Dear Girls

Ali Wong’s life story shows us that professional and personal ups and downs are crucial for self-development.

We all have an image of what our perfect life would look like. Whether it’s securing our dream job, living out a romance fit for the movies, or having a family, we all aspire to something. But while these ambitions can be motivating, they can also give us false expectations. 

Life is not necessarily a linear path but a journey full of twists, turns, happiness, and heartbreak – not to mention embarrassing moments where you wish the ground would swallow you whole. Ali Wong’s story is a case in point. 

Growing up in San Francisco, Ali was a force to be reckoned with. From purchasing her first marijuana pipe at 14 to shoplifting makeup and crashing her mom’s car, Ali was a typical rebellious teenager. 

But despite her wild streak, Ali knew how to focus on a goal and make sure she achieved it. This took her to college at UCLA. After she graduated, her drive then spurred her to move across the country to New York City.

Ali moved to New York in 2008, determined to pursue her dream of becoming a stand-up comedian. Her comedy career started at the Brainwash Cafe, a combination laundromat and bar. There, she put in the nightly work of honing her craft in front of an audience. Her determination and strength of character helped her not just survive but flourish as an Asian-American woman in a profession dominated by white men. 

Between those humble beginnings and the present day, Ali studied abroad, met the love of her life, and had two daughters. But despite her achievements, her life isn’t necessarily perfect. She and her husband regularly attend couple’s therapy sessions – as she points out, they cost less than a divorce! – and she still grapples with being both a working mom and a role model to her children. 

Life is rarely straightforward. For every big breakthrough, there are a hundred obstacles and challenges to overcome and moments of tragedy that will set you back. But, as Ali found, these only make you stronger. Accepting life’s inevitable ups and downs allowed her to learn more about herself and find strategies to deal with her problems. 

Now she wants to share those lessons with her daughters. In the following blinks, we'll explore some of the insights that she hopes to pass on.