With a total score of 25, 17-year-old Pham Phuong Ly became the top student in the D-block of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in 2010, having taken the entrance exam for the Faculty of Journalism and Communication.Meeting Phuong Ly in her small house nestled deep in an alley in Dong Da District, Hanoi, our first impression of her was that she was a pretty girl with a pleasant face, intelligent, and very individualistic. Holding her admission letter, Ly recounted: "I was very surprised at the time. I didn't think I'd get this many points, and even less did I think I'd achieve the title of valedictorian of the D-block at the university." It was also surprising to learn that Ly studied in the A-block at Kim Lien High School (Hanoi) but registered for the D-block university entrance exam. Sharing with us, she said: "Since 9th grade, every day on my way home from school, passing by the Academy of Journalism, I dreamed of getting into a journalism university. I really wanted to be a TV presenter." Therefore, not only did she excel in her A-block subjects, but Ly also diligently studied Literature and English to prepare for her journey to achieve her dream.
Before the university entrance exam, I submitted seven applications to different universities, including those in the science stream. Torn between the Television Journalism and Public Relations departments (Academy of Journalism and Communication) and the Journalism and Communication department (University of Social Sciences and Humanities), I finally decided to apply to the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, hoping to gain a solid foundation of knowledge after graduation. According to Ly's father, Mr. Pham Ngoc Hoi, Ly's mother passed away when Ly was 11 years old, and currently, it's just the two of them at home. Her father works at a transportation design consulting company, and his job is quite busy, leaving him with little time for her. However, from a young age, Ly has been very independent, self-reliant, and self-assertive. She makes all her own choices regarding her studies, from which subjects to take, where to study, and which teachers to choose. Ly's father has complete faith in his lovely daughter. Therefore, when she decided to major in journalism, although her father didn't want her to have a hard time later on, he agreed because of her passion. Speaking about her study methods, Phuong Ly shared: "Besides class time, I organize my own studies at home. For Literature, I focus on learning the basic knowledge in the textbook and refer to some basic literature books. But I don't read many different types of books; I'm afraid it will dilute my knowledge. In 12th grade, I focus on extra studying to accumulate knowledge for the university entrance exam. Preparing for my upcoming studies in a new environment, Ly has researched some subjects in her first year of university online. She also reads some books about journalism and PR. In addition, she visits the school's website to learn about opportunities for a double degree. In the near future, she plans to study photography." Sharing her career plans, she said: "I like public relations. After my first year, I will apply for an internship at a media company." And I will try to learn more English to better serve my future career.
