In 2020, Hien scored 29.05 points in the B00 subject group (math, chemistry, biology), including priority points. This score was barely enough to gain admission into HMU's General Medicine program.

"With a score that just barely passed, I felt fortunate," Hien recalled.

Hien's dream of becoming a doctor was sparked at an early age. Her father passed away when she was nearly three years old, leaving her to grow up with her maternal grandparents. Her grandfather had studied at HMU and later worked at the Military Medical Academy.

Taking care of her grandmother in the hospital and observing doctors meticulously examine patients nurtured her affinity for medicine.

Upon entering medical school, Hien initially lacked confidence because many classmates had been directly admitted without having to take exams, or achieved near-perfect scores.

The academic workload proved overwhelming. "During some lectures, professors covered material equivalent to half a textbook, making it hard for me to keep pace," Hien remembered.

However, her freshman year served as a turning point that transformed her study methods. Realizing that textbook readings alone were insufficient for the vast and complex curriculum, she sought out YouTube tutorials, foreign literature, and other medical sources.

At the time, AI was not widely accessible, and Hien's English skills were limited. For specialized documents, she relied on Google Translate.

"At first, I feared I couldn’t understand. Because the material was difficult, I forced myself to focus and look up words to grasp every detail. Gradually, my specialized English vocabulary expanded without me realizing it," Hien said.

By her second year, reading English literature became easier, and she shed the feeling of being overwhelmed when exploring new medical topics.

Beyond her studies, Hien joined the "Active Learning" club. Members organized study groups, reviewed material for younger students, and supported one another academically. These activities provided an environment to reinforce knowledge while developing skills in presenting and sharing concepts with others.

Overcoming the fear of facing patients

The greatest challenge of Hien's university journey arrived in her fourth year when students entered intensive clinical rotations. Morning hospital rounds, afternoon theoretical lectures, and evening on-call shifts or self-study became her daily routine.

"In my fourth year, I met more people than in the previous 22 years combined," Hien recorded in her diary.

Crowded hospitals, intense working rhythms, grueling shifts, and vast practical knowledge frequently made her feel underprepared. During that period, Hien weighed just over 40 kg at a height of 1.6 meters.

Furthermore, Hien naturally lacked confidence in communication. Effective patient interviewing requires not only knowledge, but also the ability to build trust. For a time before every hospital shift, Hien wrote down planned questions in a notebook to create rapport and facilitate smoother patient interactions.

Over time, guided by professors and exposed to numerous hospital situations, Hien gained confidence and accumulated experience.

Currently, while on duty in the emergency department, she gathers information about symptoms and takes patient histories without the fear that plagued her early days.

She said that maintaining her studies during high-pressure periods required finding a reason to keep going. Whenever she felt clueless during clinicals, she focused on the ultimate goal of the profession - caring for patient health - as her motivation.

"What I feared most was losing the desire to learn. I had to find reasons to persevere," Hien explained.

In her sixth year, Hien prepared for the residency exam. Although she started later than her peers, she avoided cramming.

Over six years of college, interactions with seniors who pursued various career tracks helped Hien realize that a doctor's path is not limited to a single choice, provided one loves their work.

"For the residency exam, I was determined to do my best. But if I don't pass, I have prepared myself for a different direction," Hien stated.

Hien is currently awaiting her residency exam results, aiming to pursue neurology in the future.

Thuy Nga