Thai Duong Ngoc Linh, from Hung Yen, completed her bachelor's degree in public management late last year. She is one of five students graduating early with a perfect 4.0/4.0 GPA, set to receive her diploma this August at National Economics University.

For Linh, this achievement stems from a process of constant change and adaptation. It marked a departure from old study habits, leading her to discover new ways of thinking and methods – the key to completing 130 credits with an all A's transcript.

Thai Duong Ngoc Linh in her graduation photo album. Photo: *Provided by interviewee*

During high school, Linh initially aspired to be an English teacher, driven by her passion for teaching children and an IELTS score of 7.5. However, social activities during the Covid-19 period shifted the direction of the student born in 2004. Linh chose to study public management, aiming to engage in research and policy development, particularly in education, to contribute more broadly to the community.

Upon entering university, Linh felt overwhelmed by the general education courses, which she found "harder than imagined" due to the extensive amount of information in each class. Without the extra tutoring or teacher guidance she had in high school, Linh struggled to grasp the material.

"After the first few weeks of feeling lost, I realized that if I continued to let assignments accumulate and kept my habit of only studying close to exams, I would fall behind," Linh recalled.

Through faculty programs, Linh connected with senior students to gather study materials and tips. She began reading textbooks before class, focusing on taking notes of main ideas or content emphasized by lecturers, and asking friends or teachers about anything she didn't understand.

Linh then set a goal to achieve an overall score of 8.5/10 in every subject – the minimum for a 4.0 GPA. Concurrently, she planned to accelerate her studies starting from her second semester by registering for one or two extra subjects each semester, combined with studying through two summers to shorten her time to graduation.

Despite her detailed plan, Linh faced a significant challenge with specialized subjects, especially "research methods in socio-economics." This was her favorite subject, but also the most difficult.

The student noted that this course had high demands; students had to conduct actual research projects for their midterm grades, unlike most other subjects that primarily involved tests or presentations. Pressure mounted as she was also involved in a scientific research project on student research motivation at the time.

To manage both tasks, Linh allocated specific time slots and read graduate-level textbooks to enhance her research skills, including: topic selection, developing research questions, building theoretical frameworks, and report presentation.

"This process was demanding but helped me acquire new skills and broaden my perspective. It also represents a suitable career path within my major that I am considering pursuing," Linh shared.

In parallel with her public management program, Linh decided to pursue a second major in law starting from her third year. According to Linh, legal knowledge and public management are closely complementary, expanding her specialized industry perspective for future policy-oriented work.

Prior to this, the student also worked as an English teaching assistant for three years, which helped cover her living expenses and allowed her to pursue her high school passion for teaching.

Linh and her research group, who won third prize in a university-level scientific research competition. Photo: *Provided by interviewee*

Within the dynamic environment of National Economics University, where many students aim for multinational corporations, Linh experienced FOMO. She doubted whether her focus on the public sector was putting her at a disadvantage or making her less competitive.

"After days of internal struggle, I realized I couldn't compare myself to others, because everyone had their initial direction and was on their own path," Linh stated. "Once chosen, you must persevere to achieve it."

Furthermore, Linh believes she can still work in the private sector, specifically in macroeconomic policy planning departments, where individuals with a deep understanding of public policies are essential to guide business development.

Currently, Linh is concentrating on completing her law program. She aims to graduate this autumn to earn two bachelor's degrees within four years.

Reflecting on her journey, Linh feels she has matured through the times she independently sought methods and remained steadfast in her choices. Instead of comparing herself anxiously to the majority, the student believes that consistent self-improvement and fully pursuing her chosen path are the keys to daily progress.

Thanh Hang