The girl was a step behind, but then made a spectacular breakthrough on the lecture halls of Dai Nam University.

In the fall of 2022, while her peers eagerly donned their university uniforms and posted their first check-in photos at the university gates, Vu Thi Kim Thuy quietly packed up her books and embarked on a completely different life.

Born into a family burdened with many responsibilities, and raised with the love and care of her grandmother, Thuy understood that her dream of attending university was a "luxury" if she couldn't financially support herself. Therefore, after graduating from high school, the young woman decided to put her dream on hold, accepting a year's delay to work and save up for tuition.

There were nights when, watching the lights come on in her dorm room and seeing her friends excitedly showing off their student ID cards on social media, Thuy couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. But the fear of giving up never crossed the young woman's mind.

Thuy told herself, "Being a step behind doesn't mean I'm stopping. I'm working today so that tomorrow I can walk into the lecture hall on my own two feet."

THREE YEARS OF STUDYING AND KEEPING UP TO THE PACE OF "REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE"

In 2023, Kim Thủy officially became a freshman in the Marketing major, Faculty of Business Administration & Marketing, Dai Nam University (DNU). The day she received her student ID card, Thủy knew she didn't have time to relax.

For three years at DNU, she lived a life twice as demanding as others: attending lectures in the morning and working part-time in the evenings to cover her tuition and living expenses. But instead of viewing work as a burden, Thuy transformed each shift into a "practical training laboratory." By her third year, thanks to the Faculty's business internship program, Thuy had the confidence to simultaneously take on two professional roles in Marketing and Business Management.

Amidst the immense pressure of work and studies, Thuy cultivated an iron discipline. She refused to compromise with fatigue. As a result, she achieved the Excellence Scholarship for nine consecutive semesters, maintained a GPA of 3.84/4.0, won first prize in the School-level Scientific Research Competition, was the champion of the Soft Skills Camp, and was the most active Youth Union Secretary.

The girl who was a year behind is now running faster than everyone else.

THE MARK OF AN ENVIRONMENT THAT "GIVES OPPORTUNITIES - UNLEASHES IDENTITY"

Seeing Thuy beaming on the podium, Associate Professor Dr. Truong Duc Thao - Head of the Faculty of Business Administration & Marketing - emotionally shared: "What makes us most proud is not the title of Valedictorian of the entire university, but the way Thuy has bravely grown through each challenge. She is the most vivid proof of Dai Nam's training philosophy: It doesn't matter where you start from, as long as you have aspirations, the university will be the launching pad for you to shine."

At DNU, Thuy wasn't confined to dry theoretical lectures. She was immersed in business from an early age, given opportunities to conduct scientific research and publish articles in specialized journals, and empowered to lead student movements.

Dai Nam University does not create stereotypical "models of success." DNU creates an environment where a girl who once had to put her dreams on hold due to poverty can confidently stand up, explore all limits, and affirm her self-worth.

The starting point does not determine the destination.

On the morning of July 10, 2026, amidst the resounding applause of nearly 2,000 graduates and thousands of parents at the 2026 University Graduation Ceremony, the name Vu Thi Kim Thuy was announced as the top graduate: VALEDICTORIAN OF THE UNIVERSITY.

Below the stage, Thuy's elderly grandmother and older sister silently wiped away tears. The excellent degree Thuy held in her hands today was not only woven from knowledge, but also forged from sweat, tears, boundless perseverance, and an unwavering belief in the future.

From a girl who had to work part-time after leaving high school to save money for her studies, Kim Thủy is now confidently moving south to Ho Chi Minh City to conquer new heights in her career and prepare for higher education.

Kim Thuy's story sends a powerful message to thousands of young people out there: "It doesn't matter how late you start, what matters is whether you have the courage to pursue your dreams to the very end!"

And at Dai Nam University, as long as you dare to dream, the University will always be there to support you in "Unleashing your identity - Illuminating your journey"!