This scholarship program honors international students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, creativity, and leadership potential, with a commitment to community contribution.

Applicants must be nominated by their high school principals, and each school can only nominate one student. The Lester B. Pearson Scholarship covers full tuition and living expenses for four years of university study.

"With an acceptance rate of just over 1%, I never thought I would be selected," said Huynh Ngoc Anh Thu, a Vietnamese student currently attending London International Academy in Canada.

A journey of independence

Anh Thu considers herself fortunate to have open-minded parents who encouraged her to experience new environments. From a young age, she frequently traveled with her parents to various countries, igniting her passion for learning new languages and understanding different cultures.

"The more places I visited, the more I wanted to learn the languages of those countries. Through language, I could delve deeper into the culture and people of the places I had been," she said.

Her diverse experiences led Anh Thu to aspire to study abroad. At 13, during a family trip to Canada, she was captivated by the life and people in Ontario, sparking her desire to study there.

"At that time, the idea of studying abroad was more exciting than daunting, although my parents were initially surprised and concerned, considering it a childish thought. They envisioned many challenges I might face alone in a foreign place," Anh Thu shared.

While her parents did not oppose the idea, they gave her time to think it over. Confident and ready for independence, Anh Thu saw studying abroad as an opportunity to learn new things and test her adaptability.

At 13, she enrolled in a public school in Canada, becoming the youngest Vietnamese student in the Ontario Vietnamese community. Despite her young age, Anh Thu adapted well, aided by her curiosity and the support of her host family, classmates, and fellow Vietnamese students.

Anh Thu's studies in Canada were interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing her to return to Vietnam. In 2022, as the situation improved, she resumed her education in Canada, attending grades 11 and 12 at London International Academy on a scholarship.

Anh Thu appreciates the openness of Canadian education, where students are encouraged to think independently. Besides English, she studied French, Spanish, Korean, and Chinese. French, an official language of Canada, was her primary focus, while Spanish was chosen due to its prevalence in the Americas. Her interest in Korean and Chinese led her to take additional classes in these languages.

"Learning multiple languages can sometimes cause mix-ups. For instance, I might answer a question asked in Spanish with French," she said.

However, Anh Thu finds that knowing one language often aids in learning another. "For example, learning Korean before Chinese helped me with grammar, vocabulary, and character recognition. Similarly, knowing French made learning Spanish easier, as it felt more like switching languages rather than starting from scratch."

Securing a rare scholarship

Anh Thu’s love for Canada and desire to continue her education there drove her to apply for university scholarships. She believes extracurricular activities should stem from personal passion rather than a desire to enhance one's resume. Her genuine involvement in various activities made her stand out.

In two short years, Anh Thu initiated a project to raise funds for the London Children’s Health Foundation. She and her volunteer team painted tote bags for sale, donating all proceeds to the foundation.

Additionally, she taught English to underprivileged children, having earned a TESOL certificate to ensure quality instruction. At the end of grade 11, she wrote and published a guidebook on studying in Canada, drawing from her experiences at public and boarding schools.

In her 800-word application essay, Anh Thu recounted her entrepreneurial journey at 13, capitalizing on the rising popularity of Korean culture. Fluent in Korean, she contacted suppliers in Korea to find the best prices for importing cultural products to Canada, later expanding to the US.

Anh Thu allocated part of her earnings for personal expenses and donated the rest to buy masks for hospitals and health centers. Through her essay, she aimed to demonstrate her business acumen, creativity, and perseverance, aligning with her chosen field of Commerce.

Anh Thu believes that there is no fixed template for securing admission or scholarships at top universities. "What matters most is showcasing your unique qualities to the admissions committee and staying true to yourself. Expressing your passion and determination to achieve your dreams is what helped me secure the Lester B. Pearson Scholarship," she said.

Thuy Nga