Three years ago, after returning to Vietnam from Germany and beginning her high school journey at The Dewey Schools Hai Phong, Bui Pham Bao Han, an alumna of Grade 12 Washington DC, was still a shy young girl who hesitated to speak English for fear of mispronouncing words. Today, Han has become a freshman majoring in International Relations at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, while also earning multiple scholarships from international universities worth more than VND 31 billion in total.
This transformation began with the encouragement Han received from her teachers to step beyond her comfort zone. Ms. Sofia, her English teacher, and Ms. Doan Thi Sau, her Literature teacher and the “second mother” of Grade 12 Washington DC, were always there to listen, encourage her, and give her opportunities to challenge herself. From hosting school events, Han gradually grew confident enough to take on the role of a bilingual MC in front of nearly 2,000 audiences at the E-Fest music festival.
Every time she stood in front of a crowd, Han discovered something new about herself. She found that she enjoyed communicating, had a natural ability to connect people, and wanted to speak up about social issues. Along the way, her dream of becoming a young diplomat began to take shape.
This aspiration became clearer when Han joined DMUN, a Model United Nations conference led and organized by Dewey students. As Secretary-General and Head of the Events Committee, Han was entrusted with hands-on responsibilities, from working with vendors and communicating with guests and parents to gathering delegates’ feedback and coordinating with different stakeholders to ensure the event ran smoothly.
By making decisions herself and taking responsibility for the outcomes, Han discovered her strengths in organization, communication, and connecting people. DMUN therefore became a defining experience that helped her realize that Diplomacy and International Relations were the fields she wanted to pursue.
With nearly 15 university options in Vietnam and abroad to consider, making her final decision was far from easy. The Career Counseling team supported Han in gaining a clearer understanding of each major’s characteristics, academic programs, and future prospects, while closely guiding her throughout the application process. Their support did not make the decision for her; instead, it gave Han the information and perspective she needed to make the choice that was right for her.
“If it weren’t for the Dewey environment, I probably wouldn’t have been able to achieve what I have today,” Han shared.
Looking back on her journey, Bao Han believes that the most meaningful achievement is not simply the results she has earned, but the growth of a girl who once hesitated to speak up and has now found her voice, discovered what she wants, and gained the confidence to choose her own future. This is also what empowerment at Dewey means: students are trusted to take on new challenges, supported when they are uncertain, and gradually encouraged to take ownership of their decisions.
Congratulations to Bao Han on this proud milestone. May you continue to speak with confidence and carry your determination with you as you pursue your journey toward becoming a diplomat in the future.
