Not the most outgoing student nor someone who frequently appeared on the school’s media channels, Ly Linh Linh (12 Washington DC) has always impressed teachers and peers with her discipline, sense ofresponsibility, and thoughtful perspectives on people and society. These very qualities ultimately helped her earn admission offers from dream universities such as Fudan University (#3 in China, #30 globally) andShanghai University (#22 in China).
Linh Linh’s journey at The Dewey Schools Hai Phong began in middle school. What first captured her heart was not a grand achievement, but the Literature classes taught by Ms. Sau. Instead of simply analyzingtexts on paper, the classroom became a space for discussion, debate, and connecting literary stories to issues in contemporary life. Together with her classmates, Linh Linh stepped into the worlds of differentcharacters, reflected on the ways people perceive the world, and explored how seemingly small choices can create meaningful impacts. Through this approach, she realized that literature is not merely about words—itis a powerful lens through which people can better understand themselves and the world around them.
Those lessons continued to unfold through “Planetary Cracks,” an interdisciplinary Social Sciences and Humanities project. Taking on the role of team leader for the first time, Linh Linh and her teammates created a short film exploring the generational gap between parents and children. The project encouraged parents to see the world through their children’s eyes, while helping students better understand the silent pressurestheir parents often carry. These first-time experiences taught Linh how to listen, connect different perspectives, and embrace the responsibilities that come with leading a team.
From classroom learning and interdisciplinary projects to purposefully designed extracurricular activities such as the Dewey Model United Nations (DMUN), Linh Linh gradually built a personal narrative centeredaround her passion for language, culture, and social issues. These experiences not only helped her discover what she truly wanted to pursue, but also became the foundation of a distinctive application profile thatstood out among thousands of highly accomplished candidates.
It was this unique identity that enabled Linh Linh to impress admissions committees at prestigious universities. During her interview process for Fudan University, she realized that the skills she had developedthroughout her years at Dewey—public speaking, critical thinking, time management, and academic English proficiency—had become invaluable advantages. These competencies not only allowed her to confidentlypresent herself before admissions officers, but also prepared her for the future. As Linh Linh shared, they would help ensure that “when I eventually move to a new country, where society is larger and academicpressures are greater, I will still be able to adapt and thrive.”
As John Dewey once said, “If we teach today’s students as we taught yesterday’s, we rob them of tomorrow.” The world is constantly changing, and education must evolve alongside it to prepare students for the future. At The Dewey Schools Hai Phong, this vision comes to life through diverse learning experiences that encourage students to explore, take risks, and learn from real-world issues. Through each experience, students gain a deeper understanding of themselves, discover their passions, and build the confidence and capabilities needed to shape their own futures.
