Nguyễn Đức Anh

From a Scholarship Seeker to a Scholarship Mentor

Four years ago, I started my scholarship journey in an environment where almost no one shared the same goal, so throughout three years of high school, I had to figure things out on my own, try on my own, and fail on my own. Just as I passed the application round, my stomach condition relapsed, causing nausea whenever I spoke, putting me at risk of losing the opportunity I had chased for years. At my most desperate moment, I wrote a long email requesting a separate interview and was fortunate to be granted one. Thanks to the panel’s patience and understanding, I calmed down, told my story fully, and received a 75% scholarship.

At BUV, I found what I once lacked: an environment that values potential and personal stories, not just grades. I met good, like-minded friends, went through early projects, and learned from meaningful setbacks. With the dedicated guidance of lecturers, I realised BUV teaches more than academic knowledge; it teaches how to think and how to grow. Here, I am allowed to try, to fail, and to expand my own boundaries.

To me, the Lionhearted spirit is not the absence of fear, but the courage to move forward while fear is still there. It is daring to ask for one last chance when you think you have none left, daring to tell your most honest story, daring to try and daring to fail. BUV gave me the space to live that spirit, and it is what transformed me from a student struggling alone into someone who wants to give back to the next generation.