Born in Hanoi to a father who is an army officer and mother a medical worker, Nhat Anh was passionate about English from a young age and enrolled in Nguyen Hue High School for the Gifted, nurturing her dream of working in an international environment.

At the threshold of university, despite advice to choose more prominent schools in terms of media studies, she opted for the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam.

“I wanted to develop my foreign language skills while learning about international issues. The Diplomatic Academy met both needs. Looking back, I know I made the right choice,” she said.

Four years later, that choice led her to become the valedictorian of the entire Diplomatic Academy and the valedictorian of the International Communication major for the 2021-2025 cohort, with a GPA of 3.96/4.0. 

Nhat Anh also earned scholarships for six out of seven semesters and a series of academic awards.

Stepping out of comfort zone

In an environment full of talents, Nhat Anh faced the pressure of not falling behind. She ventured going beyond her comfort zone: participating in MUN (Model United Nations), where students role-play as delegates of countries, discussing and debating international issues at the Diplomatic Academy and the National Economics University as a freshman, winning the “Best Position Paper” award.

Anh also served as class president for all four years and engaged in scientific research despite having no prior experience.

Anh believes the key to maintaining her performance over the last four years was setting clear goals and staying disciplined. She was rarely late for class, often sat in the front row to stay focused, read materials in advance, and prepared questions to discuss with lecturers.

She broke down large assignments into smaller parts, completing them incrementally instead of cramming near deadlines, which helped reduce pressure and ensure quality.

In a teamwork-heavy environment like the Diplomatic Academy, she valued finding like-minded teammates. 

After a few projects, Nhat Anh built connections with a group of friends who shared her goals and drive, allowing them to study together, discuss ideas, and practice presentations.

“At the Diplomatic Academy, teamwork is key. If your teammates don’t share your vision, motivation drops quickly,” she said.

Positive peer pressure

According to Nhat Anh, the Diplomatic Academy gathers outstanding students from all over the country. The pressure there comes not only from the volume of knowledge and coursework but also from being surrounded by talented, driven peers. 

The valedictorian calls this “positive peer pressure”, which is a motivating force that pushed her to keep up.

She focused on her strengths: academics, MUN, and scientific research. Instead of attending all activities, Nhat Anh invested deeply in these areas to build knowledge and hone analytical, critical thinking, and presentation skills, the essential tools for her pursuit of diplomacy and international communication.

Anh said that her GPA, academic achievements, and valedictorian title are just the “tip of the iceberg.” What she’s prouder of is the courage to stay committed to her chosen path.

“If I had to pick one word for my university journey, it would be ‘courage.’ Courage helped me embrace new experiences and push past my limits. The valedictorian title is just a new starting line, not the finish. What matters is maintaining the spirit and energy to keep going,” Anh said.

Her favorite quote is from British statesman Winston Churchill: “Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

Her thesis advisor, Le Ngoc Thuy Duong, said Anh is a student with a serious and inquisitive approach to learning and research. She explores new knowledge and has an excellent ability to apply critical thinking to connect theory with real-world issues.

To future students aspiring to join the Diplomatic Academy, Nhat Anh said: “In a world full of information, it’s easy to get swept up by pressures. Be your own compass, know your strengths, and stay committed to your goals.”

The new valedictorian revealed that in the near future, she plans to gain experience while preparing applications for a master’s degree abroad to further develop in the fields of political and social science.

Tu Huy