Female student wins highly competitive Irish scholarship

(Dan Tri) - For Pham Thi Thu Thao (born 2002), the story from university to the dream of studying abroad was not reached by breakthroughs, but by steady, unhurried steps.

Study to go far, go far to return

For Thu Thao, the learning journey did not begin with declarations of passion or mission. Choosing the tourism industry came to her quite naturally, after a trip with her family during high school.

Amidst the beautiful natural scenery, she suddenly realized that Vietnam has so many beautiful things, but according to her, the way of doing tourism is still fragmented and not really profound .

“At that time, I just thought Vietnam was so beautiful. How could I attract more foreign tourists? Especially when the service was somewhat awkward and patchy. I asked myself: Can I do something to contribute to making Vietnam tourism different?”, she shared.

Pham Thi Thu Thao, former student of Tourism and Travel Services Management, Hanoi Open University (Photo: NVCC).

That question was not too esoteric, but enough for her to choose the Tourism and Travel Services Management major at Hanoi Open University - where she believed it would help her learn how to do tourism systematically and in practice.

In her first days at university, Thao was not the most outstanding student in the class. But she was soon elected as the class monitor, and then she persistently studied regularly and thoroughly each semester.

“At that time, I didn’t know what the future would hold, nor did I think about scholarships or going abroad. I just thought simply, once I chose a major, I had to study really well, because no one can do anything decent if their knowledge is still vague,” she shared.

Throughout her four years at university, Thao maintained an impressive academic record: GPA 3.83/4, scholarships for all semesters, and was twice recognized by the Principal as an excellent student. But when talking about what she is most proud of, she does not choose her grades.

“I am proud of not giving up. There were times when I was very tired, studying and working at the same time, there were essays that I sat up all night writing without being able to write a single line, but I did not give up. I always thought: I do not need to be better than anyone else, I just need to be a little better tomorrow than yesterday,” Thu Thao confided.

Thu Thao with the dream of telling stories of Vietnam through each journey (Photo: NVCC).

“I failed the scholarship. And that made me more mature.”

After graduating, Thao applied for a scholarship to study abroad. As a result, she was not selected and was only placed on the training list. For a good student, this was a big disappointment.

“I didn’t say it out loud, but I was really sad. Looking at my friends posting about their scholarships and taking pictures at the airport, I felt small and slow. There were nights when I lay awake thinking: where did I go wrong?”, she confided.

But instead of continuing to apply when she was not ready, she decided to work for a year. During that time, she experienced the real industry, honed her soft skills, and gradually gained a deeper insight into the field she was pursuing. It was also the time when she rewrote her personal statement with a completely different approach.

“Last year, I wrote my essay like a good student. This year, I write like someone who has lived in the industry and understands this profession better. I no longer try to write well, but write correctly,” Thu Thao shared.

As a result, she won the Irish Government International Education Scholarship, a highly competitive full scholarship that only 1% of international students are accepted to, covering full tuition fees and 10,000 euros in living expenses. She will pursue a master's degree in Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality Management, a new step that will open up both her expertise and her vision.

Thu Thao said this year's scholarship came not because she was better than last year, but because she was different, more mature, and understood better what she wanted. And most importantly: she was humble enough to look back.

Thu Thao nurtures her passion for travel to tell stories about Vietnam through digital media (Photo: NVCC).

“I want to tell the Vietnamese story in the most intimate way possible.”

When asked about her plans after studying abroad, Thao did not talk about "staying here to work long-term" or "working in international organizations" but mentioned returning to Vietnam, working in tourism in the direction of international cooperation, and recounted the familiar things that she loved since childhood.

“I want to make small videos, introducing Vietnamese food, a craft village, a hometown festival,... I don't think I have to do anything big. Just tell a good story, the world will listen,” Thu Thao shared about her future direction.

She said that in her scholarship essay, she wrote about her dream of connecting cultures through digital media. “I want international friends to know Vietnam not only through photos of ao dai, but also through simple things – the morning street vendors’ cries, a cup of tea, a folk song,” she shared.

“I know there are people who are better and faster. But I don’t compare. I just want to follow my own pace, do the right thing and learn to persevere,” Thu Thao shared.

For Thao, the scholarship is not a destination, but a positive signal from life, that the things she believes in will finally be answered. And that, when she is quiet enough to learn, honest enough to tell, and deep enough to understand – the world will open up...

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Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/nu-sinh-gianh-duoc-suat-hoc-bong-ireland-co-ty-le-canh-tranh-khoc-liet-20250804115705931.htm