“Astounded” is the emotion of TDSer Nguyen Huyen Anh – 12Madrid upon receiving notification of winning a 100% scholarship for the Psychology major from VinUni University.
Applying for a university scholarship for the first time, TDSer Nguyen Huyen Anh immediately received a 100% scholarship at VinUni. Huyen Anh’s profile stands out with a GPA 9.6/10, an IELTS 7.5, two consecutive years of winning the 100% Dandelion Scholarship at Dewey, and a passion for volunteering. However, Huyen Anh’s journey to conquer this prestigious scholarship has many “special” aspects to share.
The journey of maturity always comes with “failure”
Having tested herself in numerous contests and projects for students, Huyen Anh has never secured the top position. Nonetheless, that girl has never felt discouraged. Recounting her journey, Huyen Anh beams with a bright smile: “I don’t feel sad every time the exam results are not as expected. After many failures, I have gained valuable experience to improve and adapt to the next challenges.”
The process of studying, taking exams, or volunteering activities has encountered many difficulties, but Huyen Anh always strives to the fullest. For her, the ultimate reward is not victory but daily self-improvement. Throughout the long journey of effort, Huyen Anh always reminds herself: “Don’t be afraid. Just keep moving forward, because you’re on the right track! Learn from failure, and draw more motivation from success.”
TDSer Nguyen Huyen Anh has received a 100% scholarship in Psychology at VinUni
When Perseverance + Passion = Positive Change for Community
Nurturing the dream of becoming a doctor since childhood, Huyen Anh began to take an interest in psychology in 9th grade with the desire to assist her younger sister, Ha Anh, who is also a Dewey student. Ha Anh had experienced an accident that hindered her learning abilities, yet she always remained cheerful and caring towards everyone around her. Huyen Anh felt that studying psychology would pave the way for her to help Ha Anh and others with special needs, like her sister.
However, it wasn’t until the 11th grade that Huyen Anh truly resolved to pursue this field. In a project at Dewey during her 11th-grade year, Huyen Anh and her group had the opportunity to support a special needs student. Seeing the student’s struggles in keeping up with the curriculum, Huyen Anh and her friends set a goal to help the student learn effectively. By observing the student’s favorite cartoon character, Huyen Anh’s group bridged the gap between them, helping the student integrate quickly.
“Sometimes, I feel that helping my younger sister becomes a daunting responsibility, but with each project that supports those in need around me, I find myself filled with happiness and renewed motivation to help my sister and other individuals develop positively.”
This story was also shared by Huyen Anh in her scholarship essay and interview session, leaving a strong impression with the VinUni University Admissions Board.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Ha – Career and University Counseling Office at Dewey – directly advised Huyen Anh in the process of preparing the evaluation application: “What makes Huyen Anh stand out as a candidate is her sincerity, integrity, generosity, and her truly inspiring personal story with the Admissions Board.”
Throughout her high school years, the University and Career Counseling Office (UCCO) staff at Dewey have been the ones accompanying Huyen Anh in her pursuit of passion. “At UCCO, I conducted personality analysis exercises to identify suitable career fields. The teachers always observe and attentively listen to my aspirations, as well as advise on majors and universities corresponding to my interests and capabilities. Particularly at Dewey, they consistently encouraged us to apply for scholarships to gain more experience and reflect on our personal growth after the learning journey,” Huyen Anh reflected.
To provide students with hands-on experiences and inspire them about the university environment, the UCCO frequently organizes trips to reputable universities and businesses, which motivated Huyen Anh to submit her application here.
“Curriculum vitae and essays are crucial, as they are the initial elements to impress the Admissions Board. The application needs to highlight the individual’s story to increase the chance of being interviewed by university representatives. Specifically, VinUni looks for four qualities: Aspiration, Ability, Creativity, and Commitment. Therefore, my application needed to demonstrate these factors. Ms. Ha provided me with an excellent amount of assistance during the essay-writing process, ensuring me to focus on my own experience in an appropriate manner that highlighted two key factors: my enthusiasm and commitment to Psychology. Ms. Ha also spent a lot of time preparing for interviews and advising me on how to answer questions that emphasize my own attributes. Finally, the teachers connected me with VinUni students to assist me practice interviews so that I could feel confident and comfortable before the official interview.” Huyen Anh shared about her application preparation process.
“Self-understanding” – the secret to conquering the University Admissions Board
Once a shy and introverted girl, Huyen Anh’s 7-year journey at Dewey has opened new doors for her as she was challenged with projects, academic activities, and diverse cultural events to gradually “break out of her shell” and become a better version of herself, understanding herself more deeply.
“The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra” – Huyen Anh’s favorite quote, also a “gift” from her subject teacher in the art creation project of Chemistry. “When receiving the assignment, everyone thought of doing something simple, but I wanted to make a difference. I stayed up all night to compose a song about chemical elements. When presenting my product, Ms. Ngoc Mai gave me that quote. “That little extra” is the time, effort, and perseverance to turn something ordinary into extraordinary,” Huyen Anh shared.
Huyen Anh’s journey at Dewey has been truly vibrant, as she has found herself and discovered the values she wants to pursue. To offer advice to young people aiming for scholarships, Huyen Anh emphasizes the importance of “self-understanding” in every decision-making process. “Through self-understanding, we will know whether we are suited for a particular field of study or a new learning environment. Reflecting on oneself at each stage of maturity is also crucial because the Admissions Board always takes special care to understand how candidates have developed in the past, present, and future. The key is to remain calm, confident, and true to oneself.”
Echoing the theme of the school year, “Design Your World Of Possibilities” Dewey hopes that TDSer Nguyen Huyen Anh, with her courageous spirit and empathetic heart, will continue to “reach out to the big ocean” creating positive impacts for the community.
