The Muong girl, once shy about communicating, embarked on a transformative journey, daring to step forward.

Initially shy and hesitant to socialize when she first entered university, Bui Thi Thao Van, a student in the Finance and Banking Faculty at Dai Nam University (DNU), proactively ran for class representative, received scholarships for three consecutive semesters, achieving excellent grades in two semesters and outstanding grades in one semester, along with a GPA of 3.52/4.0 – milestones that demonstrate the transformative journey of this Muong girl from Phu Tho.

In the early days, I was hesitant to step forward.

As a Muong girl from Phu Tho, Thao Van carried the shyness of a student from the mountainous region entering university for the first time. In her early days at Dai Nam University, she often chose to listen and observe rather than proactively express her opinions in front of the group.

"Initially, I was quite shy about communicating. When in a large group, I often didn't know how to start a conversation or express my opinion. So, I usually chose to listen and focus on doing my part well first."

Van began her university journey with the support of the "Support" scholarship, which covered 20% of the tuition fee for the entire course, dành for students from disadvantaged families. This support became a motivation for her to focus on her studies and gradually adapt to the new environment.

"I really appreciate the scholarship I received when I first entered the university. It's an encouragement for me to try harder in my studies. I also told myself that I need to be more proactive, instead of keeping my shyness to myself."

Dare to step forward once

The turning point came in the third semester, when Van proactively applied for the position of Academic Deputy Class Leader of the Banking and Finance 19-02 class. For a student who had previously been quite shy and hesitant to communicate, that decision meant she had to step out of her comfort zone.

“When I decided to run for the position, I was worried because I’m not very talkative. I wondered if someone like me was suitable for the position of Class Vice-President for Academics. But if I waited until I felt truly confident before starting, I probably would never know what I was capable of. So, I decided to give it a try.”

Taking on the role of Class Vice-President for Academics, Van had to be more proactive in communicating with classmates, coordinating with the class committee, and supporting other members of the class. These seemingly small tasks became opportunities for her to hone her communication skills, organizational abilities, and sense of responsibility towards the group.

"As Class Vice-President, I realized that I couldn't just do my own job well, but also had to care about the common good. There were things I used to be hesitant to ask about, but now I have to proactively discuss them with my classmates or teachers. Gradually, I feel much more confident."

This change was evident when Van continued to earn the trust of her classmates in the new academic year. From a student who usually stayed in the background, she gradually became an active member, participating in and supporting the class's group activities.

Three semesters of scholarships and personal growth.

Her proactive participation in group activities goes hand in hand with consistent academic performance. For three consecutive semesters, Thao Van received the School's Academic Encouragement Scholarship, achieving two semesters with Good grades and one semester with Excellent grades. Her current GPA is 3.52/4.0.

"Every time I receive a scholarship, I'm happy knowing that my efforts have been recognized. But then I think about the next semester. I want to maintain this result and strive for even better results, instead of viewing the scholarship as an achievement to stop at."

What's remarkable about Van's journey isn't just the numbers on her report card. During the same period, she maintained her academic achievements while also serving as the class's academic deputy and progressively improving her communication and teamwork skills.

Looking back on her transformation, Van believes the most important thing she gained during her university years was the confidence to step outside her comfort zone.

"I don't think I need to be the most outstanding or the most talkative person in the group. For me, simply daring to try something I previously thought impossible, and then striving to do it well, is already a step forward."

Thảo Vân's story begins with a shy Mường girl in the lecture hall and continues with a very simple decision: to dare to step up and take responsibility. From that first time running for Class Vice-President, Vân had more opportunities to hone her skills, gain the trust of her classmates, and gradually affirm her abilities. For her, "standing out" doesn't necessarily have to start with a big achievement; sometimes, it's just the moment a young person dares to step beyond the limits they've set for themselves.