Continuing our journey to meet the top-scoring university graduates of 2011, the next destination for the USSH reporter team was just a 30-minute motorbike ride from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities on a beautiful sunny afternoon. Without many winding roads or needing to ask for directions, we arrived on time at the home of Lê Thị Hồng Ngọc, the top-scoring student in Group D.
This isn't my first time taking the university entrance exam.
When asked about her feelings as a top-scoring student, Ngoc quickly told us: "This isn't my first time taking the university entrance exam. I was born in 1992, and I'm retaking it this year. Last year, I also took the Psychology exam and got 24 points, but it was a 'thanks' exam to get points for admission to the Dentistry major at the International Faculty (Vietnam National University, Hanoi). However, after studying Dentistry for one semester, I decided to quit and retake the exam for the Psychology Faculty - University of Social Sciences and Humanities. This time, I didn't feel as stressed or anxious as last year. Although my Literature score wasn't as high as last year, the other two subjects were higher. Knowing the results and being the top-scoring student this year makes me very happy. My efforts have paid off, and my parents are less worried than before."
Leaving Dentistry Because of My Passion for Psychology
Continuing her story, she told us: When she decided to drop out of Dentistry, her family completely disagreed. Her mother was the one who opposed that decision the most. After all, getting into that field wasn't easy, and she had already been studying for some time.
Having been a student at Amsterdam High School for the Gifted, retaking the entrance exam wasn't a major concern for Ngoc, but convincing her parents to let her retake it was quite difficult. Ngoc shared: "My parents explained things to me a lot back then, and I explained and persuaded them a lot. In the end, they supported me and created the conditions for me to apply to the Psychology program. Even my older sister advised me to listen to our parents, and gradually she started encouraging me." The top-scoring student in the D-block also has an impressive academic record, consistently being an excellent student for many years, winning third prize in the city-level French language competition in 11th grade, and second prize in 12th grade… Speaking about her motivation for her choice, Ngoc said: "In 12th grade, my French teacher suggested I apply to the Psychology Department because the Department has a joint training program with AUF." Furthermore, she also enjoys reading stories and playing games related to psychology, especially when the characters use psychological knowledge to outwit. All of this drew her back to psychology. When sharing her secret to learning a foreign language, Ngoc made a very simple comparison: Learning a foreign language is like riding a bicycle; the more you ride, the more familiar it becomes, and it no longer feels difficult.
Only with passion can one succeed.
Throughout our conversation, Ngoc was very reserved about her personal achievements. Sharing his thoughts with us, Mr. Le Xuan Tue – Ngoc's father – said: "Ngoc is a bit quiet; sometimes we feel she's still a bit naive, but when we read the articles she submitted to newspapers, my friends and I were all surprised that our daughter has such profound thoughts." During her high school years, Ngoc had many articles published in newspapers like Hoa Hoc Tro and Sinh Vien Viet Nam.
Thanks to her passion, Ngoc convinced her parents to support her, and it was this passion that changed their minds. Mr. Le Xuan Tue added: "Our family wanted her to pursue medicine, but when she decided not to continue before the end of the semester, we were very worried and concerned about her decision. But seeing her determination, we encouraged her and trusted in her abilities. When we heard the results this year, she was the top student, and we were very happy. My friends and I have talked about it and realized that children who have passion always achieve better results; without passion, it's difficult to continue and succeed."
