Born in 2007 and raised in Huoi Xa village, Nhon Mai commune, a remote border area of Nghe An province near Laos, Ni grew up in hardship and witnessed a life with few opportunities for learning or development.

“My family wasn’t well-off,” she said. “For me to continue studying, my parents had to make many sacrifices. That became my biggest motivation to keep going.”

From the time she entered secondary school, Ni left home to attend a boarding school. Being away from her parents, she quickly learned to be independent, set clear goals, and enforce discipline in her own life.

“I’m deeply grateful for the chance to go to school,” Ni said. “I always reminded myself to study hard to change my life.”

When she reached high school, Ni enrolled at Nghe An Ethnic Minority Boarding High School. It was there that her mindset and study methods transformed. She studied alongside peers from various remote and difficult regions across Nghe An, all of them hardworking and full of ambition.

That environment gave Ni a powerful belief: your background does not determine your future - only your effort does.

For three consecutive years, Ni was a top-performing student. She even won second prize in the provincial literature competition. Most notably, in Vietnam’s 2025 national graduation exam, she scored an astonishing 29.5 points, becoming the national runner-up in group C00 (specializing in social sciences).

She attributed her success to consistency, effective study strategies, and most importantly, self-belief.

“Only when you believe in yourself can you persist through the toughest challenges,” Ni said. Still, she sees the title of runner-up not just as a source of pride, but also a responsibility and a driving force to keep learning and growing.

Her exam results earned her a place in the International Relations program at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam - one of the country’s most competitive schools. There, Ni found herself surrounded by peers from urban centers and top-tier schools.

“At first, I felt left behind,” she admitted. “I realized how much I didn’t know and how slow I seemed compared to others.”

But instead of feeling defeated or falling into comparisons, Ni chose a different route - slow and steady progress, learning something new every day.

“I told myself that I didn’t have to be excellent right away. What matters is accepting your flaws, being willing to correct them, keep learning, and building relationships that help you grow.”

That mindset has helped her adapt, mature, and gain confidence in university.