(SVVN) Extracurricular 'warrior' shares how to choose student activities

Before finishing four years of university, including more than two years affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2001-born girl had time to travel to four countries on student exchange programs. She also studied at two universities at the same time, won many scientific research awards and nearly 10 scholarships of various types.
According to Chau Giang, registering for extracurricular activities should consider each person’s strengths and weaknesses. Extracurricular activities during college are also a great opportunity for young people to meet and connect with talented individuals who share the same goals and interests.

Nguyen Ha Chau Giang - final year student, Hanoi National University
 

The journey of maturity after each trip

Chau Giang is a student majoring in Public Relations at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. This major has always been in the top majors with the highest entrance scores at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi in recent years. Specifically, in 2022, this major took 29.95/30 points in the C00 exam group. According to her, choosing a hot major with a high entrance score ensures a favorable environment for development because she can meet many extremely talented and individualistic classmates.

She also believes that this is a major that suits her extroverted personality, who likes to communicate with people and wants to explore the world. The knowledge and experience from the major make her more confident, improve her communication skills and public speaking skills. She also understands more about how to build stories, messages and effectively convey those messages to people through specific actions. This is a huge advantage in the process of applying for extracurricular activities.

Sharing with the Vietnamese Student page of Tien Phong newspaper, Chau Giang said that the trip to China in 2019 and the trip to Japan that just ended in March 2023 were the two most unforgettable memories. The trip to China was the first "overseas" program and also the longest exchange. At that time, she had just finished her university entrance exam and was away from her family for nearly two months, so she was still like a "baby", receiving a lot of attention, guidance and instruction from her seniors in the group. This was also the trip that changed her the most, helping her become more confident, bolder, knowing clearly what she liked, what she wanted and what kind of person she would become in the future.

The trip to Japan earlier this year required a professional and neat image because she participated as a Vietnamese delegate, representing the young generation of Vietnam stepping out into the world. Meetings with the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs or leaders of the ASEAN region required her to always show seriousness and a high level of concentration.

“The greatest joy is to have everyone trust in my abilities and to see the results of the whole group being praised and highly appreciated by international friends. This trip for me is a recognition of my continuous learning process and my own maturity,” she shared.

On each trip, the connection, sharing, affection and memories with everyone are what she cherishes the most. Many people in the group have become her extremely close and trustworthy friends, brothers and sisters. For her, sincerity and openness are the foundation for building good and sustainable relationships after each trip.

Chau Giang (yellow shirt) with students from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities at the ASEAN+3 Youth Camp Thailand 2022 

Vietnamese delegation and friends at the Thai Palace

JENESYS Vietnam delegation presented gifts to Mr. Takamizu Hidero - Director of Regional Policy Division, Bureau of Asian and Oceanian Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

Chau Giang (2nd from right) works in groups with ASEAN and Japanese friends within the framework of JENESYS 2022

'Strategy' for choosing 'standard' extracurricular activities

Chau Giang is a former student of the Literature class at Hanoi - Amsterdam High School for the Gifted. Among the countless clubs and extracurricular activities at this famous school, she chose to participate in sports and arts-related activities to improve her health and creativity. When she was in university, she began to change direction, choosing to participate in cultural and academic exchange activities that required more specialized knowledge and diverse skills.

In her opinion, participating in extracurricular activities must first come from each person's interests and passions. Next, to choose the right activity, it is necessary to identify one's strengths and weaknesses. For example, Chau Giang realized that she has good language and communication skills, an extroverted personality and is adaptable to the surrounding environment. Therefore, she is very suitable for exchange activities in a multicultural environment that requires quick adaptation. But on the contrary, she also feels that she is a bit undisciplined and not good at planning. Therefore, those exchange programs can also help her practice and overcome these weaknesses, because she not only represents herself but also the face of the organization, or is a representative of the country.

She also loves extracurricular activities in a challenging environment, with opportunities to develop and expand relationships. It could be an activity that requires a skill or knowledge that she has never tried before, from which she can grow more mature after each activity.

“You must always put the human factor first, because participating in extracurricular activities will be an opportunity for you to meet, connect and rub shoulders with talented people who share the same interests and goals. From there, it will be a premise to connect, learn and expand your relationships,” she said.

Chau Giang has just defended her thesis in Public Relations and is expected to graduate from both universities this summer. Looking back on her four years of college, she is proud to have enjoyed every moment of her student life to the fullest, a time when she feels she has accomplished the most.

Through the Vietnamese Student page of Tien Phong newspaper, she sent advice to young people who want to apply for extracurricular programs: “Study foreign languages ​​​​hard to be able to apply for international programs. Be humble because there are always many people around you who are better and more successful than you. Keep learning from everyone around you and from your own failures. Finally, don't be afraid to ask questions, because that is the fastest way for you to find the answers you want.”

Chau Giang on the day of defending her graduation thesis in Public Relations, at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities

Impressive achievements of Nguyen Ha Chau Giang

Study:

• Excellent GPA: Public Relations: 3.79/4.0; English: 3.69/4.0

• 7 terms of receiving budget scholarships for students with excellent academic achievements

• 2 awards for students with the highest academic achievements in the school, school years 2021-2022 and 2019-2020

• Received POSCO Scholarship twice for students with excellent academic performance, academic years 2020-2021 and 2019-2020

• Twice won Second Prize in the School-level Student Scientific Research Competition, school years 2020-2021 and 2019-2020

• Twice won Second Prize in the Institute-level Student Scientific Research Competition, school years 2020-2021 and 2019-2020

Extracurricular:

• Vietnamese representative at the Japan-East Asia Exchange for Students and Youths (JENESYS) program in 2022

• Vietnam representative at AJAFA-21 youth camp in Malaysia in 2022

• Representative of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi at the ASEAN+3 Youth Camp in Thailand in 2022

• Representative of Vietnam National University, Hanoi at Youth Consultant Workshop organized by the ASEAN University Network (AUN), 2021

• Vietnam representative at the Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Program (SSEAYP) 2020

• Outstanding faces at the grassroots level, school year 2019 - 2020