Go big to go home: From exchange student to scholarship winner

Venturing abroad to Melbourne with a heart full of dreams and a head full of ambitions, Minh Thu, an aspiring Digital Marketing student, returns home to win the RMIT Academic Achievement Scholarship.

From the bustling streets of Danang, Ho Minh Thu hatching great dreams of exploring the world one day spread her wings and first landed in Ho Chi Minh city to pursue higher education at RMIT Saigon South, and eventually RMIT in Melbourne - one of Australia’s most vibrant cities.

“I love traveling and exploring the world. I believe I have so much to see and so many things to learn and if I never go, I’ll never know. My heart belongs with my family and my hometown, but that’s all the more reason why I have to go. By challenging myself to get out of my comfort zone, I want to become a better Minh Thu who can contribute much more to the development of both Vietnam and Danang.”

Indeed, like a true heroine who never shies from adventures and self-development, Thu always returns with growth and experience after each journey. This time, all the way from Melbourne, she comes home with an RMIT scholarship. This is a testament to Thu’s resilience, hard work, and talent.

Minh Thu at RMIT library in Melbourne (Photo: Nguyen Phu Thinh)

Ever since studying at RMIT Saigon South campus, Thu has demonstrated an excellent work ethic and a burning passion for growth. Not only did she maintain full attendance in every class, but Thu also spent hours outside of class studying and doing further research. Most of the time, she could be spotted in the library, reading marketing books or tuning into online marketing courses.

Yet, Thu is not only a typical booksmart straight-A student. Her thirst for knowledge and hunger for growth earned her the second place in the Marketing Challengers Competition 2024, and the chance to attend two pitching sessions with real enterprise clients in Ho Chi Minh city. Despite her packed schedule, she also participated in multiple extra-curricular activities, from volunteering at the RMIT Careers Festival to supporting students with special needs at The Equitable Learning and Accessibility team.

Minh Thu (standing on the left) and her teammates in the finale of Marketing Challengers competition 2024 (Photo: RMIT)

This ‘go big or go home’ spirit for exploration has now carried Thu all the way to the land of kangaroos on RMIT’s cross-campus program.

“Melbourne is so different from Ho Chi Minh city,” Thu shared, “I’ve had the chance to get exposed to diverse cultures and ways of thinking, living, learning, and working. I believe that I’ve learned a lot during my time studying here.”

Being an independent girl, Thu finds herself having to shoulder greater financial responsibility while adjusting herself to the new environment. Thu shared that for the first couple of weeks, she struggled to find a job and get accustomed to the Australian culture. This was particularly challenging given her major is digital marketing. “Australian insights are very different. I have to spend lots of time researching for my assignments,” Thu shared. Against all odds, Thu never gave up. She immersed herself further in not only textbook research but also in cultural festivals, workshops, and networking events to get to know more about Australian people and find herself a part-time job. She shared that she has also learned a great deal along the way.

Minh Thu during her working shift (Photo: Nguyen Phu Thinh)

“Besides studying, I work part-time at a sandwich store. In Australia, all service workers have to maintain an excellent work ethic. This helps me realise that I have to always stay professional because all jobs are equally important. I believe this mindset will help me a lot in my upcoming internship course and future career.”

“The most important skill I learned is to manage my time. Not only do I work part-time, but I also have to take four courses per semester. In the first couple of weeks, I had to challenge myself to find the least time-consuming way to study and do my assignments while still maintaining good quality. After all, I’m not here just to study, but to explore and have fun as well!”

Thu then shared that she loves immersing herself in local activities as they help enrich her experience and appreciation of different cultures. “The most memorable experience for me is to participate in the Halloween costume event. I love the festive atmosphere here and how people, regardless of age and gender, all wore great costumes and had fun. This is perhaps one of the best memories in Melbourne for me.”

Minh Thu (standing on the right) at the scholarship ceremony (Photo: RMIT)

Thu’s growth mindset has allowed her to get high grades in her courses, earning her recognition from her lecturers in both Vietnam and Australia. Thu’s relentless endeavour now wins her the prestigious Academic Achievement Scholarship for Current Students from RMIT Vietnam. Thu’s one out of only eight RMIT students to receive the scholarship this year. (Fun fact: Thu actually spent her own hard-earned money from her part-time job to travel back to Saigon South campus and receive the award.)

Like a bird that’s not afraid to fly high and far, I hope we can all soar into the skies and see what’s waiting for us in other parts of the world.

For those students who are about to embark on their global experiences journey, Thu offers valuable advice: “Think of yourself as a hero on an adventure to explore the world and develop yourself. Most of the time you would feel like a complete alien in a foreign land, but it is also your opportunity to meet new people, discover new cultures, and unlock new powers.”

“RMIT global experiences program is an opportunity not to be missed,” Thu also emphasised.

This article is written by Nguyen Phu Thinh, Bachelor of Professional Communication student at RMIT Vietnam, and does not reflect the views of RMIT University.

11 December 2024

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Go big to go home: From exchange student to scholarship winner