Some journeys of growth do not begin with dazzling spotlights or instant glory, but with small, steady, and quietly proud steps. Even more meaningful is when those first steps begin at a school that also starts with the letter “D” – Dewey.
From a tentative beginning…
Before becoming a student at the University of Washington (UW)—ranked among the Top 8 universities globally – Minh Thư, in her early high school days, was an introverted and soft-spoken student. While many peers were drawn to media studies by the allure of stage lights and visible achievements, Minh Thư chose the field from a different perspective: one rooted in emotional depth and inner reflection. She was curious about why people connect, why certain messages resonate deeply, and why some stories need to be told with care and at the right moment.
To “D” journeys rich in experience
Three years at Dewey marked a period in which Minh Thư was constantly “going” (D) – in the broadest sense of the word. These included volunteer trips to mountainous regions, where she joined teachers and classmates to teach children literacy skills, organize activities, and learn how to listen, empathize, and share. They also included inward journeys through interdisciplinary projects in Humanities, Vietnamese Literature, History, and Geography—where learning went beyond memorization to role-playing, empathy, and understanding characters, authors, and historical contexts through lived perspectives.
Through these journeys, Minh Thư grew steadily, both academically and personally. Her distinctive perspective, strong academic profile, and diverse experiences enabled her to successfully gain admission to 12 major universities in the United States, all in her chosen field of Communications.
Creating a personal path: Every “D” becomes a road
Minh Thư shares, “The skills and habits cultivated at Dewey made my transition to university life significantly more manageable.” Classroom learning combined with Dewey’s career orientation activities helped her gain a structured and systematic understanding of the American university environment, from academic programs to teaching methodologies. Through her coursework, Minh Thư gradually developed public speaking skills, learning how to articulate ideas and viewpoints in a coherent, clear, and confident manner.
At UW, most courses require creative outputs—from presentations and quizzes to media projects. The design and content presentation skills Minh Thư accumulated through academic projects and extracurricular activities at Dewey became a major advantage. In particular, the habit of regular reading fostered through Social Sciences, Humanities, and Liberal Arts courses helped her adapt smoothly to the rigorous academic workload and high expectations for critical thinking in the U.S. university environment.
In her very first semester at UW, Minh Thư proactively applied for an internship at the Office of International Student Services under the university’s student association. She proudly embodies the values of intellectual curiosity, a passion for exploration, integrity, and a generous spirit in supporting the international student community.
A message to future Dewey students
To the next generations of Dewey students, Minh Thư shares a famous quote by Peter Drucker—the father of modern management and marketing: “The best way to predict the future is to create it.”Her journey of forging a deeply personal path stands as a vivid testament to the spirit of “Beyond the Blueprint”—going beyond predefined frameworks—which the Dewey system consistently strives to cultivate.
