Tran Khanh Linh, 22, was a K46 student majoring in economic law at Hanoi Law University. Among nearly 1,650 students who graduated this year, Linh had the highest grade point average (GPA), a 9.05/10.

"I only aimed for honors, I didn't think I would become the valedictorian," Linh said.

Tran Khanh Linh. Photo courtesy of the subject

Tran Khanh Linh. Photo courtesy of the subject

Khanh Linh is a former student of the bilingual class at Tran Phu Specialized High School in Hai Phong. She became interested in law because she enjoyed reading judicial autobiographies and expert articles, as well as advice from upperclassmen.

"I realized that economic law focuses on labor, commerce, and finance, which is very practical for development trends, so I decided to pursue it," Linh said. In 2021, Khanh Linh was admitted to Hanoi Law University through a combination of academic records and a national third-place prize in history.

In university, to maintain consistent academic performance, Khanh Linh often sat in the front row and created a weekly schedule. After class, she and her friends went to the library to research specialized materials such as monographs, theses, and precedents to gain practical knowledge and broaden their perspectives on legal issues.

In addition to her studies, Khanh Linh regularly participated in competitions and other activities. In 2023, she won the national Vmoot Mock Trial competition. She also twice won first prize in city-level legal and land law competitions and was vice president of the university's Young Lawyers Club.

However, Khanh Linh sometimes felt pressured and lost with her studies. "The large and complex amount of knowledge made me feel confused and difficult to remember at times," Linh recounted.

For example, while participating in Vmoot, Linh and her friends encountered a lot of knowledge not yet covered in class. Despite having guidance from lecturers, she felt discouraged because she hadn't grasped the content of the prompt. Encouraged by her friends and teachers, Linh regained her spirit and continued to practice.

From her second year, Linh proactively sought internships at the university's Legal Consulting Center and several law firms. Her work revolved around organizing files, drafting administrative documents, and reviewing documents for litigation. These experiences helped her gain confidence in applying theory to practice.

At the beginning of this year, Khanh Linh started working on her graduation thesis. After reading some research and articles on transparency in accessing land information, she chose this topic because she considered it urgent, especially with the recent amendment of the 2024 Land Law.

Linh's thesis focuses on several theoretical issues, outlines the current situation, and offers recommendations to improve and enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement.

Over three months, the biggest challenge Khanh Linh faced was the lack of information and data due to the newly enacted law. She mainly consulted newspapers and magazines.

"Fortunately, I was guided by Dr. Nguyen Quang Tuyen, the head of the faculty, who suggested many solutions, so I was able to find data to support my research results," Linh said.

She focused on analyzing representative cases and reflections; comparing regulations before and after the amendment; and seeking data from some projects conducted by international organizations in collaboration with the Vietnamese government. Khanh Linh's thesis subsequently received a perfect score of 10.

Khanh Linh in a mock trial. Photo courtesy of the subject

Khanh Linh in a mock trial. Photo courtesy of the subject

Master Nguyen Mai Anh, a lecturer in financial and banking law at the Faculty of Economic Law, was Khanh Linh's academic advisor. She described Linh as enthusiastic and hardworking, always standing out in the group from academics to extracurricular activities at the university. Linh also made an impression with her eagerness to learn, determination in every task assigned, and clear vision for the future.

Finally, Khanh Linh attributed her achievements to continuous effort. "Success doesn't come overnight. I believe everyone has to experience failure before achieving success, and the door won't close if you persistently pursue your dreams," Linh said.

Hai Yen