The dream of a white blouse began with love for my mother.

From her childhood essay, "I want to become a doctor to cure my mother's illness," to the day she stood before the graduation thesis defense committee, the journey of Nguyen Minh Nguyet – a medical student at Dai Nam University (DNU) – is not just the story of a future doctor. It is also the story of a daughter's boundless love for her mother, of a promise kept for many years, and of a mother silently watching her child grow day by day.

The essay made the mother burst into tears.

In the graduation thesis defense hall of the first cohort of medical students at Dai Nam University, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy - a teacher at Luong My Secondary School (Hanoi) - could barely take her eyes off her daughter.

Standing before the panel was Nguyen Minh Nguyet, her young daughter whom she had watched through her six years of stressful medical studies. Watching her daughter confidently present her research topic, the mother suddenly recalled a memory from many years ago.

While tidying her child's study area, she stumbled upon an essay about future dreams. Among those childish words, there was one sentence that left her speechless: "I want to become a doctor to cure my mother's illness."

“ When I read those words, I cried. My child never told me that. Perhaps from a very young age, she saw me sick but didn’t say anything,” Ms. Thuy recalled emotionally.

Having spent many years teaching, Ms. Thuy frequently faced health problems related to bones, joints, and colon. There were times when her health deteriorated, and she even fainted in class, causing concern among her colleagues, students, and family.

The mother never imagined that the things she tried to hide to reassure her daughter would be secretly remembered by her little girl. And then, from the love for her mother, a dream was sown.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy (on the left) is happy on the day her daughter defends her graduation thesis.

The mother was more worried than she expected.

When my child decided to pursue a career in medicine, pride was always accompanied by worry.

"My daughter is petite and not particularly strong. Studying medicine is a very long and stressful journey. The medical field requires not only knowledge and skills but also good health, endurance, and a very strong mental fortitude."

Throughout her six years of study, the mother closely followed every exam, every course module, and every practical training and internship phase of her child.

“ I love my child more than I expect. There are nights when she stays up late studying, preparing for exams, or completing research papers. Many times, seeing her lose weight from studying, I just hope she stays healthy.”

But it was this journey that allowed her to witness her child's growth day by day. From a naive and inexperienced medical student, Nguyet gradually became more confident through each clinical semester, each shift, and each interaction with patients.

Whenever I feel tired, I remember why I started.

If for her mother, those six years were a journey of worry and waiting, for Nguyen Minh Nguyet, it was a journey of learning to grow up and persevere without giving up.

The months spent studying at Dai Nam University, practicing at the hospital, and interacting with patients helped Nguyet gain a deeper understanding of the meaning of the medical profession.

“I’ve met many patients with diverse backgrounds and circumstances. Some stories will stay with me forever. I understand that behind every patient is a person, a family, and hopes placed in the doctor.”

Nguyen Minh Nguyet participated in a program providing free health check-ups, consultations, and medication to residents of Den Sang commune, Lao Cai province .

The female student said there were periods of pressure due to the large amount of knowledge, the packed schedule, and the very high demands of the major. But whenever she felt tired, she remembered why she started.

"I always remind myself to try a little harder. I know that behind me is the love of my family, the expectations of my mother, and the dream I've been pursuing for a long time."

The thesis topic also started with my mother.

What's special is that Minh Nguyệt chose a thesis topic that resonates with concerns she's had since childhood. Nguyệt's research topic relates to colorectal cancer – one of the most common diseases today.

"Perhaps the years I spent witnessing my mother's frequent digestive problems sparked my interest in this field. When working on my thesis, I viewed it not only as an academic task but also as an opportunity to delve deeper into health issues that I've been concerned about since childhood."

Standing before the thesis defense committee today, the young girl who years ago wrote that she wanted to become a doctor to cure her mother's illness can now confidently present the results of her research as a future physician.

Today's achievements are the result of the support of family, teachers, and the school.

Looking back on her six years of study at Dai Nam University, Nguyen Minh Nguyet said that what she cherishes most is not only the professional knowledge she has gained but also the support of her teachers and the learning environment that the university has created for its students.

“ Dai Nam University gave me the opportunity to study in a modern environment, to practice and intern from an early age, and to always receive close guidance from the professors. Especially during the process of completing my graduation thesis, I received a lot of professional feedback, encouragement, and support to complete the topic in the best way possible,” Minh Nguyet shared.

He consistently received scholarships.

The female student believes that her achievements today are the result of her personal efforts along with the support of her family, teachers, and the university. “Behind this success are my loving family, my dedicated teachers who guided me, and Dai Nam University which provided us with the best environment to study and train. I am truly grateful to everyone,” Nguyet said.

Commenting on Nguyen Minh Nguyet and the first cohort of medical students at Dai Nam University, Associate Professor Hoang Duc Hanh - Head of the Faculty of Medicine - said he was particularly impressed with the students' serious study habits, professional training awareness, and maturity after 6 years of training.

Outstanding Student Award at the University Level.

According to Associate Professor Hoang Duc Hanh, Nguyen Minh Nguyet is a student with outstanding academic achievements, having received academic achievement scholarships for many consecutive years, actively participating in scientific research and extracurricular activities, achieving the title of "5 Good Students" at the university level, and being admitted to the Party while still a student.

“What I appreciate about Nguyet is her serious study ethic, self-discipline, and responsibility towards her future career. Her thesis topic was chosen from practical issues in community healthcare, possessing significant scientific value and high applicability. The research process demonstrates the student's scientific research capabilities, analytical thinking, and ability to apply specialized knowledge to practice,” commented Associate Professor Hoang Duc Hanh.

The Head of the Faculty of Medicine emphasized that the greatest achievement of training at Dai Nam University is not only demonstrated through a successful thesis or graduation defense, but also in the holistic growth of students after six years of study and training.

“By confidently and successfully defending their graduation theses, the students have demonstrated their professional competence, professional integrity, and readiness to enter the working environment as future doctors. This is also proof of the quality of training and the practical-oriented training orientation that Dai Nam University has always steadfastly pursued,” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Duc Hanh affirmed.

I had the honor of joining the Party while still a student.

"I already have my own doctor."

Immediately after her daughter finished defending her thesis, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy couldn't hide her joy and emotion. Looking at her daughter – a medical student who had just completed a significant milestone after six years of study – Ms. Thuy shared: "Now I often jokingly tell people that I have my own doctor."

According to Ms. Thuy, in the past, whenever her mother was sick, her daughter could only worry and offer encouragement. But now, with the knowledge she has learned, her daughter can read basic test results, advise on diet, remind her mother to have regular health checkups, and explain issues related to illness.

"What makes me happiest isn't my child's achievements or academic results. I'm proud that my child persevered in pursuing medicine and completed the path they chose," Ms. Thuy said.

For this mother, the thesis defense not only marked her daughter's professional growth but also represented the culmination of years of hard work and training in the medical field.