As the university admissions season comes to a close, Nguyễn Tiến Thành (12 Washington DC, Dewey Hai Phong) and Tạ Quỳnh Anh (12 Detroit, Dewey Tay Ho Tay) have added another milestone to their university journey, earning admission to the Auditing and Finance & Banking programs at the Academy of Finance – one of Vietnam’s leading public universities.
Interestingly, both Tiến Thành and Quỳnh Anh began their high school journey in the Social Sciences track. Yet through classroom learning and Mathematics projects, the two Dewey students gradually discovered an unexpected interest in numbers. Through hands-on lessons and real-world projects, they began to see how Mathematics could serve as a practical tool for solving real-life problems while opening doors to the university pathways they aspired to pursue.
The Grade 11 Mathematics project, Dolphin Tank – “Design Your Dream House”, became a turning point that strengthened both students’ interest in pursuing careers in finance. From calculating break-even points and balancing costs and revenue to valuing businesses and allocating shares, the project gave Tiến Thành the opportunity to discover that working with numbers was not as difficult or complicated as he had once imagined. For Quỳnh Anh, the project offered a chance to apply spatial thinking, mathematical skills, and creativity in a practical context.
Through experiences like these, both students gained a clearer understanding of their strengths and began to seriously consider future pathways in Economics and Finance.
Career guidance activities at school also played an important role in helping them gain greater confidence in their abilities and decisions. Tiến Thành shared: “The school has always been very attentive to our career guidance journey. Since Grade 10, I had already recognized my strengths in Mathematics, but I only truly decided to pursue Auditing after having the opportunity to speak with a professional in the field, whom the school invited to share their experience with us in Grade 11. In addition, the school organizes activities such as University Fairs, Career Exhibitions, and field trips, giving us more opportunities to explore and gain a clearer understanding of the careers we are interested in.”
The stories of Quỳnh Anh and Tiến Thành show that choosing a high school track does not have to define a student’s future. Starting from the Social Sciences track, both students gradually came to understand themselves through diverse and meaningful learning experiences, discovering another area of strength and choosing to pursue it with purpose.
At Dewey, students are encouraged to try, explore their abilities, and test their choices through real experiences before making important decisions about their future. When they are ready to take ownership of those choices, they not only find a university
