The journey to defend the title of "double valedictorian" of a female student at International University

Sharing by Huynh Thi My Anh, Faculty of Economics , Finance and Accounting, International University (Ho Chi Minh City National University)...

New valedictorian Huynh Thi My Anh speaks at the graduation ceremony in November 2024. Photo: Le Nam

Not only was Huynh Thi My Anh, Faculty of Economics, Finance and Accounting, International University (Ho Chi Minh City National University) the valedictorian, she also won a full scholarship for four years and maintained her title as the valedictorian of the 2024 graduation year.

Unexpected results but… pressure

Recalling the moment she became valedictorian in the admission method combining academic records and high school graduation exam scores 4 years ago, My Anh could not hide her surprise.

“I was very surprised when I received the notice from the school, but that feeling was much stronger when I learned that I was the valedictorian of my graduating class. This is the result I have always wished for,” she shared.

Despite being the valedictorian, My Anh still could not avoid feeling overwhelmed in her first semester of university, having to adapt to a new environment and teaching methods. She shared that her university journey has many differences compared to high school. For example, each student has their own timetable for subjects. Teachers also do not check regularly.

“In the first semester, I felt quite overwhelmed because the teaching style at university is very different from that at high school. Without teachers closely following me and regular tests, I had to be more self-disciplined and self-study,” My Anh expressed.

The first semester result was only over 80/100 points, which made the new student feel pressured. My Anh said that there were times when she wanted to give up because she was too pressured by many exercises, exams, internships or theses. However, instead of being discouraged, My Anh started to adjust her study method, being more proactive in acquiring knowledge.

She often sits at the front desk to easily communicate with the lecturer and spends a lot of time researching documents and studying in groups with friends. According to My Anh, communicating more with friends or having a group of friends to study with is also a very good way to understand the lessons faster. In fact, friends are the motivation for the female student to feel that the four years of university have passed so meaningfully.

It was this perseverance that helped My Anh improve her score and "protect" her excellent performance until graduation with a total score of 92.8/100. My Anh's achievement was commented by the school representative as "rare" because few students can maintain excellent results from the beginning to the end. Of the more than 1,200 new graduates this year of the International University in the two majors of business - management and engineering, only 22 were classified as excellent. Of which, My Anh was the valedictorian of the major of business - management.

“The most important thing in the university environment is your own efforts. Everyone needs to be more proactive, more diligent and more responsible for their studies. Those efforts will take you to where you deserve to be,” the female valedictorian shared the secret to achieving “double valedictorian” for new students.

Huynh Thi My Anh received her diploma. Photo: Le Nam

Journey of experience and cultural exchange

For My Anh, the 4 years of university are not just days of studying hard, but also a memorable time when she studied and researched in an environment entirely in English. As a former English major student at Luong The Vinh High School for the Gifted ( Dong Nai ), integrating into an English-speaking environment was not too difficult for her.

“The environment here is very open, respecting the differences of each individual. I really like the freedom and diversity of the students, from which I learn to appreciate the diversity among us. I also feel very happy to be free to be myself without having to worry about judgment or discrimination from others,” the girl from Dong Nai shared.

For My Anh, university life would not be smooth and interesting without friendship. “How can I forget the military training season. Those were the times when we took thousands of photos with the plane or enjoyed banana ice cream while sharing romantic love stories,” the valedictorian said, adding that those were the moments that contributed to creating a wonderful time at university.

In addition to studying at school, My Anh also took the opportunity to register for cultural exchange programs to gain experience and broaden her horizons. The most memorable memories of the four years of university for the female valedictorian were when she got to know and interact with students from many different countries.

At the end of her second year, My Anh had the opportunity to participate in a cultural exchange program in Singapore for three weeks. The most special was the exchange semester in Germany at the beginning of her third year. These trips not only broadened her knowledge but also helped My Anh confidently approach many different cultures and living environments. “I will always remember the trip to France with my friends. The weather was warm, flowers were blooming everywhere and we organized our first trip ourselves. Those were moments that I believe many people always dream of,” My Anh recounted happily.

These experiences have helped My Anh mature and prepare for her future career. After completing her graduation thesis in August, the valedictorian was accepted into an accounting and auditing firm. Looking back on her four-year journey, My Anh does not forget to express her deep gratitude to her family, teachers and friends.

“Being valedictorian is a great encouragement for my efforts. However, I could not have achieved this result alone. It was my teachers, friends, and family who encouraged, discussed, and helped me overcome the pressure,” My Anh confided.

Ms. Vo Thi Ngoc Anh, My Anh's mother, could not hide her pride: "The family was very surprised and happy when My Anh achieved the title of valedictorian in both entrance and exit exams. This was thanks to the dedicated guidance of teachers and her constant efforts."

In her speech at the 2024 undergraduate and graduate graduation ceremony of the International University (Ho Chi Minh City National University) in late November 2024, My Anh sent special thanks to her parents and family for raising and caring for her wholeheartedly. “Thank you to my parents and sisters for their unconditional love and constant support throughout my journey. Thank you very much to my family,” Ms. Anh emotionally recalled.

Source: https://danviet.vn/hanh-trinh-bao-ve-danh-hieu-thu-khoa-kep-cua-nu-sinh-truong-dh-quoc-te-20241227112650832.htm