Top student in Group D1: Dreaming of studying Chinese Studies.

Sharing her feelings upon learning that she had become the top student in the D1 group at the university, Hai Yen said she was quite surprised because initially she only aimed to get into her favorite major.

“I’ve dreamed of getting into the Department of Oriental Studies for a long time, and that’s been my motivation for studying. The 2017 admission score for the Department of Oriental Studies was 28.5, which is a really high score. Perhaps thanks to a bit of luck, I still managed to get into my dream major. I also want to use this exam to disprove the stereotype that students on the national gifted student team will focus on only one subject. People think that students in specialized classes only know how to study that one specialized subject,” Yến said.

Nguyen Thi Hai Yen, the top student in the D1 group, is a student majoring in Oriental Studies.

Yen revealed that her achievement was thanks to her dedicated and focused studying. The top-scoring student combined classroom learning with extra classes, plus practicing exam questions and managing her time effectively. Besides the difficulties and pressures that all exam candidates face, Yen also had another obstacle: time.

Yen shared: “During my senior year of high school, I participated in the national excellent student competition in Literature. After the competition, I only had about 5 months to review for the national high school graduation exam. Therefore, when I returned to class, I was initially shocked by the new material because I couldn't keep up with my classmates. But later, with the help of teachers and friends, things gradually settled down.”

Hai Yen and her high school classmates

When asked about her reasons for leaving the Faculty of Oriental Studies, Yen replied: “First of all, it’s because of my love for social sciences, especially geography, history, and the culture of Eastern countries. Furthermore, following the advice of my teachers and seniors, I found that the humanities environment has many characteristics that suit me, so I chose to study here.”

The top-scoring students of the 2018 entrance exam at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities pose for a commemorative photo in the schoolyard. Hai Yen is on the far right.

Hai Yen also participated in many activities at high school, such as being a member of the Thai Binh Radio Club. “I want to continue working in media. I plan to apply to the media club at USSH. In my first year, my primary goal is to achieve a score high enough to get into the Chinese Studies program,” Yen said.

To the students taking the 2019 National High School Graduation Exam, Hai Yen shared this message: “Before the university entrance exam, besides striving to achieve your desired score, answering the question of what major you want to study is also not easy. Choosing a path you love that suits your abilities will be the motivation to stay steadfast in your choice and give it your all.”