Tran Thi Ngoc Hoai, born in 2002, majoring in Business Administration, is the valedictorian for the National Economics University (NEU) with a perfect 4.0/4.0 GPA. 

Graduating a year later than most peers as she failed the exam in the first attempt, the Nghe An native has no regrets.

“That ‘step back’ taught me discipline and determination to become a better version of myself,” Hoai said.

Ngoc Hoai is a former student at Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted in Nghe An. Winning many provincial academic awards, in 2020 she gained early direct admission to top programs such as Hotel Management at NEU, Literature Education at Hanoi National University of Education, Economic Law at Hanoi Law University, and the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam.

However, none was her desired field. “At that time, I wanted to study Business Administration at NEU for its broad knowledge base, but I failed to get in,” Hoai recalled.

Unwilling to spend four years in a field she didn’t love, Hoai decided to retake the entrance exam. This choice drew opposition from her parents and comments like “gifted school student also failed university admission.”

Turning challenges into motivation, in 2021 Hoai retook the exam, scored 28.45, and was admitted to the desired program.

Entering her dream school, the Nghe An student set two goals: earning scholarships and joining extracurricular activities to build skills.

“I always had a daily to-do list and only slept after completing it, knowing unfinished tasks could delay future progress,” Hoai said.

The strict discipline helped her balance academics and extracurriculars. Over four years, she earned scholarships in all seven semesters, andwon first and second places in five digital economy and startup competitions.

In her sophomore year, noticing that enterprises were recruiting heavily while students struggled to find jobs, Hoai founded the NEU Student Orientation Club. 

The club connected students with businesses through job fairs and hosted regular talk shows to share experiences, equipping students with skills to meet employer demands.

Beyond school activities, Hoai engaged in research. In 2023, recognizing issues with information security and scams, she conducted a study titled “Impact of digital literacy on consumer privacy behavior and online payment intentions.” 

The research was published in a Q1 international scientific journal, with Hoai as the lead author. The study also won first place in the university’s scientific research competition and third place in the Science and Technology Award for students in higher education institutions.

Starting work in her sophomore year as a recruitment staff at an e-commerce platform company, Hoai became head of HR within a year.

In her final year, after rigorous interviews, she joined a multidisciplinary corporation as a system manager.

As the youngest full-time employee at the corporation (the began working before she got bachelor’s degree), Hoai credited her soft skills, and logical and critical thinking.

“On my journey of self-improvement, I strive persistently, comparing myself to today’s version, knowing that even small progress over yesterday is growth,” she shared.

Hoai said her greatest inspiration was her 2020 self.

“I used to be introverted. Throughout three years of high school, I only focused on studying. My mom even worried I’d be isolated by peers. But after getting into my dream program, I realized that staying the same could lead to another tough journey like 2020,” Hoai recalled.

She decided to change her mindset and behavior. Once shy and unable to speak in public, Hoai now confidently shares career insights on stage to inspire younger students.

“I hope to create lasting value for the community,” Hoai said.

Ngoc Hoai plans to continue developing in the corporate environment while pursuing a PhD, aiming to complete it within six years.

Thuy Nga