Alex M. See - An American Success Story

"I'm an American success story!" 

     ...says Alex M. See, Candidate for the Torrance City Council,  sporting his trademark smile.  But his words are neither boastful nor prideful.  They are an expression of his gratitude - to the country that accepted him and to the community that welcomed him.

"I'm not rich, but I'm doing well."  Indeed he is, as an engineer and a restaurateur.

The family story that Alex can tell (fluently in six languages) is a familiar one.  Circa 1900, his ancestors fled the violent civil conflict in China and settled in Malaysia where they were not welcomed but tolerated.

"I'm a fifth generation Malay, but (Malaysia) has quotas for education.  Only the top twenty per cent of Chinese students are allowed to go to college."  Alex was not 'chosen'.  "So, I had two choices: I could study in Australia or in England.  I told my father I wanted to go to America."

Alex was accepted into Northrop University here in the South Bay (yes, that Northrop) where he studied computer science.  He did well enough that the school offered him a full scholarship which he turned into a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science and then a Masters Degree in Engineering.

"Now I'm a rocket scientist!" he says mischievously - knowing full well the cultural impact of that phrase.  It happened like this:

One day his college professor - also a rocket scientist - said to him, "Alex, you're good with numbers.  See what you can make of this."  Then the professor dropped on his desk a sixteen inch thick binder filled with numbers and equations.  "It took me three months to analyze that data," Alex said.  But he impressed his professor so much that his professor began the process of getting Alex a 'Green Card' so that he could work in the United States.  The professor also got Alex a job as an AeroSpace engineer working on Top Secret Government projects.  ("I had to get a high government security clearance for that.")   Then Alex applied for citizenship and earned it after completing the Federally required five years.

"I called (his later-to-be wife) in Malaysia.  She was my high school sweetheart.  I begged her to come (to the United States).  I told her we could have a good life here."  That was thirty years and three children ago.  "All my children have gone to Torrance schools."  His oldest daughter is currently attending Nursing School at UC Irvine; his second daughter is studying Communications at UC Santa Barbara; his son is a sophomore at South High school.

"I love this country.  It doesn't matter who you are.  It provides opportunity.  I built a career, a house and a family" in Torrance.  "This country has treated me well."

And in gratitude, Alex felt "I should give something back.  I should get involved."

And 'give back' he has.

Alex gave six years serving on the Board of Directors of the YMCA ("We were rated 'one of the best' in the USA for contributions; we raised over $650,000 and had 100% participation from Board members.")  He gave nine years as an AYSO soccer coach.  ("In Malaysia, we played soccer bare foot."  He must have been pretty good: his teams won many matches.)  Alex has been a PTA member for nineteen years.  He served on the Board of Directors for the Torrance Symphony.  ("We had cultural exchange with the Taiwanese [Symphony] and twice we [performed] new works [from Taiwan].  It's hard to ask for money for a political campaign, but I had no problem asking local businesses for ten thousand dollars for the Torrance Symphony!")

Alex worked to promote bond issues for needed repairs to Torrance schools and then he served on the Oversite Committee.  ("We inspected every school!" to see that the Bond Funds were spent honestly and effectively.)  Currently serving as a 'Site Counsel', he works with the principal to oversee the use of the Grant Money at South High School.

AND he serves as a Torrance Water Commissioner.  (Much of) "Torrance infrastructure is 100 years old.  Storm drains are 50 years old.  The water main needs replacing.  The City Council and the School District need to help each other out."

The issues that Alex wants the Torrance City Council to address: "We want to maintain our safe community and our excellent schools.  We want to attract more business and make the city more beautiful (in order) to attract those businesses and bring more income to the city and the state.  We need to upgrade our infrastructure - all this in order to maintain our quality of life."

Asked "What do you want Torrance Voters to know about you?", Alex smiles self-deprecatingly.  One can easily see that it's not in his nature to boast about himself.  "I'm a nice guy!" he laughs.  "I'm sincere, honest.  I love to work with people.  I'm dedicated to Torrance and it's not my nature to be pushy!"

And what about that restaurant?

"Me and a friend were talking one day about where to eat lunch.  And we realized that there was no place that served the Japanese cuisine that we liked.  So we decided to open a restaurant."  (He and his friend own the King Shabu Shabu restaurant on PCH near Madison.)  "We're going to open two more restaurants soon."  He shakes his head and says, "Only in America can a Chinese immigrant from Malaysia open a Japanese restaurant in a California city.  I love this country."

When it was time to leave, Alex offered his hand in gratitude and said, "Thanks for coming."

Yes.  And you, too, Alex.

Thanks for coming.