How We Got A Kluu

Twenty years ago, I stood at a crossroads. On paper, my path was clear: graduate college and go to medical school. Yes like a typical Asian. There wasn’t an alternative. As a first-generation Asian American with “great potential,” medicine was the golden ticket—a testament to my family’s sacrifices. But beneath the surface, my heart was restless. The only true joy I found came from teaching Sunday school and tutoring children. Parents often told me I had a gift with kids, and deep down, I knew they were right. But that wasn’t part of the plan.

As graduation approached and my medical school applications sat half-finished, I did the unthinkable—I changed course. Instead of pursuing medicine, I applied for a teaching credential. It wasn’t an act of defiance or failure; it was an act of surrender. I prayed, telling God, “I surrender my life to you. Lead me where I’m meant to go.” I had no idea what lay ahead, only that faith would light the way.

My father was heartbroken, unable to understand why I would walk away from the path that had been so carefully planned. But I made him a promise: “Trust me.One day, I’ll show you the vision I see. And no matter what, I will always take care of our family.” In our culture, family isn’t just important—it’s everything.

What followed were twenty years of extreme highs and unfathomable lows. I was put through the wringer in every imaginable way- financial struggle, heart break, betrayals, loss. Life didn’t just test me; it tried to break me- like I was born to be broken

But to my faith I whispered, “This is hard. I’m so tired. Please help.” And without fail, grace would follow. Quiet, unspoken, but undeniable. It wasn’t the absence of hardship but the strength to endure it.

Through these life trials, I kept hearing gentle nudges Remember this. Write it down. Observe this. These moments became my reminders to stay kind when bitterness beckoned and be patient with the way, the truth and the life. The storms didn’t stop, but somehow, they never destroyed me. Then, one day, I realized the struggles were preparing me for something.

From Faith to Purpose

Everything clicked on my 40th birthday. At my “celebration of life” party, hundreds of people from all around the world—friends, former students, even strangers—came to celebrate and share how my presence had impacted them.They spoke of moments—conversations, gestures, lessons that, to me, had been passing kindnesses but, to them, were life-changing.As I listened, it hit me like a wave- I hadn’t just been living my life; I had unknowingly become the answer to prayers I’d never heard. Every detour, heartbreak, and challenge had shaped me into someone God could send when another whispered, “Please, help me.”

The name Get a Kluu was born from one of my earliest memories of shame. In third grade, I asked a question—something rare for me—and my teacher, frustrated by the class’ behavior that day, snapped, “Get a clue and figure it out!” I froze. Embarrassed and hurt, I never asked another question in my academic career again. That moment etched itself into my heart, not as anger, but as a reminder of how words can crush curiosity and confidence.

Years later, I chose to reclaim that phrase, transforming it from a negative into a positive. I vowed to be different—to strive to approach every question with empathy, patience, and understanding. Get a Kluu became my way of ensuring no one else would feel the sting of dismissal I once did. It’s about helping people to ask, learn, and grow without fear.

The creation of Get a Kluu is not just a brand, but a legacy. It began as an educational service for years and grew into a safe space for learning, failing, and trying again. Rooted in the idea that everyone deserves a chance. Sometimes, all it takes to change a life is someone showing up and saying, “I see you. I believe in you. Let’s figure this out together.” 

Get a Kluu is more than just about personal and academic growth. The heart of this company lies in equipping youth with the skills and mindset to navigate life with confidence. Believing that every person deserves access to resources that empower them to dream beyond their circumstances. That’s why Get a Kluu is now evolved into a brand that can take this ideology, magnify it and pay it forward.