Gen Z valedictorian majoring in data analytics with a passion for startups

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - Tran Le Hoang Thang (born in 2002) is the valedictorian of the International School - Vietnam National University, Hanoi . Besides his outstanding academic achievements, this Gen Z student also has many impressive awards in startup competitions.

Tran Le Hoang Thang graduated with a GPA of 3.91/4.0 in Business Data Analytics from the International School (Vietnam National University, Hanoi).

Speaking to a reporter from Dan Tri newspaper, Hoang Thang said that this title is the result of a long journey of effort and hard work: "My only belief is to do my best and use all my abilities."

"Becoming the top graduate and one of the 100 top graduates at the 2024 ceremony honoring outstanding graduates from universities and colleges in Hanoi is an honor I will never forget."

Besides being the top student, the male student also boasts many impressive achievements and awards, especially in startup competitions.

Tran Le Hoang Thang (left) graduated as valedictorian of the Business Data Analytics major at the International School (Vietnam National University, Hanoi) with a GPA of 3.91/4.0 (Photo: Provided by the interviewee).

Passion for entrepreneurship

Hoang Thang stated: "Entrepreneurship is the journey of a group of people with shared ideas creating potential solutions and products that bring economic value and solve practical problems in society."

During his journey participating in startup competitions, Hoang Thang had the honor of representing Vietnam National University, Hanoi at the startup program organized by the National University of Singapore (NUS).

For the male students, this was an experience that allowed them to gain more knowledge related to entrepreneurship. The participants were students from Southeast Asian countries who were passionate about this field.

In this program, Thang learned about market research and evaluation – a crucial element for any business. He also learned about market size rules and indicators that businesses can use to assess the profitability of a project.

"This program also helped me understand that to succeed in starting a business, you need to know how to choose a field and market with the potential to generate high profits. It's like fishing; you have to choose the section of the river or pond with the most potential to catch the number of fish you want. Business and entrepreneurship are the same," Thang shared.

Hoang Thang at the Vietnam-China Friendship Meeting Program with Young People (Photo: Provided by the interviewee).

In addition to the knowledge he gained, Hoang Thang felt fortunate to have the opportunity to meet international professors and students. It is known that, besides his passion for entrepreneurship, the student also dedicates time to learning about cultural fields.

Attending this summer camp gave the male student the opportunity to experience a multicultural environment. He said: "Each country has a different work style. Participants in the program must adapt and respect the culture of their respective countries. This is a great opportunity and a wonderful experience in my student life."

Sharing about his most memorable startup competition, Hoang Thang said he could never forget the feeling of nervousness and anxiety when standing on stage at the National Student Startup Festival 2022 and presenting his idea.

"The competition that day was nationwide, involving 400 universities. Moreover, we had the honor of welcoming Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son. This somewhat put pressure on me to perform better," Thang recalled.

Besides being the top graduate of the Business Data Analytics program, Tran Le Hoang Thang is also known as a student with many outstanding achievements (Photo: Provided by the interviewee).

When presenting his project "Gamma Box," a platform integrating gamification elements to optimize marketing campaigns, to a panel of judges whom Thang considered "veterans in the business field," the student was very nervous.

In that moment, Thang suddenly realized that these moments of nervousness, awkwardness, and difficulty were precisely the conditions for his personal growth. Afterward, the student quickly calmed himself down and, together with his group, completed the presentation.

With his "Gamma Box" project, Thang has won various awards, including third prize at the National Student Entrepreneurship Festival and the "Promising Project" award at the "VNU - Innovation Startup 2021" competition organized by the Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

Impressive academic achievements

Hoang Thang became a student at the International School through direct admission, receiving a full scholarship for all four years. In addition, Thang also boasts an IELTS score of 8.5 and other impressive achievements such as a commendation for "Outstanding Achievement in Youth Union Activities" at the central level in 2024, and being one of the ten outstanding students to receive the title of "Outstanding Young Face of Hanoi National University in 2023"...

Tran Le Hoang Thang is also the champion of the IWIT Debate Arena 2022 competition (Photo: Provided by the interviewee).

Hoang Thang is a former English major student at the High School for Foreign Languages ​​- Vietnam National University, Hanoi. During his time at school, Thang also participated in many English public speaking competitions.

However, after careful consideration, the male student decided to choose Business Data Analytics, a field of study that integrates applied mathematics, computer science, and business practices.

Sharing about his application essay, the male student recalled: "I convinced the International School to choose me for direct admission and a full scholarship by demonstrating the activities and contributions I would make to develop the department in general and the school in particular once I became a student."

As a sports enthusiast, especially football, I have developed a plan and outlined an idea to encourage students – who often spend a lot of time in front of computer screens – to participate in physical activities.

My essay aims to demonstrate effective methods to help students transition from a state of low interest in sports to one of active, enthusiastic participation and greater openness to it.

Hoang Thang also shows interest in and participates in many volunteer activities (Photo: Provided by the interviewee).

Despite being a proactive student, Thang was once overwhelmed by the pace of university lectures. To achieve the best results, the student mapped out an effective study plan for himself.

First, Thang believes that learners must understand the fundamentals and nature of the work they need to perform. Then, learners should ask questions surrounding that work, such as: "What do we need to do? What is the priority order? How much time is needed to complete each stage? What resources and tools should we use to achieve the best results?"

The male student confided: "Students should prioritize wisely at each stage. We ourselves must accept sacrificing time for one task to compensate for another."

Maintaining a balance in life is very important. Besides balancing studies and work, students also need to balance rest, sports, and leisure activities.

Because sitting and working or studying for long periods doesn't always guarantee high productivity and optimal efficiency. Moments of relaxation are invaluable, helping learners focus better when they return to their work."

This Gen Z male student also believes that whenever we are hesitating between continuing to sleep or playing for a few more minutes, we should remember that any great achievement is created by small daily efforts.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/thu-khoa-gen-z-nganh-phan-tich-du-lieu-voi-niem-dam-me-thi-khoi-nghiep-20250115151050401.htm