At nearly 30, Cuong has completed a Bachelor of Applied Science (Aviation) degree at RMIT University with distinction. Cuong described his journey as one "full of twists and turns," with plenty of moments spent searching for direction.

"Not everyone gets the chance to make mistakes and fix them. I was luckier to have a second shot, though I failed to take off a few times," Cuong said.

Cuong's university journey began in 2014 when he enrolled in Aviation Telecommunications Engineering. Choosing the wrong major left him feeling lost during his early university years. Lacking motivation and purpose, his grades plummeted, and he frequently had to retake exams. The crisis dragged on, leading to chronic insomnia for six months.

"There were nights I stayed awake, not knowing what I wanted exactly," Cuong recalled. After months of struggling and disillusionment, he dropped out in 2018.

Without a degree and uncertain about the future, Cuong hustled to make a living through various jobs - tour guide, translator, tour operator, English teacher. In 2019, while working as ground staff at Tan Son Nhat Airport, he heard about a pilot training program offering a scholarship worth VND2.8 billion and a job guarantee upon completion. 

With little expectation, he applied. After tests to examine adaptability and aviation English, and direct interviews, Cuong unexpectedly passed.

"I couldn't believe I made it. For the first time, I had a clear goal and was determined to pursue it," he recalled.

He then embarked on serious preparation, studying aviation English, basic aircraft technical knowledge, and foundational courses to get ready for training in the US. 

But things were disrupted as the Covid-19 pandemic broke out. The plan to establish a new airline was scrapped, and the pilot training program was canceled.

"It was a huge shock, like I was sprinting toward the finish line, but everything collapsed," Cuong said.

After much disappointment, in early 2021, through the introduction of the organization that had sponsored the pilot program, Cuong and 11 other trainees were enrolled to study the first three subjects of RMIT Australia’s professional pilot training program. They learned theory in Vietnam before passing credit to study at RMIT Australia where they studied with aircraft.

Cuong excelled in all three subjects, which were designed for aspiring professional pilots.

"For the first time, I felt joy in learning, not for grades, but for the value each lesson brought," he said.

Cuong recalled how, while he was following the former major, he often studied just to pass exams, rushing to graduate. "Now, whenever I finished a learning subject, I felt I could come closer to the future job and could see how I could grow,” he said.

His newfound passion made him proactive in lectures and driven to dive deeper into his studies.

However, by mid-2021, with the pandemic still raging, his plans to study in Australia were repeatedly delayed. Instead of waiting, Cuong applied to RMIT's Bachelor of Applied Science (Aviation) program with his academic results and English proficiency.

"I needed a backup plan, so I decided to pursue both the pilot training and the bachelor's degree. Aviation is still my dream, but I’ll approach it from a management and operations perspective too," he explained.

But things once again were upset when his mother was diagnosed with cancer. His family, already facing challenges, could no longer support his pilot training, the dream that required billions of dong more to gain. 

Facing this harsh reality, Cuong calmly accepted to give up the dream of flying, focusing entirely on his bachelor’s program.

While maintaining a 3.5/4.0 GPA, Cuong taught English part-time to support himself and ease his mother’s worries. Later, he started a small center offering IELTS training, English classes, and academic counseling. After four years, he graduated with distinction.

From a student who felt despaired because he had to ‘make a landfall in mid-way’, now Cuong stands confident with a practical, stable, and promising path forward. To him, letting go of a dream isn’t a failure, but it’s a chance to build a better-suited one. He hopes to stay in aviation, even if not as a pilot.

"A successful flight relies on a massive system behind it—operations, HR, safety, supply chains, business strategy, and data analysis. Even if I’m not in the cockpit, I want to help make operations smoother," Cuong said.

Thuy Nga