Among the excellent valedictorians honored by Hanoi in 2025, Mai Hoa (born 1987), valedictorian of Vietnam University of Fine Arts, is a special case. She graduated from university at the age of 38, after 10 years of working without finding her true passion.

In 2005, Hoa studied English Language at Hanoi University. However, she admitted that  she chose the major just because she had a slight aptitude for English but had no idea about a career after graduation.

After graduating, she worked as an office employee for seven years, but she said the longer she worked, the more incomplete she felt.

"Honestly, I always longed to work in the field I was best at. I felt I had a slight artistic inclination but wasn't sure what my strength was in," she said.

In 2016, she made a decision to quit her office job, simultaneously trying her hand at business and taking short courses in makeup, photography, and fashion illustration, among others. 

During this process, she realized that the core feature of these subjects originated from painting or fine arts. So she decided return to the root - painting and drawing.

Her decision was supported by her husband, who had worked with her for years and understood her strengths, personality, and aspirations.

In 2020, Mai Hoa prepared for the entrance exam to Vietnam University of Fine Arts. She had to study figure drawing, composition, and review literature. Throughout this period, her husband was her emotional support, often cooking her favorite dishes so she could stay healthy and focus on studying.

Thanks to her determination, she was admitted to her dream major. Becoming a student again, surrounded by classmates 15 years younger, did not pressure her. With a mindset of someone who had worked and experienced life’s ups and downs, she found ways to adapt and devoted herself fully to learning.

“I studied with a different mindset, knowing what I needed and aiming for a bigger purpose,” she said.

The first two years were the hardest because she learned a lot but didn’t see immediate results. Sometimes she felt discouraged and wanted to quit. But looking back, she now believes this is a phase everyone in fine arts must go through to find their own path and creative voice.

At the end of her second year, her grades qualified her for the talent class, where she received full tuition and art supplies.

A determined pursuit 

During her studies, Hoa worried about her future and whether “art could provide a stable living.”

“Fine arts is a long internal struggle. When painting, you have to set aside financial worries to keep your mind clear, even though life is always full of them. At the same time, you must overcome your own limits and habits. You need strong fundamentals, but in the end, you must go beyond form to create freely,” she said.

By her third and fourth years, she gradually adapted to the workload and learning approach, becoming more confident.

But a year later, tragedy struck. Her father passed away just as she was on a four-week field trip in Hue. The shock devastated her, leaving her lost and questioning the meaning of life.

Returning to Hue after three days in Hanoi for the funeral, she stood one morning at Thuan An Port, watching the sunrise and the bustling life around her. At that moment, she felt that the life was truly precious.

From those deep emotions, she created a painting about life at Thuan An Port. Surprisingly, the work was highly praised. It was then she realized the power of one’s inner state in artistic creation: when she let go of expectations and worked with a calm, pure mind, the artwork naturally became beautiful without force. This remains her most cherished piece.

After five years of study, Mai Hoa was surprised to learn she had become the school’s valedictorian. On the day she was honored at the Temple of Literature, she was overwhelmed with emotion, knowing her efforts were recognized.

“But being valedictorian is not the destination. It’s just the end of one chapter. Now I’m thinking about my next journey,” she said.

Hoa is currently seeking a master’s scholarship in Europe to deepen her expertise and explore new artistic trends.

Thuy Nga