Learn from experience, grow from challenges.

Leaving the university gates, recent graduate Nguyen Thi Thanh Ngoc, a recipient of a full RMIT scholarship, reflects on years of continuous learning, dedication, and growth through every challenge.

On graduation day, Ngoc stood among her classmates as a student who had received a full scholarship from RMIT University. The young woman had just graduated with a major in Finance and a minor in Blockchain Business with a GPA of 3.7/4.0, along with a wealth of national awards, experience participating in regional youth leadership programs, and a CFA Level 1 certification before turning 22.

From the outside, it was an impressive journey of growth. But for Ngoc, graduation wasn't the end point, but rather a moment of transition in responsibility and impact.

Ngoc with her parents on her university graduation day. (Image: RMIT)

The journey begins in a distant place.

When Ngoc entered RMIT University in 2022, she didn't have a clear "blueprint" for future success, but only a deep belief that education should make life brighter, not heavier.

Born and raised in the Gia Lai highlands, Ngoc quickly realized that financial barriers could close the doors of opportunity for many young people around her.

"Back in my hometown, I witnessed how easily opportunities can slip away when education becomes a financial burden instead of opening doors to the future," Ngoc shared.

That realization motivated Ngoc to leave her hometown at the age of 15 to study in Ho Chi Minh City at Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted, and then pursue a full scholarship to study Finance at RMIT University.

“I want to study finance to understand how money works, so that money is no longer a reason for someone to say ‘no’ to their dreams. My goal is to become an expert in impact investing and use finance to empower communities that lack access to finance, like the one where I grew up,” Ngoc said.

Take full advantage of every opportunity.

With that goal in mind and the opportunities offered by the RMIT scholarship, Ngoc constantly challenged herself throughout her university years. Besides maintaining excellent academic results, she actively participated in highly competitive academic competitions.

Ngoc's achievements include winning the Vietnam ESG Challenge 2024, being the runner-up in the HSBC Business Case Competition 2024, the runner-up in the CFA Research Challenge 2025 in Victoria & South Australia, and being the first exchange student from RMIT Vietnam to participate in this competition in Melbourne.

Besides participating in competitions, Ngoc also serves as the Vice President of the RMIT Vietnam FinTech Club. She also acts as an academic advisor at the university, supporting students who are struggling with business subjects. Notably, Ngoc has represented RMIT and the voice of Vietnamese youth at several regional youth leadership dialogue forums and programs in Jakarta, Bangkok, and Ho Chi Minh City.

Ngoc (third from the right) at the ASEAN-Australia Young Leaders Forum 2025 (Photo: AAYLF)

During her time at RMIT, Ngoc also began sharing practical perspectives on the learning process, competitions, and self-development on social media. Some of the educational content on her Instagram and TikTok pages gained significant traction, reaching millions of students nationwide. From there, Ngoc became a mentor to over 30 young people in their scholarship applications or competition preparations, subtly spreading the academic spirit of RMIT beyond the campus.

“Leading clubs, advising, or creating content are all ways I expand the opportunities I’ve received. Besides pursuing my personal ambitions, I also want to share the tools and experiences I’ve gained so that others feel more confident and inspired when building their own paths,” Ngoc shared.

A moment of self-reflection while studying abroad.

It wasn't until 2025, during an 11-month exchange program at RMIT's Melbourne campus (Australia), that Ngoc faced a very different challenge. In a foreign land, she would no longer be known as a "scholar" or "winner of competitions."

“In Australia, I was just an international student speaking English, not my mother tongue, among thousands of other talented students. Nobody knew what I had done, and nobody cared about what I had achieved before,” Ngoc said.

Sharing her thoughts on her personal Facebook page, Ngoc considered this a moment of self-reorientation. “It was the first time I truly felt how small I was in such a vast world. But thanks to no longer being bound by the standards I had previously set for myself, I was free to experience new things and allowed myself to fail without fear of judgment.”

That moment later became the motivation for Ngoc to pass the Level 1 CFA certification (one of the most prestigious certifications in the finance industry) in the final three months of her exchange program in Australia, after receiving the CFA Student Scholarship. During this time, she continued working and exploring Australia, while also continuing her consulting work and running to maintain her health.

“I want to enhance my expertise in finance, and the CFA exam is a tool to help me do that,” Ngoc shared. “But simply pursuing high expertise isn’t enough. I want to combine that goal with personal development and a commitment to creating social impact as a unified mission.”

Ngoc explored the snow-capped mountains of Australia during her time studying at RMIT University's Melbourne campus as part of a student exchange program. (Photo: Provided by the interviewee)

Moving forward with a clear mission.

After returning to Vietnam earlier this year, Ngoc entered the next phase of her personal development journey. She is currently an analytical intern at an investment bank, supporting Vietnamese private businesses in their fundraising activities, while also participating in a research project on investment in climate technology in Vietnam – a field that clearly reflects her interest in impact investing.

Outside of work, Ngoc still makes time for consulting and content creation. To maintain balance in her life, she runs a few times a week and has set herself a new challenge: training for her first half marathon.

Ngoc sees this as a transitional phase where the process of growing up continues after graduation, and she doesn't feel the need to rush to find answers to everything.

"I don't see myself as a 'perfect recent graduate.' I'm still on a journey of self-discovery, but I'm not afraid to learn from every experience and grow with every challenge," Ngoc shared.

Graduating with the Class of 2026, Ngoc reflects on her journey with values ​​that have become clearer: using finances to create impact, building relationships and engaging the community, and maintaining a lifelong passion for learning. All of these now form the foundation for her to bring what she has learned to the world beyond the university gates.

Article by: Hoang Minh Ngoc

Source: https://www.rmit.edu.vn/vi/tin-tuc/tat-ca-tin-tuc/2026/apr/hoc-tu-trai-nghiem-truong-thanh-tu-thu-thach