Thuy Ngan has an average score of 3.91/4 and is the first Vietnamese person to represent international students to speak at the graduation ceremony of East China Normal University.
Le Thi Thuy Ngan - valedictorian of the International English major, Faculty of Foreign Languages, spoke at the school's graduation ceremony in Shanghai on June 20. Among the more than 10,000 attendees were Ngan's mother and five relatives.
"I trembled when looking down at the sea of people below, but I was also moved and proud because the 4-year journey with ups and downs had finally paid off," Ngan recalled, a few weeks after returning to her hometown in Thai Nguyen.
Ngan speaks at the graduation ceremony of East China Normal University on June 20. Photo: Character provided
Ngan said she never thought she would be chosen to speak, so she felt pressured. She was a bit self-conscious because she didn’t have any research achievements or international publications like many of her friends. When her teachers encouraged her that everyone has their own strengths, Ngan decided to talk about her study abroad journey.
At the beginning of her speech, Ngan quoted the Literature topic in this year's Chinese university entrance exam, asking, "Is it only out of curiosity that a person dares to step out of their comfort zone?"
"Step out of your comfort zone is not only about curiosity but also about confidence and courage in your own choices," Ngan answered herself.
For Ngan, Chinese came to her as a matter of fate. Ngan entered the Chinese specialized class at Thai Nguyen High School for the Gifted after failing the Literature specialized class. The entrance exam was in English, so at first, Ngan struggled to study.
While her friends were almost done with their homework, Ngan was still struggling to look up the radicals in the dictionary. The female student was once advised to consider whether to continue studying or not because she was behind her friends.
"I cried like rain, thinking that I had already worked hard to take the exam, should I give up now? I closed the door, determined to study the questions and learn vocabulary," Ngan said.
To practice writing, she looked up the dictionary, learned the rules of writing from left to right, from top to bottom, then copied it 50 times into her notebook, writing and reading at the same time until she memorized it before moving on to another word. At first, it was 50 times, but gradually Ngan reduced the number of times she copied it to 40, 20, and then 5 times before she could remember it. Therefore, even though the number of words increased, Ngan was no longer overwhelmed when reading the questions.
From a student who could only speak a few words, Ngan was selected for the provincial excellent student competition team, winning the consolation prize and third prize. She also won a silver medal in the Hung Vuong Summer Camp excellent student competition. In grade 12, Ngan achieved HSK level 6 certificate, the highest level of the international Chinese proficiency test.
At that time, Ngan also dreamed of studying abroad but failed to get a scholarship. In 2019, when she was a first-year student at the Foreign Trade University, Ngan succeeded in winning a scholarship from Shanghai. The female student decided to put her studies on hold to study abroad.
After one semester, Ngan returned home for Tet and could not return for two years due to the pandemic. Her friends in other countries all postponed classes until they could attend in-person classes, leaving only a dozen people in the class.
"I also considered taking a leave of absence, but after thinking it over, I wanted to graduate on time so as not to miss out on opportunities. I decided to study online," Ngan said.
However, after the initial period of enthusiasm and diligence, Ngan gradually felt bored when sitting and listening to lectures on the computer every day, not being able to interact or see her friends. Classes in China start at 1 p.m., but due to the time zone difference, it is only 12 p.m. in Vietnam. There were days when Ngan had to wake up early for morning classes.
"Many days, I struggle with sleepiness," Ngan shared.
Her lax study discipline made Ngan struggle to review from the beginning every time her teacher texted her about a test. Then, to study more effectively, she divided her work into smaller parts and changed her study space to create a new feeling. Ngan likes to watch movies and reality TV shows to improve her Chinese.
Once she had mastered the language, she joined competitions to learn about Chinese history and culture everywhere. "Participating in competitions made me more active, improved my Chinese and allowed me to meet new people," Ngan said.
During this time, the female student also sold stationery online, received orders, translated, and created a YouTube channel to share her learning experiences. While in her third year, she was accepted to work at a famous Chinese technology corporation in Vietnam.
However, in August 2022, when China reopened, Ngan decided to give up her stable, well-paying job to return to school to complete her final year. The female student said that thanks to her steady and regular studies, she still had time to work part-time and prepare best for her thesis in her final year.
Ngan (third from left) and relatives after the graduation ceremony. Photo: Provided by the character
During the 6-minute presentation, Ngan did not once have to look at the script. At the end of the ceremony, she received many compliments from teachers and friends.
According to Ms. Huang Meixu, Director of the Center for Global Education at East China Normal University, Ngan showed curiosity to explore a new culture and was determined to study abroad in China. When faced with challenges and difficulties, the female student did not give up. After studying abroad, Ngan not only gained more knowledge and developed new skills, but also became a famous vlogger.
"The words came from Ngan's heart, making us deeply touched," Ms. Huang shared, adding that the female student was chosen because of her excellent academic performance and active participation in school and student union activities.
After completing her defense, Ngan received a job offer in Shanghai but decided to return home. She currently works online for a company, while pursuing a translation and interpretation course and nurturing her own goals.
"Everyone's life is different, so be strong and don't let peer pressure discourage you. Consider it motivation to find your own path," Ngan said.
Dawn
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