Female student from SOS Children's Village wins rare scholarship, graduates university with honors.

Growing up at the SOS Children's Village in Hai Phong, Phuong Anh never felt miserable or pitiable. At the age of 18, Phuong Anh won a rare scholarship and then went on to graduate from university with honors.

Do Thi Phuong Anh (born in 2003), a female student who grew up at the SOS Children's Village in Hai Phong , recently graduated from university with honors. In 2021, Phuong Anh was the only recipient of the Lion Heart Scholarship from the British University Vietnam (BUV). The scholarship, worth approximately one billion VND per academic year, covers all tuition fees for English preparatory courses, foundation year programs, and bachelor's degree programs, as well as living expenses and accommodation throughout her studies.

Phuong Anh has just graduated from university with honors. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

Phuong Anh said that she learned about this scholarship quite by chance. While listening to the school introduce information about the scholarship in her village, she realized it was a door opening up many opportunities for children like herself, so Phuong Anh decided to take a chance.

Having no prior scholarship application experience and lacking knowledge of how to create an impressive application, Phuong Anh chose the simplest approach: thoroughly researching what the school was looking for and honestly telling her own story.

While struggling with her essay on her journey of self-discovery, Phuong Anh glanced at her shoe closet and realized some pairs were old and dusty, while others she had tried hard to buy but never worn. Ultimately, she chose the simplest pair, not fashionable , but one she could use for a long time.

“The journey of choosing shoes is like the journey of discovering my true self. There were times when I was so caught up in following the crowd, trying to force myself to conform to others' directions, forgetting that only when I am myself can I truly shine,” Phuong Anh shared. Therefore, the student chose to write about her differences, strong personality, and the desire to live authentically, regardless of her background.

That sincerity helped Phuong Anh convince the admissions committee, making her the only one to win the scholarship that year.

"That was the happiest day of my life," Phuong Anh recalled.

Thang's mother and Phuong Anh when they were children. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

Over 20 years ago, when she was just born, Phuong Anh was abandoned at the gates of the SOS Children's Village in Hai Phong with her umbilical cord still attached. She was cared for and adopted by Ms. Do Thi Thang at the village, who named her Do Thi Phuong Anh.

Growing up at the SOS Children's Village in Hai Phong, Phuong Anh says the most important thing she learned was gratitude. "I'm lucky to have a mother who's always been there for me, loving me. That makes me not dwell on the past, nor feel that I'm so miserable that I deserve pity. I'm just grateful for growing up and studying at the village," Phuong Anh shared.

Besides Thang's mother, Phuong Anh is grateful to many others, from people in the village to friends, teachers, and philanthropists. "Every time I receive help, I learn to be grateful and appreciate what I have," the student said.

The journey to being yourself.

Receiving a scholarship and entering an international university environment, Phuong Anh carried with her confidence, although she was initially a little anxious. “I wasn’t insecure, but I was afraid of people’s sympathetic or pitying reactions. Luckily, when my classmates learned my story, they were very respectful. They didn’t criticize or put pressure on each other about our backgrounds or economic conditions,” Phuong Anh said.

Phuong Anh and her mother on her graduation day. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

However, the early years of university were the most challenging for Phuong Anh because she studied entirely in English, and the communication styles were very different. Nevertheless, one thing she found suitable for her personality was that the university valued logical thinking and respected individual perspectives.

"Students should not only conduct research to draw conclusions but also clearly express their own arguments and perspectives, which may even contradict the majority," Phuong Anh said.

An environment that respects differences and values ​​each individual's unique story has helped Phuong Anh maximize her potential. As a result, the student completed the program and graduated with honors in December 2025.

However, what Phương Anh is most proud of is her unwavering commitment to her goals and her ability to "always be herself." Even so, the student feels a pang of regret for not having done more for Thắng's mother and the children, fulfilling her promise to study hard and then return to contribute to the village.

Phuong Anh hopes to develop herself in the fields of education and social organizations in the future. "I hope I can create a positive impact and open more 'doors' for young people with special circumstances like myself," Phuong Anh said.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/nu-sinh-lang-tre-sos-gianh-hoc-bong-hiem-tot-nghiep-dai-hoc-loai-xuat-sac-2489231.html