From Thai Nguyen to Hanoi: RMIT scholarship winner conquers her dream

Growing up in a region where education often takes a backseat to economic necessity, Ngan's path to academic excellence was far from guaranteed.

"RMIT was once a place that I thought I would only see on TV," Ngan reflected.

"I thought there would be no opportunity for someone from a mountainous region like me, whose family was not well-off enough, to study here."

Having seen many children in mountainous areas having to drop out of school to work and support their families, and not having the opportunities to pursue knowledge or see the world, Ngan was determined to one day find a way to break this cycle.

At 15 years old, she left her hometown to attend FPT High School in Hanoi on a scholarship. There, she not only excelled academically but also discovered her passion for community service and leadership.

As President of the FSchool English Club, Ngan helped revitalise the organisation, raising its membership from 30 to 85, and contributing to its winning the school’s "Best Club" prize. She headed the organising team of three annual English fairs, attracting 6,000 participants and fostering a vibrant community around the English language.

But it was her experiences back home that truly shaped Ngan's vision for the future. She co-founded the "English for a Better Future" project, providing free English classes to students in Meo Vac District in Ha Giang Province.

“I hoped that these English classes would serve as a gateway for students to learn new things and gain exposure to a global mindset, as I once had done,” Ngan explained.

This initiative had a remarkable impact, engaging over 400 children across five communes, delivering more than 330 lessons. It gained recognition from national media outlets like VTV and Tien Phong, and received Certificates of Merit from the Meo Vac Department of Education and Training.

Ngan's commitment to community development did not stop there. She wanted to help families “reach dreams alongside their children” and solve the root cause of children’s early school dropout rate, which is their families’ financial difficulties.

Recognising the need for sustainable economic opportunities in her community, Ngan co-founded Envietra with her schoolmates. Envietra is a social business project that empowers the community through sustainable tourism by connecting homestays and local people to provide high-quality services.

The project has engaged over 2,000 households, partnered with more than 20 homestays, and provided employment for a number of households in mountainous provinces. This innovative approach to community development also earned Ngan and her team the Second Prize in the National Innovation Challenge 2023 organised by JA Vietnam and supported by HSBC.

Throughout her high school years, Ngan's passion for global engagement led her to participate in several international exchange programs with peers from Japan, Singapore, and New Zealand.

Now, as she prepares to begin her journey at RMIT on a full-tuition scholarship, Ngan plans to major in Global Business with minors in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, and Business and Technology.

"I hope that the specialised knowledge I accumulate will help me realise my plan to develop an application for Envietra and call for more partners to join the chain," she said.

Ngan's story is more than just a personal triumph – it is an inspiration to young people who dare to dream big.

“After three years of living independently in Hanoi, I have achieved things beyond my imagination. I have found a passion that I have always had somewhere inside me. I hope that young people with great aspirations, regardless of their circumstances, can all reach their dreams,” Ngan said.

For those aspiring to follow in her footsteps, Ngan’s advice is simple yet powerful: "Trust the process. Don’t feel rattled by the fact that the RMIT scholarships are competitive.”

“Remind yourself that this is your own goal, not someone else's. So just do what's beneficial for your path and strive for excellence, then your dream will come true,” she said.

Story: Ngoc Hoang

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