'Freedom' is not just another word for new citizen
By Bill Flynn For the Daily Messenger
This Brockport man has found a unique way to celebrate citizenship and a new lease on life.
As the nation on Tuesday marks 241 years of independence, citizens throughout will be celebrating freedom in the form of fireworks, parades and cookouts. One local man, however, will have them all beat in the extent and duration of his celebration.
Quang Le, now residing in Brockport, was born in Vietnam in 1966 to a Vietnamese mother and American father, a soldier who abandoned the family soon after. The next 24 years, Le endured a number of hardships, from ending his education after just two years at elementary school to long stints of unemployment to working long hours on the family's rice farm.
In July 1990, he and his mother and three brothers immigrated to the United States, having been sponsored by the Catholic Family Center in Rochester. Following their arrival in upstate New York, Le received financial government assistance, food stamps and learned English. He also spent three years washing dishes and another few years doing factory work.
Soon after, life turned around for Le, as he married Sara Kent in 1999 and took her maiden name — "I thought to myself, I'm an American; I should have an American name," he says. A year later, they welcomed a son, Brandon Lee. And in 2000, he began a long-term career at Röchling Advent, an injection molding company in Rochester.
When he became an American citizen two years ago, the man then known as Quang Kent had much to be thankful for, so he chose a unique fashion in which to recognize his ardent journey and honor his new nationality — by changing his first name to Freedom.
"Only one name means United States, and that name is Freedom," Kent says. "People find out my name and say, 'Awesome!'"
Much of the credit for Kent's turnaround lies with the Catholic Family Center. It is one of 27 statewide Office for New Americans Welcoming Centers. A state grant helps CFC clients to become U.S. citizens, learn English and find employment, such as with Röchling Advent.
Rising through the ranks at Röchling Advent, Kent has worked as an operator/inspector, floor person, materials handler and process technician. Today, he's an A-shift lead process technician and performs supervisory duties.
Röchling Advent Manufacturing Manager Michael Peck says Kent shows a sense of urgency and always meets or exceeds expectations.
"When he has a task to complete, I can count on him to get it done," Peck says. "And he's helping develop the plan and motivate the team."
Kent credits his success in employment — and his life's journey — to persistence and perseverance, urging the same for his fellow citizens, saying, "Work hard and put it into your mind to do it."
And as we celebrate the Fourth of July on Tuesday, Kent also hopes that his story can bring some perspective to his newfound countrymen.
"People don't see how good they have it here," he says. "Maybe when people hear my name, they'll think about their own freedom and be happy."
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