Born in Houston, Texas, in 1992, Terrence Tran has lived his entire life in the city. He attended schools within Houston ISD and Cypress-Fairbanks ISD before pursuing higher education at Lone Star Community College and the University of Houston, followed by a brief stint in law school. His childhood memories include being one of the few Asian-American students in his community, navigating cultural identity, and developing a passion for speech and debate. Terrence's parents separated when he was young, with his mother running a laundromat and later becoming a teacher. His early aspirations evolved from entertainment dreams to a focus on education and creative storytelling. Today, Terrence lives in Houston, where he continues his career as an ELA teacher and a content creator, working alongside his partner on their YouTube channel, Quality Culture.
In this interview, Terrence discusses his upbringing in Houston as a Vietnamese American, his educational journey, and the challenges and rewards of balancing his teaching career with his creative work on YouTube. He reflects on the evolving representation of Asian Americans in media, the importance of critical thinking in education, and his hopes for fostering nuanced conversations through his work. The interview also delves into his reflections on cultural identity, teaching philosophies, and his aspirations for both his students and his content creation audience.
Interviewee: Terrence Tran
Interviewer: Grace Park
Interview Date: March 9, 2024
Transcribed by: Grace Park
Reviewed by: Parwana Karimi, Karina Pan
Track Time: 59:45
The interview was conducted virtually via Zoom.
This recording and transcript form part of a collection of oral history interviews conducted by the Chao Center for Asian Studies at Rice University.
Visit us at haaa.rice.edu.