree from University of West Florida, BS Information Systems), raise their civilian children, the values they carry through life would tend to be significantly similar to those of the civilians around us, with added improvements from lessons learned in the Navy stint of 8 years. I concur. Zeny's military experience is full of strong positives as well as strong negatives. She's not making the mistake of overlooking those strong positives, though. In fact, a military childhood experience plus her active duty has bestowed her some of the very strengths she needs to overcome the negatives. More power to both of you Zeny and Leon!!!
