Escaping from her "sister's shadow", female student wins prestigious world scholarship

Tran Phuong Thao (born 2007, Hanoi), former student of grade 11 literature 1, High School for Gifted Students in Social Sciences and Humanities (Hanoi National University) is studying at United World Colleges Changshu, China (UWC).

In March 2024, Thao received a full scholarship from UWC Changshu worth 2.5 billion VND for 2 years of study.

UWC is known as a World University, consisting of 18 schools built on 4 continents. UWC scholarships are considered the most prestigious and competitive full high school scholarships in the world with an acceptance rate of just under 5%.
 

Tran Phuong Thao, former student of grade 11 literature 1, High School for Gifted Students in Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi) (Photo: NVCC).

In addition, Phuong Thao also received many scholarships from the US, New Zealand, Canada and Australia.

Not only that, Phuong Thao also excelled in the top 7% of global students to win scholarships from the UK's Immerse Education Essay Competition.

With an older sister named Tran Phuong Linh, a second-year student at the University of Alberta (Canada), Phuong Thao always receives the question from everyone: "Is it stressful to live under the shadow of your older sister?"

Instead of feeling pressured or overshadowed by her talented sister, Thao shared that she was completely comfortable, not burdened as many people thought. Because she believed in her own abilities and uniqueness.

Thao said that her sister was both a great source of motivation and a role model for her to constantly study and practice. Thao still remembers the days when her sister sternly reminded her about missing the application deadline or the calls urging her to write her essay regardless of the time zone difference between the two countries. Therefore, after winning the scholarship, the person Thao is most grateful to is her sister.
 

Phuong Thao walking in Wukang, Shanghai (Photo: NVCC)

Thought of giving up after receiving more than 100 suggestions from my sister

Phuong Thao started her scholarship hunting journey in grade 10. Thao confided: "I failed the 100% scholarship to Canada and always felt self-conscious when facing interviews with school representatives.

Not only that, every day opening the file with more than 100 comments from my sister made me want to give up. However, I quickly regained my spirit and found lessons from my failures."

Thao said that challenge is the word to describe her arduous journey to conquer the scholarship.

"I still remember the day UWC opened applications, which coincided with the day I was studying for the Literature Olympic team. At that time, I was wondering whether I should register or not. But when I thought about my dream of studying abroad, I decided to continue," Thao said.

Thao said that at UWC, she had the opportunity to experience new activities that she had never tried before, such as rowing, mountain climbing, etc. Being immersed in nature made Thao happier. Besides, she also made friends with many students from all over the world, who shared the same interests and helped her learn many valuable lessons.

Phuong Thao realized: "After all, my greatest success is to complete my goal of seeing the world and being able to freely explore and do the things I want."

The dream of studying abroad became stronger when the older sister won a scholarship

The dream of studying abroad was kindled in Thao since she was young, when she was passionate about exploring the world through movies and books. That desire became even stronger as she grew up, especially after her sister won a prestigious university scholarship. Therefore, since grade 9, Thao started building her personal profile, gradually realizing her dream.

Phuong Thao celebrates Christmas in China (Photo: NVCC).

Entering grade 10, Phuong Thao tried her hand at larger-scale, more competitive competitions. "Thanks to that, I discovered my true passion is working in the field of education.

I always believe that "A clear and strong passion" is the key to help me conquer my dream. At the same time, I also want to become an inspiration for children in the future," Thao shared.

Phuong Thao said that the scholarship application process required her to balance preparing her application, studying in class, and studying for the English certificate exam. Being a member of the school’s literature team at the same time made it even more important to arrange her time properly.

"I wrote down and categorized specific tasks in a notebook, and made a to-do list on my phone to track my progress. To optimize my time, I prioritized completing my homework in class, and spent time at home researching documents and focusing on writing essays," the female student said.
 

Thao joins the English Club (Photo: NVCC).

Phuong Thao said: "I believe that the decision to study abroad will be an important turning point for those who are cherishing a dream. This is not only an opportunity for self-development but also a journey to train one's will. No matter how difficult the challenges ahead are, all efforts will be rewarded with valuable experiences."

According to Dr. Pham Hai Linh, a literature teacher at the High School for Social Sciences and Humanities (Hanoi), during the team competition, although Thao was busy with submitting her study abroad application, she still arranged her time reasonably and had the ability to think independently and sharply.

"The first time I met Phuong Thao, I felt that she was a hard-working, intelligent and serious student. Thao is always ready to listen and accept opinions from teachers and friends to improve herself," Dr. Pham Hai Linh shared.

According to Ms. Rui Li (English teacher at UWC), Phuong Thao is a dedicated and energetic student, always trying to improve and develop her strengths.

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