The highland girl and the journey to fulfill her dreams

From the mountains of Kon Tum to the lecture halls of RMIT University Vietnam, Hoang Thi Quynh has written an admirable journey with her own determination and desire to rise up. The girl who used to help her mother tap rubber after each class has now become a new student of Psychology - the owner of the full scholarship "Wings of Dreams" in 2025, carrying with her the dream of healing and sharing with the less fortunate.

From rubber forests to the dream of studying

Every afternoon after school, little Hoang Thi Quynh returned home to help her mother harvest rubber latex in the middle of the vast forest. The work was repeated from grade 5 to grade 12, but it was the image of her mother diligently working with the trees that became the biggest source of motivation for Quynh to strive.

Hoang Thi Quynh (right cover) with volunteers of VN&5C. Photo: VN&5C

“There were days when it rained heavily and the mountain road was slippery. I just wished that one day I could go to school closer to home and help my mother have a less difficult life. That dream was what kept me from giving up,” Quynh said.

Born in a remote commune in Kon Tum province (formerly), now Quang Ngai province, Quynh soon understood that education was the only chance to change her life. Every day, she had to travel more than 15 km up the steep mountain road to school, but always carried with her an optimistic spirit and diligence.

Ms. Bui Thi Hanh, Quynh’s homeroom teacher for grade 12 at Tran Quoc Tuan High School, recalls: “What impressed me most was Quynh’s determination. Even though she had to work after school to help her mother, she never let her work affect her academic performance. She is a shining example of determination and self-respect.”

As a result, Quynh graduated as valedictorian of the school in the 2023 national high school exam, a worthy reward for her tireless efforts.

But the road ahead was still full of challenges. When Quynh was accepted into a university in Hanoi , her mother borrowed money from the bank and mortgaged her small house so that she could have the opportunity to study in the capital. With no relatives or acquaintances, the girl from the highlands had to take care of everything herself in the big city.

After only one semester, due to financial burden and her mother’s deteriorating health due to osteoarthritis, Quynh was forced to temporarily stop studying. “There was a time when I wanted to go back to my hometown, but then I thought that if I stopped, all my efforts would be in vain. I chose to stay in Hanoi, work to gain experience and find other opportunities,” Quynh said.

The next two years were a series of days of working and learning to adapt to an independent life. She tutored Math and Vietnamese, earning 100,000 - 200,000 VND per session, just enough to cover rent and living expenses. Despite being busy, Quynh still maintained the habit of reading books, learning English, and participating in community activities to constantly develop herself.

From sharing to the dream of healing

If her childhood taught Quynh lessons in resilience, her time working in Hanoi helped her understand the meaning of kindness. In addition to her tutoring job, Quynh also teaches blind children for free, seeing it as a way to spread love and contribute to making up for their disadvantages.

Quynh worked hard to improve her English skills so she could study Psychology at RMIT.

“They cannot see but they feel the world very subtly. One of them asked me, “Teacher, does the color of sunlight have a smell?” That question made me think forever. I realized that I wanted to pursue Psychology to better understand the hidden things in human emotions,” Quynh shared.

Not only does Quynh teach, she is also the co-founder and coordinator of the GreenHeart project of the VN&5C community, which organizes handicraft recycling activities and raises funds for children in the highlands. Under her leadership, the project has attracted dozens of volunteers from home and abroad, and has organized many green markets and creative fundraising programs.

“Old does not mean discarded, just give it a chance, it will shine in a different way” is the message that Quynh and the GreenHeart team spread through each recycled product.

Those life and work experiences helped the young girl gain more confidence when applying for the "Wings of Dreams" Full Scholarship of RMIT University Vietnam, a program that honors students from difficult circumstances but with strong will and desire to study.

In October 2025, Quynh officially became a new student majoring in Psychology at RMIT University Vietnam. When she received the email announcing her scholarship, she burst into tears. “I immediately thought of my mother, of the 4am mornings when I went to the forest to collect latex, of the 15km journey to school that we used to take together. Finally, I did what I promised my mother: Continue studying on my own.”

A representative of RMIT Vietnam said that Quynh's story is a typical example of the spirit that the scholarship aims for: "overcoming adversity to rise up, studying not only for yourself but also for the community".

Today, in a modern school in the heart of the city, Quynh still maintains a simple lifestyle. The full scholarship helps her study with peace of mind, and the remaining scholarship to support living expenses, she saves to send back home to help her mother pay off her debt.

“I want to become a psychologist who can work with children and teenagers, especially in the disadvantaged areas where I grew up,” Quynh said, her eyes shining with confidence.

From a highland girl who walks to school every day, to an RMIT student with the aspiration to help others find the light within themselves, Hoang Thi Quynh's journey is proof that: With faith and determination, any path can open, even starting from the most remote place.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/giao-duc/co-gai-vung-cao-va-hanh-trinh-chap-canh-uoc-mo-20251104160108046.htm