Nguyen Mai Khanh Chi (born 2007, Hanoi) is a student at the High School for Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi).
In March this year, Khanh Chi excellently won a 100% scholarship from the University of Hong Kong (HKU) worth 2.6 billion VND. According to the QS Ranking 2025, HKU is the top 1 public university in Hong Kong, ranked 2nd in Asia and ranked in the top 17 universities in the world.
Khanh Chi excellently won a 100% scholarship from Hong Kong University (Photo: NVCC)
Not only receiving a 100% scholarship from HKU, Khanh Chi also received a 100% scholarship worth 2.5 billion VND from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, along with 50,000 Hong Kong dollars (equivalent to more than 170 million VND), and a scholarship from VinUni University.
In addition, Khanh Chi also passed early admission to the University of Sydney, Monash University and the University of Queensland (Australia).
After careful consideration among many prestigious options, Chi decided to study Global Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Hong Kong.
While most Vietnamese students choose the US or Europe, Khanh Chi chose Hong Kong, a destination that is still new to many people. "At first, I didn't have much information about this area. However, thanks to an introduction from a senior, I started to learn more about Hong Kong universities.
After the research process, I realized that this is the most suitable destination for my ability, family conditions as well as my learning expectations," Chi said.
Khanh Chi received the title of "3 Good Students" at the city level for the 2022 - 2023 school year (Photo: NVCC)
Although she has not officially begun her journey in Hong Kong, Khanh Chi believes that Hong Kong will be a dynamic and open learning environment, where the quintessence of the East and the West intersect, creating conditions for her to develop comprehensively in both knowledge and life experience.
Right from the first years of high school, Khanh Chi determined that studying abroad was the path she would persistently pursue. With a clear direction, she built a study plan for each year.
"In grade 10, I started participating in extracurricular activities and the gifted student team. In grade 11, I focused on developing those activities and completing the necessary certificates. Grade 12 was the time for me to complete my essay and systematize all the achievements and activities accumulated from the previous two years," Chi shared.
From the big goal, Chi divided the plan into specific tasks, choosing activities that suited her interests and personal orientation. Thanks to early and consistent preparation, her profile became outstanding not only in terms of academics but also thanks to the depth in the process of thoroughly researching her dream school.
Khanh Chi shared that the journey of writing an essay was not smooth, and there were times when she felt confused and helpless. "As a student majoring in literature and having a solid foundation in English, I used to think that writing an essay would not be too difficult, especially when I had a clear direction. However, the reality was completely different.
Many times I had to rewrite my essay from scratch after receiving feedback from seniors. There were times when I felt really discouraged," Chi confided.
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In addition to the difficulties in writing the essay, Chi's family's financial situation also made her wonder whether she should continue pursuing her dream of studying abroad. Because not all scholarships are enough to cover all the tuition fees. However, she still maintained her determination.
"I think that if you start something, you shouldn't give up halfway, because that means being irresponsible towards yourself and your future," Khanh Chi shared.
During the sprint phase, time management became a big challenge for Khanh Chi. "In the early years of high school, I still maintained a balance between studying, extracurricular activities and resting.
But when entering the last two years, the pressure started to increase significantly. I always set a goal to improve myself every day. That perfectionism made me sometimes only sleep 2-3 hours a day," Chi said.
In addition to studying, Chi has also proactively expanded her scope of activities to the fields of art and international exchange. This diverse combination not only helps her accumulate more experience, but also contributes to building the image of a comprehensive, dynamic candidate who is ready to conquer challenges.
Chi's inspiration comes not only from books, but also from the people around her. In a specialized environment, she has the opportunity to interact and learn from seniors with many outstanding achievements.
Besides,sportwas also a powerful catalyst for Chi. One of the most inspiring moments was when she watched a video shared by player Dominik Szoboszlai, who rose from Hungary to conquer the European football field and play for Liverpool at the age of 23.
That journey made Chi see herself in it, a young person trying every day to step out into the world in her own way.
People often comment that Khanh Chi is an independent, confident girl, who dares to think and act, and is always responsible for her choices. However, hidden behind that brave appearance, she still carries within her silent fears.
In addition to participating in activities at her school, Chi is also the head of the professional committee of the Literature Club of the University of Education High School for the Gifted, Literature in Thoughts (Photo: NVCC)
"I always worry that I won't be able to do it, afraid that the results won't be as expected. To overcome that feeling, I often watch Formula 1 races, where the racers have to take risks and overcome fear to reach glory. I think I can do the same," Chi shared.
For Chi, if you don't dare to act because of fear, the probability of success will be 0%. But if you are brave enough to try, even if the chance is only 0.01%, she believes it is still worth it. She learned to listen to herself to become more careful but not let fear control her actions. "I always remind myself to live each day to the fullest. Thanks to that, the feeling of anxiety gradually fades away," Chi confided.
Having failed to pass the selection round for the literature team in 8th grade, Khanh Chi still persistently pursued her passion. Thanks to a letter to her teacher, in which she expressed her desire to learn and practice more, Chi was given the opportunity to join the group and continue to improve her knowledge.
By grade 9, Chi was officially selected for the team, won second place at the district level and continued to enter the City round. "I understand that if I persevere enough, miracles will come. But I also realize that I can never be subjective, because luck does not always knock twice," Chi shared.
That "comeback" achievement became a reminder for Chi to constantly strive. "From then on, I always try to make every achievement I achieve a worthy result, not random luck," she confided.
Khanh Chi at the "5 Good Students" commendation ceremony of Hanoi National University (Photo: NVCC)
Chi is not only an outstanding student but also possesses many diverse talents. She is proficient in piano and calligraphy, has a Grade 8 certificate from Trinity College London, and has a solid foundation in chess and martial arts. These skills not only give Chi confidence but also train her to be calm and able to handle any situation calmly.
In 11th grade, Khanh Chi realized that achievement was no longer the most important thing. When she helped her neighbor's maid's daughter study for the literature entrance exam, she clearly felt the joy of sharing. "She passed the specialized exam with high scores. The mother and daughter came to thank me with simple gifts, but that was one of the most touching moments for me," Chi recalled.
Similarly, when tutoring online for children at SOS Children's Village Quy Nhon, although the students were not outstanding, each word of thanks and New Year's greetings from the children and mothers in the village were precious spiritual gifts to her.
Khanh Chi and family at the graduation ceremony (Photo: NVCC)
Those experiences helped Chi realize that achievements or money are not as important as the joy of sharing and helping others. From then on, she cherished even more the seemingly obvious things she had, from learning conditions to living environment.
At the same time, Chi also began to cherish the desire to become part of non-governmental organizations to contribute more to less fortunate children.
Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Quang Lieu, Principal of the High School for Gifted Students in Social Sciences and Humanities, commented: "Khanh Chi is a student who makes a special impression on me. She is intelligent, dynamic, responsible and always a pioneer in class and school activities."
As a teacher who used to teach History, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Quang Lieu highly appreciates Khanh Chi for her independent thinking and clear and effective learning methods.
According to the teacher, although she is a literature major, Chi still shows her ability to reason deeply and to make connections between historical events and reality. That shows her outstanding ability to study, research and think independently.
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Author:Thu Hoai (Dan Tri newspaper)
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