Valedictorian of the entire school in the 2014-2015 academic year.

Literature has been my passion since childhood.

Thuy Hien was born and raised in Hanoi. Although no one in her family pursued a career in literature, they instilled in her a love for it. She shared: “My parents loved classic world literature and Vietnamese poetry, my grandparents often told me fairy tales, and my family members frequently wrote poetry. Living in such an environment, and with my family's encouragement and support for my reading hobby from a young age, I developed a deep love for it.” She decided to major in Literature to continue pursuing that passion.

Among many universities, she chose the University of Social Sciences and Humanities to pursue her passion. Firstly, because the University of Social Sciences and Humanities has a long tradition in scientific research, providing her with the best conditions for studying and researching. Secondly, because she wanted to experience the feelings her father had for "the old yellow buildings, the old but warm lecture halls" when he studied Chemistry at the University of Hanoi on Le Thanh Tong Street (now the Chemistry Department - University of Natural Sciences), a story he often told his daughter later on.

Through her diligent and serious approach to studying, Thuy Hien has consistently received scholarships such as: the Shinnyoen Scholarship in the 2011-2012 academic year, the AEON Scholarship in 2012-2013, the Chung-soo Scholarship in 2013-2014, and academic achievement scholarships from the university in various semesters. She also participated in scientific research and won First Prize in the University-level Student Scientific Research Competition in 2014, and Third Prize in the Ministry-level Young Talent Scientific Research Competition in 2014. Regarding awards and certificates, she possesses Certificates of Merit for outstanding academic achievement in all academic years, Outstanding Young Person awards at the institutional level in all academic years, and a Certificate of Merit for outstanding graduation achievements from the Director of the Vietnam National University.

To achieve these accomplishments, she said that a large part of it was thanks to the dedication of the teachers at the school. She shared: “I am always grateful to the teachers and the school for creating the most favorable conditions for me to study. Especially the teachers in the Literature Department, who have directly and wholeheartedly taught and supported me in my studies, scientific research, and helped students find beneficial job opportunities.”

Vu Thien Thuy Hien at the bachelor's degree awarding ceremony for the 2014-2015 academic year (Photo: Hieu Luong)

Studying, working, and participating in social activities all at the same time.

During her student years, Thuy Hien developed a strong sense of independence from a very young age. She tutored students in the evenings and worked as a freelance translator for an online newspaper. She also enthusiastically participated in social activities both inside and outside of school, such as the Book Club, the Green Summer program, and the Exam Support program. Thanks to these activities, she had the opportunity to meet and make friends from all over the country; to experience different cultures and learn many things not found in textbooks. Despite her busy schedule, Hien didn't feel tired; on the contrary, she said that these group activities helped her relax and provided her with a chance to rest after hours of studying and working.

Instinct + Science = Effective Learning Method

Sharing her learning methods, she said she studies in a way that is both "instinctive and scientific." Instinctive because, for all subjects, she makes the most of her class time and delves deeper into topics she enjoys by reading additional books. She often reads books and newspapers and watches movies in her free time, reading almost anything she likes or on any topic she comes across. Because she absorbs knowledge in a relaxed state of mind, she remembers what she has read for a long time. She revealed: "Actually, this is the best process for accumulating knowledge, in my experience, because there will be times when you need to use this knowledge in your studies or work."

She believes this is because she has a habit of creating study plans. With a packed schedule from her first major, double degree program, to social work and part-time jobs, her scientifically organized schedule has greatly benefited her health and academic performance. She believes this "scientific" approach has helped her maintain such good academic results and avoid burnout and pressure from tight deadlines or tight exam schedules.

Because she was attending two schools simultaneously, her schedule often overlapped, forcing her to accept that she couldn't attend all classes, resulting in lower grades in some subjects. To address this, Hien revealed: "I spent a lot of time studying and reviewing before each exam. I focused intensely on preparing for each exam, so my exam scores often significantly boosted my overall subject grade."

I want to remain connected to the school even after graduation.

Speaking about her future plans, Thuy Hien shared: “This year I will focus on finishing my studies in my second major, and after graduation, I plan to work in the fields of publishing, journalism, media, television, etc. I also plan to pursue higher education in the next few years. Furthermore, even after graduating, I hope to continue working with the Book Club and participate in activities within the Book Network that the Youth Union and clubs at my school are launching, as these are very practical and meaningful activities. I participated in these activities during my student years, so I hope that after I start working, I will have the opportunity to provide more practical support to expand these models to students throughout the school.”