Valedictorian of Public Relations and the journey to achieve his dream

Trust and Love - The Key to Yen Hoa's Success
Born and raised in the peaceful countryside of Bac Giang province, Yen Hoa always nurtured the dream of contributing and asserting herself. With good academic achievements throughout high school years at Bac Giang High School for the Gifted, Yen Hoa won a ticket to enter the gate of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.
Here, this student further affirmed her talent by taking on many important positions in clubs and groups. The young girl not only stood out with her academic achievements but was also a familiar face in the school's extracurricular activities.
“With the trust of my teachers and friends, I have held many important positions in large and small events, from organizing welcoming programs for new students, football tournaments, to talent search competitions… These valuable experiences have helped me practice my communication, teamwork and leadership skills, and at the same time equipped me with the necessary provisions to enter my career path. Participating in activities is one of the wisest decisions I made during my student years,” she confided. Extracurricular activities have given Yen Hoa profound lessons about roles and responsibilities in an organization. The valedictorian shared: “Extracurricular activities help me understand that in an organization, each person has their own role and responsibility. No matter what position I am in, I need to work carefully and try my best. In addition to the goal of completing tasks, I always focus on creating good experiences and beautiful memories for my colleagues. Until now, I still keep in touch with my old colleagues, some of whom have even become colleagues. I really appreciate that!”
In a recent interview, Yen Hoa shared an insight into her growing up process. Despite her many achievements, Yen Hoa still humbly admitted that she had faced no small amount of pressure and challenges. Peer pressure, challenges in the process of completing her graduation thesis, and the pain of losing her beloved mother... had made the young girl falter. She confided: “A problem that affected my psychology not only during my college years but throughout my 16 years of studying was peer pressure because I always studied with many “other people’s children”. When I was in high school, I was often stressed because my friends were doing well in their studies, and when I went to university, I was worried when I saw some students my age had started working early or achieved achievements that I had not even thought of.”
With perseverance, determination and support from family and friends, Yen Hoa has overcome everything to achieve the success she has today. “In the first semesters of university, to avoid stress and pressure, I chose to unfollow social media accounts that regularly posted achievements. But that was not enough, I still had the worry of finishing school quickly, graduating early to go to work. After 5 semesters, when I had completed most of my school credits, I changed my mind and decided to slow down a bit. I realized that student life is beautiful and I didn’t want it to pass quickly. Knowing what is suitable for me, I enjoy my subjects more, explore to expand my knowledge instead of just focusing on studying for grades and finishing school,” Yen Hoa shared. Looking back on her journey, Yen Hoa emphasized that self-belief is the most important factor that helps her overcome challenges. “My family is my strongest support. Whenever I encounter difficulties, I always find comfort and encouragement from my loved ones. Although my mother is no longer by my side, her image is always a great source of motivation for me to strive. And I believe that my mother still follows my every step, protects her daughter through difficulties and smiles when I am happy,” Yen Hoa confided with emotion.
Self-confidence is not always available but is reinforced by recognition and encouragement from a solid support system. The valedictorian shared: “I always have my family as a support system, with lavish feasts waiting for me after every achievement, big or small. My family patiently helped me understand that: “You don’t need to try to be someone else, just walk on your own path and your family will always support you from behind.” Besides my family, I am also guided by highly qualified and dedicated lecturers, along with friends who are always ready to join hands to conquer challenges. Standing on the shoulders of those giants, I no longer feel small or afraid. Without any of them, my university journey would have been much more bumpy.” Besides her family, Yen Hoa also feels lucky to be studying in a dynamic environment, with dedicated guidance from teachers. This has created conditions for her to develop comprehensively and achieve the achievements she has today.
Living a useful life for society: Perspective from Valedictorian Pham Yen Hoa
According to Yen Hoa, living a useful life for society means first of all not creating a burden for the community. She confided: “Anyone can help those around them with small actions. For example, staying to show directions to those in need, holding hands with children crossing intersections, or waking up someone who fell asleep on the bus…” During her time at school, the young girl also participated in many meaningful community activities. In particular, the valedictorian and her group of classmates organized a painting workshop called “Under the Porch”.
“The entire profit of 15 million VND from the workshop and some items were donated to Thinh Dai Pagoda, which is a common home for many homeless children. When witnessing the determination of the orphans, our group wanted to donate even more. The goal therefore became bigger and more difficult, but we realized that just by working together, the group could realize the plan and contribute more value to the community. The valuable lesson the group learned was understanding the needs of the recipients and creativity in volunteer activities. The results after two months of diligence were the hugs and smiles of the children at Thinh Dai Pagoda, the compliments of the event participants, and many memorable memories together,” said the female valedictorian. Having achieved the title of valedictorian of the Public Relations major, Yen Hoa did not hesitate to share her valuable experiences with students studying this major. She proudly said: “I have just graduated and am just starting out in the profession, so I cannot give much advice. However, based on my limited personal experience, I think that in addition to mastering the basic knowledge from the classroom, students majoring in Public Relations and Communications need to be equipped with appropriate skills such as communication, photography, and adapting to technology. At the same time, you should deepen your understanding of society and proactively learn about new trends.” During her time studying at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Yen Hoa had many beautiful memories. The new graduate recalls the memories of when she first became a former student.
She recounted: “Before the graduation ceremony, my academic advisor and I asked the Organizing Committee’s media team to take a photo for us. After that day, I carefully looked through the albums that the Organizing Committee shared but could not find that photo. Because I really treasured and longed for that photo, I confided in the teachers and staff of the Political and Student Affairs Department. The teachers listened, enthusiastically asked questions and helped me find the lost photo.
The moment I received the photo, I cried because I was touched by the teacher's heart. That photo was already precious, now it is even more precious. In response to the former student's thanks, the teacher advised: 'Sincerity will receive sincerity. Live and work well, when you return to school, just call me teacher, okay!'" These valuable experiences and lessons not only help Yen Hoa grow up but also inspire her to continue to contribute and live a useful life for society. Through her story, the valedictorian wants to convey the message that each person has their own journey with different challenges and luck. I hope you always keep faith in yourself, do not be afraid to try to find the most suitable path.
Vietnam Student Newspaper:Valedictorian of Public Relations and the journey to achieve his dream