Dang Nguyen Chau Anh (Dao ethnic, from Lao Cai) is a first-year student of the People's Police Academy. The female student was directly admitted to the school thanks to the first prize in the national excellent student competition in History in 2025.

Born in Lao Cai, a mountainous land in the Northwest that holds an important strategic position in national defense, security, and foreign affairs, Chau Anh often heard historical stories associated with this land. Chau Anh often grew up hearing historical stories closely tied to this land. Through them, she realized that history is not dry or rigid but, on the contrary, deeply engaging, offering fresh perspectives on seemingly familiar events.

When she studied at Lao Cai High School for the Gifted, vivid and suggestive lessons further reinforced her belief that “studying history is a journey of digging deep to understand contexts, people, and decisions that shape the destiny of a nation. Once you grasp the essence of an issue, the knowledge stays with you for a very long time.”

With that mindset, Chau Anh spent substantial time researching historical events, exploring different viewpoints, and honing her logical analysis skills. To her, each event is not simply about right or wrong, victory or defeat, but contains lessons about choice, courage, and human responsibility in times of change.

Her love for history also helped Chau Anh better understand the nature of the wars and the sacrifices of earlier generations, nurturing in her a desire to contribute and protect  people. This was one of the reasons why, after graduating from high school, she decided to enroll at the People’s Police Academy.

Another reason is that, growing up in a Dao ethnic community, Chau Anh witnessed many shortcomings in legal awareness, living conditions, and access to education among local people. 

At times, these limitations left people disadvantaged or even harmed. Such concerns led her to realize early on that, to help her community in a sustainable way, she needed to become someone with knowledge, resilience, and a solid understanding of the law.

“I chose the People’s Police Academy not only because I love the green uniform, but because it is a path that connects knowledge with action, ideals with responsibility, especially as it allows me to contribute to areas that still face many hardships like my hometown,” Chau Anh said.

Since entering the strictly disciplined environment of the People’s Police Academy, after long days of outdoor training, the once fair-skinned girl has grown tougher, her skin now sun-browned. There are days when Chau Anh spends eight to 10 hours outdoors practicing martial arts, regulations, and physical training.

Even so, she believes this period is deeply memorable, helping both herself and her teammates build resilience and character.

“In my view, success is the outcome of three combined factors: diligence, method, and belief. Among them, belief in oneself is the foundation that helps maintain lasting motivation and perseverance, especially during high-pressure periods,” she said.

Chau Anh believes that one of her advantages is the consistent support and encouragement from teachers, along with state policies for ethnic minority students. For her, the greatest challenge lies in overcoming the “invisible limits” she once set for herself. At moments when she felt she had reached her limit, it was her belief and aspiration not to let her starting point determine her destination that helped her stand up and move forward.

On that journey, Chau Anh said what she is most proud of is not awards or achievements, but the persistent effort to overcome herself. “For me, learning is to understand, to grow, and to contribute. Knowledge, especially history, has helped me view issues more comprehensively, with greater depth and a stronger sense of responsibility to society,” she said.

She also hopes to spread the spirit of learning among ethnic minority students, so they can believe that knowledge is the shortest path to changing their lives and their hometowns.

Thuy Nga