30 Years of Impact Generational Change Support Inspiration
CHRISTINE NGUYEN
TTIP | Class of 2001
Public Health Leader
Community Advocate
Discovering What’s Possible
[Technical Teens Internship Program (TTIP)] was where I realized for the first time, after I had my first internship, that I can do this. I can be here. I can work in these kinds of spaces.
When Christine Nguyen participated in TAF’s Technical Teens Internship Program (TTIP), she grew up in public housing and had limited exposure to the opportunities that existed beyond her immediate community. Like many TAF students, she had talent and determination, but few examples of what was possible.
TAF changed that.
Through internships, technical training, and exposure to professional environments, Christine began to imagine a future she had never considered before.
For Christine, TAF was more than a technology program. It was an introduction to possibility.
Building a Foundation for a New Life
TAF gave me patience. TAF gave me discipline.
One of Christine’s strongest memories from TAF is learning how computers worked from the inside out.
Students took computers apart, studied manuals, troubleshot problems, and rebuilt the machines themselves. The process required patience, discipline, and persistence. If something did not work, there were no shortcuts. You had to slow down, learn the system, and solve the problem.
Those lessons followed her throughout her career.
She also credits TAF with teaching her accountability and structure, which became valuable skills all throughout her tech career.
Following an Unexpected Path
Different phases in your life may not go the way you envision, but they lead you to a path you never knew was possible.
When Christine graduated from high school in 2001, she believed computer science would be her future. However, college introduced her to a whole new world of interests. First came business classes, followed by health courses. Eventually, she discovered a passion for public health, completely shifting her career path.
After receiving her bachelor’s, she worked as a health educator for the Snohomish Health District, managing youth programs and supporting community health initiatives. When budget cuts resulted in layoffs across her department Christine faced one of the first major pivots of her career.
Rather than seeing the setback as an ending, she chose to view it as an opportunity.
She moved to Vietnam with her husband, spending several years at a local nonprofit focused on HIV/AIDS education and reducing stigma for children and families affected by the disease.
The experience transformed her perspective.
A Career in Service
After several years in Vietnam, Christine returned to the United States where she earned her master’s degree in Health Services Research, launching her career in federal research and public service. Over the years, she has worked with the Department of Defense, Head Start programs, and now the Department of Veterans Affairs, helping improve systems and services that impact communities across the country.
Throughout that journey, she has relied on the same analytical thinking, discipline, and resilience that TAF helped cultivate decades earlier.
Giving Back
[Trish] had compassion, not pity. She knew we could do more if we were given the resources.
Today, Christine channels much of her energy into community service. She draws inspiration from TAF Co-Founder, Trish Millines Dziko, whose belief in students' potential helped create opportunities for Christine and generations of young people.
Christine sits on the board of directors for a homeless shelter in her area and is actively involved in efforts to establish a youth shelter for youth experiencing housing instability. Her goal is to help provide the same kind of opportunity and support that shaped her own life.
Generational Change in Action
There is no one straight way to get there. But as long as you can see the goal in your head, you will get there.
Christine's story demonstrates the lasting impact of exposure, opportunity, and belief.
What began as a student discovering technology through TTIP became a lifelong journey of service, leadership, and community impact.
As her own children prepare for college, she is focused on passing along the lessons that guided her career: stay resilient, embrace opportunity, and don't give up when life takes an unexpected turn.
Today, Christine hopes to continue supporting young people by giving them access to needed resources, strengthening her community, and helping create pathways for future generations.
