Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month – Michael Hsia

I was born in Hong Kong and lived there until I was 13 years old. Back in the early 80s, it was very common for parents to send their children out of China as a response to Communism and the fear that Hong Kong could be overthrown and lose its independence.

So, at 13, my parents sent me to England to go to an all-boys boarding school. My parents found a family friend in England that would be my legal guardian and helped me out. But they lived 3 hours away from the school and could only come to see me once a month to visit. This experience helped me become independent, and at that time, it was something new and exciting, so I don’t recall being scared. But I was the only Asian at the school of all English boys. So, I just tried to work very hard. I was the first Asian to become a ‘head boy’ (like in Harry Potter) – which is granted to an older student who exemplifies good behavior, grades, attendance and, serves as a role model for the other students, and leads several school activities.

After I graduated from high school, I applied and went to the University of Toledo. My parents wanted me to go to the U.S. because of the science and technology opportunities. And there, I obtained my bachelor’s degree in Information Systems and Operation Management.

I’ve been married to my wife for 25 years and have two beautiful children. We enjoy camping and traveling; my kids have visited Hong Kong before. I am glad they can see other cultures in other parts of the world. My wife and I both enjoy dining out and cooking at home also. We love to try different types of food from all over the world. Our favorite food is Asian cuisine; unfortunately, there are not many Chinese restaurants in town with authentic Chinese food. My favorite food is Chinese Hot Pot, a simmering pot of soup. It’s a social meal to have with a small group of family or friends. Here is a link that explains what Hot Pot is and how to cook it: https://thewoksoflife.com/chinese-hot-pot-at-home/.

I’ve been at Velocity for five years. I enjoy working here because of the company culture –  the people are very friendly and welcomed me with open arms. Velocity has grown a great deal since I started. I’m glad I can be part of the team in a great company, and I look forward to the bright future Velocity will bring.