John Ngo

Student

“People complain about small things, like traffic. But as a volunteer, you see that to people in a wheelchair, going shopping is a major obstacle.”

Whether he’s working as a paralegal at a West L.A. law firm, volunteering with AIDS Project L.A. or taking photography classes at Santa Monica College, John Ngo approaches life with a sense of fulfillment and direction.

A graduate in international relations from Claremont College, John decided to gain practical experience before beginning his law school studies in 1991. “Law is such a broad area,” John says. “To know what field you want to go into, you have to have some experience with it.”

Right now, he’s headed for a career in civil rights advocacy. His volunteer work at the Asian Pacific Legal Center made him realize that he prefers law on a personal level. “For example, you see that a woman is battered by her husband. So you think what I can do to help?” says John. “Such experiences demystify law and bring it down to a personal level.”

John also volunteers time with AIDS Project L.A. where he is “in the Buddy Program. That means, I’m a friend to a person with AIDS,” he explains. “There is a lot of pressure and anxiety and the person needs someone to talk to who knows about AIDS,” he says. “It’s so rewarding to help.”

Even with all of his work, John still finds time to pursue his hobby of photography. And, somewhere in the back of his mind, there is even the “passing fantasy” of maybe being—one day—a pro photographer. “But realistically…no.”

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