The young girl set the rhythm for the entire room.

Nguyen Thuy Anh Thu, one of RMIT Vietnam's Outstanding Students of 2026, never intentionally sought a central position. She chose to open doors for others, only to one day realize she had grown into a quiet leader, supporting shared progress.

There are people who don't loudly assert their presence; they quietly get to work. They arrive early, stay late, and somewhere along the way, the shared space gradually adjusts to their rhythm. Nguyen Thuy Anh Thu, a recent graduate in Linguistics from RMIT University Vietnam, is one such person. As the outstanding student representing the 2026 cohort at the South Saigon campus of the Faculty of Communication and Design, her story is not simply about achievements, but about the philosophy that success only truly has meaning when it opens doors of opportunity for others.

Nguyen Thuy Anh Thu, 2026 RMIT Vietnam Class Representative for the School of Communication & Design at Saigon South campus

The flower displays its beauty slowly but leaves a long-lasting fragrance.

Thu grew up in a family where every opportunity was carefully considered. Her parents' cautious approach to every possibility left a mark on her, not instilling reserve, but instilling unwavering confidence. When she first started at RMIT, she described herself as "a quiet younger sibling, a flower that bloomed later." Thu once felt she wasn't born to be a leader.

Then the young woman began translating.

Choosing foreign languages ​​as her major, Thu not only found a field of study but also discovered a method – a way to connect people with opportunities they might never have reached. Through her Bachelor of Linguistics program, Thu founded Lexisprouts , a student-run translation group, which gradually grew to over 30 members and collaborated with Nha Xuat Ban Tre (Youth Publishing House) to release six books. Thu selects and mentors younger students, directly controls the quality of translations, and coordinates eight parallel working groups. Thu once attended all group meetings on the same day just to make sure no one felt left out, because she understands the feeling of a newcomer with all the confusion in their heart.

Thu and Lexisprouts, a student-led translation team she founded.

“I named the group Lexisprouts when we started our first book translation project. The name combines ‘lexis’ (vocabulary) and ‘sprouts’ (young sprouts), symbolizing young translators who are growing step by step with each translation,” Thu shared.

Dr. Le Xuan Quynh, Head of the Bachelor of Linguistics Department, remarked that Thu embodies "excellent leadership, initiative, and service." Associate Professor Catherine Earl, from the Professional Communication department, recalled witnessing Thu select and coordinate a team of more than ten simultaneous interpreters for a research conference on senior-friendly cities. Thu handled the unexpected situation with such commendable composure that the partner publicly expressed their gratitude to her by name.

Outside the classroom door

What sets Thu apart isn't just a list of things, but a unifying thread connecting everything she does – that knowledge and skills are only truly valuable when shared. Through her professional translation projects with the Youth Publishing House, Thu has transformed Lexisprouts into a learning space for the students she selects and mentors. Similarly, through her role as an interpreter, from research seminars on Smart Cities Friendly to the Elderly, to the RMIT Experience Day and academic events across departments, these experiences have become shared opportunities for the student groups she brings together and leads. Even opportunities outside of school, such as her translation project with the Hong Kong Tourism Board, are shared with students seeking a starting point.

(Left) Thu was interpreted at RMIT Experience Day in 2025. (Right) Thu and her team showcased their translated book 'Eyes on Impact' at the School of Communication & Design Exhibition Day in 2025.

Even after leaving campus, Thu's belief remained unchanged. At the Thao Dan Social Welfare Center, Thu spent months guiding activities for underprivileged children, assisting with translation and organization. She worked with the same dedication as she did for her academic projects, believing that language, when used purposefully, can become a bridge for those often overlooked. And in every space she entered, the question she silently asked herself was: "Who else could enter if I kept this door open a little longer?"

Thu (right) led workshops for underserved children, providing simultaneous interpretation and logistical support at Thao Dan Social Service Center.

In ECO Vietnam Group's Learning Beyond Borders intercultural exchange project, Thu not only acted as an interpreter between Vietnamese students and their Singaporean counterparts, but she also paid attention to every hesitant moment, gently helping them find their words and witnessing those who were usually reserved gradually gain confidence in speaking up. The supervisor commented that Thu's presence made the atmosphere less stressful.

Sharing her thoughts on Thu, MC and inspirational speaker Amy Minh Hanh Corey, one of the 20 nominees for the Outstanding Student award, simply said: “She leads with her own words, while simultaneously welcoming, highlighting, and supporting the voices of others. That is a rare quality.” That rare quality, and perhaps the very quality that the new graduating class needs in their representative, is not the most flamboyant person, but someone who listens first and then ensures that every voice in the room is heard.

After the applause

For Thu, graduation didn't feel like a closing ceremony. It was more like a transition, expanding the scope of her impact in the real world. Currently, Thu works for Better Me English, participating in a project training English and interview skills for the AIESEC team, a non- governmental , non-profit international youth organization. Her practical, people-oriented work, focusing on confidence, preparation, and helping young people present their abilities, all shaped her leadership skills during her university years.

Lexisprouts will continue to operate within the Linguistics student group, but the responsibilities have been transferred to the young translators that Thu has mentored over the past three years. She has completed the handover of team management responsibilities and established a knowledge-sharing framework so that new students can begin working on real-world translation projects from their first semester.

"I don't want this group to be associated with the name of any specific individual. The focus of the group's activities has never been on me. I hope that doors will continue to open even as I embark on my new journey," Thu said.

Article by: Hoang Ha

Source: https://www.rmit.edu.vn/vi/tin-tuc/tat-ca-tin-tuc/2026/apr/co-gai-tre-giu-nhip-cua-ca-can-phong