At three, Ngoc had her left kidney removed due to congenital polycystic kidney disease. Memories of being cared for by doctors inspired her to pursue a career in healthcare. Ngoc chose Biomedical Engineering to fulfill her childhood dream and satisfy her curiosity.

As a student of Gia Dinh High School, Ngoc joined soft skill clubs and frequented SOS Children’s Village Vietnam to teach English, raise awareness, and explore her passions. She was also a member of Nuoi Em, supporting highlands children.

During university years, Ngoc engaged in research on optical applications in biomedicine, including projects using optics to assess food quality, measure blood glucose non-invasively, and determine pork and fruit quality through experiments and data analysis. 

She was also interested in using light to monitor blood glucose conveniently and safely, without needles. These projects, Ngoc said, offered practical value and deepened her knowledge of biomedical optics.

The excellent female student revealed that she wanted to graduate early to ease her mother’s financial burden. From her second year, she took one to two more courses than planned by school per semester. She even studied in summer to accumulate graduation credits. While a standard semester was designed for 14-15 credits, she tackled 17.

To stay on track, Ngoc created a “Study Plan” Google Sheet in her first year, monitoring and adjusting her academic schedule. As class vice-leader, she closely followed school announcements, aiding her class and planning her studies.

Ngoc took some eighth-semester general courses earlier, flexibly managing credits. “Since many courses are offered only once a year, registering learning subjects felt like a ‘survival game’, where I had to balance course selection and compete for spots,” she shared.

Ngoc managed her time and energy daily, previewing lessons, engaging actively in class, and reviewing or doing assignments afterward. This allowed her to revisit each topic at least three times, making exam preparation efficient without cramming.

Her health, with only one kidney, was a challenge. Balancing health and a demanding schedule was tough, so she prioritized sufficient sleep and relaxation to stay positive.

In her second year, a packed schedule, with 10-hour classes from 7 am to 6 pm some days caused heart rhythm issues. 

After earning her degree, Ngoc plans to study abroad to gain experience and resources, continuing in-depth research.

Associate Professor Do Ngoc Son, Head of the Computational Physics Lab at HCM City University of Technology, described Ngoc as highly dedicated, actively participating in research. He ranked her academic ability in the top 2 percent of the department’s outstanding students. 

Le Huyen