Passing university entrance exam with a wild card, 10X Phu Tho graduated as valedictorian of Hanoi University of Industry

"Becoming the valedictorian of my university graduating class wasn't too surprising, but I'm happy because I've achieved the goal I set for myself during my four years of university. I want to dedicate this reward to my parents – who have always worked tirelessly to provide for my education and help me become a useful member of society," said Nguyen Thi Anh Nguyet.

Few people know that to achieve this success, Nguyệt was once disappointed and blamed herself for failing to get into her first-choice university, and that Hanoi University of Industry wasn't her initial dream.

From a young age, Nguyet was passionate about mathematics and dreamed of becoming a skilled accountant. In 2019, she scored 23.19 points in the D00 subject group (Mathematics, Literature, English) in the high school graduation exam, nearly 2 points short of being admitted to her first-choice university, the University of Commerce.

Nguyen Thi Anh Nguyet receives her graduation certificate. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee)

Having failed to get into her first-choice university, Nguyệt was quite shocked, blaming herself for not trying hard enough and asking her parents to let her stay home for a year to retake the entrance exam. However, after listening to her family's advice, she agreed to enroll at Hanoi University of Industry. "I never thought that this last -choice university would be my last chance to get into university," the student admitted.

Accepting a less-than-ideal learning environment, Anh Nguyet regained her spirits and adapted to university life. In her first semester, she achieved a GPA of 3.72/4.0 and received her first scholarship of over 5 million VND from the university.

Receiving the scholarship gave Nguyet renewed strength, and she set a bigger goal for herself: to become the valedictorian of her university. "I've been harboring this goal since my second year of university, but I didn't dare tell anyone because I was afraid of 'saying it too soon and failing to achieve it'," the 10X student confided. Nguyet always used that goal as motivation to strive throughout her four years of university.

During class, Nguyệt always enthusiastically volunteered to speak up, striving to achieve the highest possible grades in each subject. For the final exams, she always studied thoroughly, ensuring high scores in all subjects.

For students, general subjects like Political Theory, Marxist-Leninist Thought, Philosophy, etc., are daunting challenges, but not for Nguyet. She dedicated twice as much time each day to mastering these subjects. "Every day, before class, I try to read and research related content online, pay close attention to lectures, and actively interact with lecturers to understand the issues," the top-scoring student revealed her study method.

Nguyen Thi Anh Nguyet receives her graduation certificate with her family. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee)

After overcoming the hurdles of general subjects, students then face challenging specialized courses like Introduction to Accounting. According to Nguyet, this subject is very difficult, requiring students to memorize the accounting systems according to the State's Circulars and Decrees, and to practice financial reporting at the end of the course. "I struggled so much; I reported it 10 times and got it wrong all 10 times," she recalled.

Nguyệt admitted that she was quite strict about her studies. She also believed that if she missed even one class, she would have difficulty absorbing the knowledge and affecting her goals. Throughout her four years at Hanoi University of Industry, the valedictorian only missed one class in her first year, due to a family matter.

Throughout her studies, she achieved many outstanding accomplishments, including: receiving excellent scholarships in 6 out of 8 semesters; being recognized as an outstanding student for 3 consecutive years, and an excellent student in the 2022-2023 academic year. Nguyet is one of two outstanding students from the Accounting and Auditing Faculty who participated in the Chief Accountant Thinking Practice course on the Oracle VBIS ERP platform, organized by Auditcare & Partners Vietnam (ACV).

Nguyen Thi Anh Nguyen with 95 other valedictorians at the 2023 ceremony honoring outstanding valedictorians of Hanoi City. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee)

The 22-year-old female student advised her peers that to achieve big goals, they should start with the smallest ones. In addition, she urged them to always strive their best and master the fundamental knowledge of their chosen field of study.

Nguyệt works as an accountant for a foreign company based in Vietnam, responsible for quarterly and annual tax filings and financial reporting. She shared that she plans to pursue an international certification related to her profession by the end of this year or the beginning of next year. If she completes the certification early, she will continue her studies to obtain a master's degree.

Mr. Pham Anh Tuan, homeroom teacher of Nguyen Thi Nguyet (Hanoi University of Industry), assessed that Nguyet is an excellent student, always achieving high academic results. She is always sociable with her friends and teachers in the class, creating a good impression on everyone.

"I hope she always tries her best at work, applies the knowledge she has learned well to practice, and succeeds in all fields," Mr. Tuan expressed his expectations.

Khanh Son

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