Tran Thi Thanh Thoai, 23, received her graduation diploma and the rank of Second Lieutenant on 25/12.

With an overall GPA of 8,05/10, the young woman from Tay Ninh (former Long An) made history at the Military Technical Academy as the valedictorian of the first class in the software engineering major. Of the 560 students graduating from the entire academy in this batch, only 53 achieved excellent grades.

Reflecting on her 5,5-year journey, which was not without its difficulties, Thoai described them as "unforgettable days."

Tran Thi Thanh Thoai on her graduation day, 25/12. Photo: Duong Tam

The former specialized physics student from Long An Specialized High School (now Tran Van Giau Specialized High School) stated that she had an early dream of wearing a military uniform. Although she knew only four military schools recruited women and all were in the northern region, a distance of 1,700 kilometers, she remained determined to apply.

Admitted to the Military Technical Academy in 2020 with 27,4 points in the A00 subject combination (mathematics, physics, chemistry), Thoai began her university journey with six months of training at a regiment in former Vinh Phuc province.

For the first time, the female student had to learn many new things simultaneously, from political studies and drill practice to shooting practice, grenade throwing, and guard duty. Among these, shooting and grenade throwing were particularly challenging, requiring significant physical strength.

"The most difficult time was when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, and the academy imposed a complete lockdown. All the female students cried because they couldn't suppress their homesickness," Thoai recalled.

After the training course, Thoai returned to the academy, where she was assigned to study software engineering, becoming one of the seven pioneering students in this major.

Thoai considered this an advantage because instructors could provide close attention to the students. A limitation was the absence of senior students from whom to learn, which led to some initial unfamiliarity, especially in mathematics subjects such as calculus and probability. As a result, Thoai only achieved a "good" grade in her first semester.

As she progressed into specialized subjects, Thoai gradually improved her academic performance under the step-by-step guidance of her lecturers. In addition to the academy's curriculum, Thoai sought information and knowledge about the field online and utilized artificial intelligence (AI) to support her studies.

She explained that she applied AI extensively. For example, when programming websites or applications, AI could help detect errors more quickly for rectification or suggest ideas for further development. This also became one of Thoai's two scientific research directions, which she began exploring in her third year.

Thoai's father traveled from Tay Ninh to Hanoi for her graduation ceremony, 25/12. Photo: Provided by subject

For Thoai, the final year presented the most pressure. Many research progress reports coincided with mid-term exams, final exams, and English certificate exams, demanding strong focus and effective time management.

Adhering to the 11 daily military regulations, Thoai had to turn off her dormitory lights at 22h. However, she frequently moved to the common hall, which remained open later, to continue studying.

Thoai concluded her program at the Military Technical Academy by developing interactive software for students and the school. This software allows civilian students to look up exam scores, class schedules, and register for research topics and graduation projects. After three months of perfecting the software, Thoai received a score of 8,4 points, the highest in her major.

Additionally, Thoai had to focus on meeting the academy's five output standards, which included: specialized knowledge and skills, foreign language proficiency, basic information technology application, physical fitness, and formal military discipline and conduct.

Regarding physical fitness, to graduate, female students like Thoai had to pass four out of five categories: a 1,500 m run, a 100 m run, a long jump, swimming, and push-ups. Swimming was a mandatory component.

"The 100 m run was the most difficult for me, as I often failed to complete it within the規定 time, forcing me to practice every afternoon," Thoai said.

After graduating as a software engineering engineer, she applied to work at the Cyberspace Operations Command (Command 86) and was accepted. The new second lieutenant hopes to be assigned to a unit in Ho Chi Minh City (TP HCM) to be closer to home.

Duong Tam