The journey of a university valedictorian in her 40s in pursuing her passion.

Among the 95 outstanding valedictorians graduating from universities and colleges in Hanoi this year, there is one student who graduated at the age of 38. Ms. Mai Hoa stepped onto the stage to receive her commendation after more than 10 years of trying her hand at various professions and fields.

Ms. Mai Hoa at the ceremony honoring outstanding valedictorians graduating from universities and colleges in Hanoi in 2025. (Photo provided by the subject)

Before choosing the Vietnam Fine Arts University, the valedictorian born in 1987 had quite a few work experiences. Mai Hoa first became a student in 2005 at Hanoi University, majoring in English Language. After graduating, Mai Hoa worked as an office worker like many others. Nearly 10 years later, the office worker decided to quit her stable job, take short-term business administration training courses, get acquainted with sales, photography, and learn professional makeup in Thailand, and then worked in this field for a while.

At that time, Mai Hoa wanted to pursue fields related to art such as fashion design and interior design. However, she suddenly realized that all of that was just the "tip of the iceberg"; finding a job where she could do her best, contribute, and live life to the fullest was the root. And that was painting. "Once you aim for a big goal, you'll naturally know how to arrange everything in your life to fit together better," Mai Hoa shared. These thoughts led her to become a student at the Vietnam Fine Arts University in 2020.

“Back when I was in university, I didn’t care much about the results; I probably just followed the formula of ‘get a degree, get a job, make money.’ But the second time, with a much higher and clearer goal, I saw the meaning of learning. More importantly, I became aware of the need to find answers to who I am, what I want, and how to find happiness in my work,” Mai Hoa recalled.

Pursuing a specialized subject like painting is not easy, especially for a woman who already has some responsibilities in life. During the first two years, there were times when she felt exhausted and even wanted to give up and return to her busy daily life. However, in the end, thanks to her efforts, perseverance, and the encouragement and support from her family, the art student not only overcame all obstacles but also became the top student of the school.

During her time back in university, she participated in numerous art competitions, including winning first prize at the university's 2025 Student Art Exhibition, receiving an honorable mention in the 2023 "Colors of the Roots" competition, and attending a workshop organized by German artist Martin Haufe and the Goethe Institute…

Addressing young people still hesitant at the threshold of life, the top-scoring female student in her 40s said: “All experiences in life are invaluable. If you keep learning, everyone will grow and be able to build their own future. With whatever choice you make, try your best to have the best experiences for your own path.”

NGOC VY

Source: https://nhandan.vn/hanh-trinh-theo-duoi-dam-me-cua-thu-khoa-dai-hoc-u40-post928511.html