9X quits job in UK, wins 7.5 billion VND US scholarship to "understand" deaf people

Quit job in UK, "work day and night" to prepare for GRE and win US scholarship

Nguyen Thi Minh Huong (born 1999, Bac Ninh) is a PhD student in information technology at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), USA with a scholarship worth 7.5 billion VND.

At NJIT, one of the 100 largest public universities in the US, she focuses on research on applications that support the blind and deaf communities.

Portrait of Nguyen Thi Minh Huong (Photo: NVCC).

Before that, Huong had spent two years studying and working in the UK in the field of user experience design. Although she soon had a stable job after graduation, her thirst for learning and continuous discovery always urged her to continue.

"During my time studying in England, I was fortunate to have a teacher who encouraged me: Keep studying, you still have a lot of potential that needs to be developed. Those words were not only encouragement but also became a guiding light, helping me to have more determination to turn thoughts into actions," Huong shared.

According to Minh Huong, the journey to apply for a scholarship after returning home was quite a terrible period. She had to face great pressure from the skepticism of her family and those around her when she decided to give up a stable job abroad. The doubts from everyone made Huong lose sleep and constantly question herself during the first three months after returning to Vietnam.

Minh Huong on a snowy day at Birmingham City University (Photo: NVCC).

The sleepless nights due to confusion and lack of direction became the motivation for Minh Huong to steadfastly pursue her education.

In September 2024, Huong began looking for opportunities to study abroad for a PhD. She sent hundreds of emails to professors around the world, but most received rejections.

To face the reality, she made a list of professors she had contacted. Looking at the long list of rejections, she could not help but feel discouraged. However, her persistence paid off. After weeks of waiting, Huong received two interview invitations, including one from Professor Sooyeon Lee at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), USA.

During the three-hour interview, Huong did not hesitate to share that her strength lies not in programming or information technology, but in her ability to research human behavior.

Professor Sooyeon Lee's response gave her strength: "The journey to study for a PhD is not to prove that I am the best, but to learn and improve myself," Huong recalled.

The interview ended with a question from the professor: Could Huong enroll in February 2025? Without hesitation, she immediately agreed.

This decision meant that Huong only had one month to complete her application, apply for a visa, prepare letters of recommendation, and conquer two standardized exams, IELTS and Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), which are mandatory requirements for a doctoral program in the US.

"Studying IELTS is not difficult, but GRE is a real nightmare," Huong shared. While most candidates need at least 6 months to prepare, she only had one week.

Minh Huong at an ancient castle in England (Photo: NVCC).

With no exam preparation classes to take her, Huong studied intensely on her own. Every day, she solved a math problem in English, learned 600 vocabulary words, watched instructional videos, and slept only 4 hours.

"Since 8th grade, I have imagined myself walking on the streets of England and studying in American universities. That aspiration has turned seemingly far-fetched dreams into reality," Huong confided.

Dr. Tran Quoc Thien (University of Texas at Austin), who has accompanied Huong since the early days of her scholarship hunting journey, shared: "I feel in Huong a strong source of energy, passion and enthusiasm of youth.

These qualities are clearly shown in every word of the scholarship application, all revolving around the dream of creating technology products that support interaction between the deaf and computers. It is this factor that helped Huong conquer a full scholarship from a prestigious school."

"Being deaf is also interesting, because this world is noisy"

Minh Huong always appreciates the openness and positivity that the deaf community shows. They do not hesitate to share their personal stories and express their gratitude when there are projects that listen to their voices.

"I felt the warm support and understanding without the need for sound or words, as well as the enjoyment of a quiet life amidst the hustle and bustle of life," she shared.

Minh Huong went on a picnic at Regent's Park, London (Photo: NVCC).

Being in direct contact with the deaf community changed Huong's perception. She understood that deaf people are not "deprived" people but have a unique culture and way of looking at the world.

One comment that made Huong think was from a community member: "Being deaf is also interesting, because this world is noisy." The comment helped her realize that their silence is not a disadvantage, but a unique perspective.

To communicate effectively and collect authentic information, Minh Huong took the initiative to learn sign language. This experience was directly applied to a study on designing an improved version of Microsoft Teams software specifically for the deaf, based on the results of interviews with 30 deaf people.

During her work, Huong noticed a clear difference in development opportunities for deaf people between the UK and Vietnam. "In the UK, deaf people can work as programmers or university lecturers. These are positions that the deaf community in our country still cannot access. That motivated me to learn more and want to support them better," Huong said.

Minh Huong in front of St. Paul's Cathedral, London, England (Photo: NVCC).

Experiences with the deaf community have clearly shaped Minh Huong's research goals in the US. "We don't need to change the way we look at deaf people or people with disabilities. The important thing is to create a new environment where everyone can communicate and participate equally, without limitations," Minh Huong affirmed.

Draw your own life map through experience, love to explore, love "sleeping in the woods"

Minh Huong’s independent and adventurous spirit was formed early under the nurturing of her grandfather, a former pilot. She grew up strong and was exposed to stories of will and life experiences early on. Despite having a solid family foundation, Huong always wanted to go out to explore and experience the world around her.

Right from her first year of university, Huong actively sought out diverse experiences, both in her studies and extracurricular activities. During her four years at RMIT University, she found joy in immersing herself in vibrant community activities and organizing meaningful events with her friends.

In addition to studying, the female student also focuses on practicing a professional working style. Right from her first year, she worked as a marketing tutor at school and worked remotely for a Danish company, even at times she took on 3-4 different jobs at the same time. "Every day I only slept 1-2 hours," Huong said.

Minh Huong climbs mountains once a month (Photo: NVCC).

For Minh Huong, "moving" is not just a geographical change but also a change in thinking and the way she sees the world. She always asks herself how she can be better and create a positive impact on the community. "At the age of 26, I drew my own path, where simple answers do not exist," Huong shared about her philosophy of life.

Not only is she active in her studies and work, Huong also takes time to satisfy her passion for discovery. She does not hesitate to take spontaneous and somewhat adventurous trips.

Huong once took the night train to Hon Son (Kien Giang), slept in the forest or joined mountain climbing routes. One of her most memorable memories was a two-week trip to Thailand with international friends to distribute vegetarian meals to the homeless.

For Huong, the value of travel lies not only in conquering destinations but also in unexpected encounters. She recounted a memory of climbing mountains in the Northwest: "I met a Hmong girl. We could not communicate verbally, but the act of her boiling water for a bath in the middle of the mountains and forests made me deeply feel human love, something that language cannot fully express."

Another time, in the forest in Binh Phuoc, the image of a soldier silently putting a handful of sticky rice in her hand also left an unforgettable impression of the warmth and sincerity of people in remote lands.

Looking back on her journey, Minh Huong realized that only by believing in herself can she have the confidence to move forward. In the future, she hopes to connect with and support the deaf community in Vietnam.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/9x-bo-viec-o-anh-gianh-hoc-bong-my-75-ty-dong-de-thau-hieu-nguoi-diec-20250406211429373.htm