Coastal male student wins 8.3 billion VND scholarship to go to America

The story of the ups and downs of souvenirs made from seashells helped Duc Anh conquer Yale University - top 5 in the US, receiving a full scholarship to pursue Economics.

Duc Anh is currently a 12th grader at Le Quy Don High School for the Gifted, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province. With an SAT score of 1,530/1,600, IELTS 7.5, and an average GPA of over 9.7, Duc Anh has also received scholarships from three top 30 universities in the US, worth 5-6 billion VND for four years of study at each school.

The male student decided to go to Yale this summer, because this has been his dream for a long time. Yale University - one of the 8 elite schools in the US (Ivy League), said this year it accepted nearly 2,150 students, from about 57,400 applications, the most competitive rate in more than 320 years.

Duc Anh said that when he entered 3rd grade, his brother was also accepted into American universities. Stories about life and study urged him to try to set foot in ancient buildings, green campuses, and meet international friends like his brother.

"Although we are 10 years apart in age, my brother and I are very close and talk often. My brother's progress is my motivation," the male student said.

In 7th grade, Duc Anh was sent by his parents to the US to attend his brother's graduation ceremony. On this occasion, he visited famous schools, especially impressed with Yale University.

"The educational philosophy and factors that Yale emphasizes, such as the ability to lead and create change in the surrounding community, attract me," Duc Anh said.

Duc Anh introduces handicrafts made from snail and clam shells, December 2023. Photo: Provided by the character

According to Duc Anh, in Ba Ria - Vung Tau, students do not have many playgrounds and connections with the outside world like in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. During the exchanges in Ho Chi Minh City, the male student was amazed when his friends participated in many extracurricular activities such as debates and United Nations simulation conferences. Therefore, Duc Anh organized a playground for himself and his friends in his hometown.

The male student opened a summer debate camp in Ba Ria - Vung Tau in August 2023, attracting more than 200 students. Duc Anh and his group invited experienced debate experts from many provinces and cities to train them on how to speak in front of a crowd and prepare for a debate. The budget of 80 million VND was raised by him and his friends through sponsorship and ticket sales.

"At the end of the event, a 10th grade student came to see me and said he was inspired and wanted to bring this model back to organize at school. At that time, I felt moved, all the hard work and effort in 2-3 months was worth it," the male student said.

Duc Anh said that through this, once again, he felt that he fit the criteria that Yale was looking for - a leader and a change agent in the community. The male student wanted to find a way to create positive changes for the friends around him.

Participating in many social activities as well as at school, Duc Anh was once doubted, wondering why he needed to do extracurricular activities or "eat at home but carry the burden of the whole village".

"Participating in activities is not because of being forced or to have a good profile to study abroad, but I believe those activities are useful, helping you access activities outside of school and develop skills," Duc Anh said.

In addition to the debate project, Duc Anh also organizes or participates in other activities, such as preserving and developing handicraft villages made from shells. This is also the story he included in his main essay at Yale University.

The essay topic asks how family circumstances have influenced curiosity, the ability to learn about things around you, and the willingness to take action to change.

In his essay, Duc Anh recounted that when he was young, he often helped his parents sell souvenirs made from seashells - products that bear the mark of the coastal region. The store was always crowded with domestic and foreign tourists. Every time he consulted foreign customers, the male student took the opportunity to ask them more about their stories. His curiosity about the culture and people of other countries made him want to study abroad to explore.

However, in recent years, these products have lost popularity. The number of people trading and producing handicrafts from shells has gradually decreased.

Feeling regretful, Duc Anh created a fanpage to promote the village’s products and tell stories about the remaining artisans. In addition, he built a website to help connect local artisans and handicraft businesses, supporting them to sell their products online.

"I also want to cooperate with some business owners to create a snail coffee model and turn it into a characteristic of Vung Tau," the male student said.

Duc Anh believes that the consistency and connection from extracurricular activities to the story in the essay and the desired major is a strong point in the application, helping the admissions committee feel his personality, ability and potential.

Duc Anh opens the Ba Ria - Vung Tau expanded summer debate camp, August 2023. Photo: Character provided

Duc Anh said the time he spent preparing his study abroad application from June 2023 to early January was the most stressful time for him. The male student had to find ideas for his essay, participate in many activities, and maintain his academic performance to get good grades.

To balance, Duc Anh plans for each day and each month. Important tasks will be noted by Duc Anh a few months in advance.

Ms. Doan Thi Van, Duc Anh's physics teacher and homeroom teacher for three years, still remembers the first time she met her student three years ago.

"Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, on the first day of high school, the whole class met online. I asked who volunteered to be class monitor and Duc Anh raised his hand, saying he had held this position throughout elementary and middle school. I guessed that this guy must be very energetic and he was indeed," Ms. Van recalled.

Ms. Van assessed Duc Anh as being good at everything. Although he majored in Math, he still got high scores in all subjects and was always at the top of the class.

"Duc Anh is very active, likes to connect, and has leadership skills. Teachers and friends feel secure when assigning him work," Ms. Van commented.

Duc Anh's biggest wish is to establish a social enterprise. To do that, the male student aims to learn and connect with many friends during his 4 years at Yale.

"I plan to study and work at the same time to earn extra living expenses and gain experience to start a business. After graduating, I will work for a while and then study for a Master's degree in Business Administration," Duc Anh said.

Le Nguyen

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