Nguyen Hoang Hai An, a grade 12 student at the Olympia Schools, has recently received early admission to Swarthmore College, one of the leading liberal arts colleges in the US. She has been granted a financial aid package worth VND7.1 billion for four years of study there.

In addition, Hai An was admitted to several other US universities, all of which offered financial aid ranging from $27,000 to $57,000 per year.

Thorough preparation 

Hai An’s desire to study abroad began to take shape when she was in grade 7. In particular, the US liberal arts education system allows students not to be “locked into” a single major from the outset, which aligns well with the interdisciplinary path she hopes to pursue.

Therefore, from the middle of the 10th grade, An seriously began preparing her application, prioritizing the early completion of standardized tests to focus on essays and in-depth projects. In the summer before the 11th grade, she achieved a 1540 SAT score.

According to Hai An, a strong application does not lie in "doing a lot" but in whether the pieces can "tell" a consistent story about the candidate. In the application sent to US universities, the essay was the part Hai An was most satisfied with.

Although completed in just 10 days, the writing deeply expressed what An felt and desired about life around her. The female student said she realized that in society there will always be prejudices, something that can silently hurt many people, especially vulnerable groups.

Hai An cited in her essay stories within the LGBTQ+ community and prejudices against same-sex love. In addition, Hai An also wanted to enter the inner world of people working abroad to understand the pressures, hopes, and choices behind each migration journey.

That very concern urged Hai An to apply for a job at a labor export company to gain a closer look at the lives of migrants.

Initially, with the task of supporting phone calls, An accidentally participated in a conversation she would never forget. 

It was a message from a woman working in Taiwan (China), who was exhausted and felt unable to adapt to life in a foreign land. Hai An typed words of encouragement saying that everything would get better.

"When the conversation ended, I sat in the dark in front of the laptop screen and was suddenly shocked by my own superficiality. As soon as I logged out of the account and went to bed, she was still there and lonely," Hai An recalled.

That moment made An realize that empathy alone is not enough. Without specific support systems, many people will continue to be left behind.

From personal reflection to a community project

Hai An and her collaborators decided to build a project on safe migration called “Nhan thao van hanh,” spreading accurate information about migration on social media to help people understand risks and learn how to protect themselves. The group also raised funds to bring in-person classes to a commune in the border area of Lang Son Province.

Beyond that, the project also developed an application and compiled handbooks to help workers identify the risks of illegal migration. Hai An’s project made the top 30 Vietnamese projects selected to participate in initiatives on climate change and migration by the United Nations Development Programme.

Alongside her community activities, Hai An has devoted significant time to scientific research. She is also the founder of SPARK (Students’ Platform for Academic Research and Knowledge), a platform that connects high school students with experts to conduct structured academic research to be published in reputable journals.

For Hai An, research is not just about "beautifying" the application but also a way to help her dig deep into issues, seeking solutions based on evidence and critical thinking.

The female student perceives that all elements in her application revolve around the consistent value of social responsibility and community spirit. "I think Swarthmore College is not looking for a perfect student but for people who understand who they are and want to use knowledge to create change," she said.

Soon, Hai An will leave for the US. She hopes to find exchange opportunities to experience more during her studies in this country. An plans to pursue Economics with the orientation of becoming a policymaker or consultant, contributing to solving social issues.

Thuy Nga