Ốc Thị Quỳnh Anh

From a remote village to the gate of an International University

I was born in a small village where children held on to dreams that often felt impossible. Education was never a priority there. School had to give way to rice fields, daily survival, and deep-rooted prejudices passed down through generations.

My childhood carried its share of scars. My family was not whole. I was separated from my parents at the age of four and grew up surrounded by whispers that cut deeper than I cared to admit. My grandfather, my greatest source of strength, eventually passed away too.

Those were the days when any child could have lost their way. More than three times I fell into depression. I thought I had reached the end, even believing at one point that death was the only escape.

Yet deep inside me, there was always a spark—a roar that never truly went silent. It was the spark of a better and fairer future, where knowledge would be the doorway forward. I knew that if I gave up, my dream—and the dreams of my two younger brothers, my mother, my grandfather, and all the children in my village—would vanish forever.

So I threw myself into my studies, clinging to them like a lifeline. I worked relentlessly to earn money and take care of myself, to collect as many academic prizes as I could. I learned how to be independent, never relying on anyone else, while quietly nurturing the dream of leaving my small village behind for the big city.

Hanoi. That was the place I chose to set foot in.
In my first days there, I felt as if I had stepped into another world. The city was so vast it seemed it could swallow me whole at any moment: the relentless pace of life, the high cost of living, the cultural diversity, and above all, the sheer number of people who seemed far more talented than I was.

I enrolled in an English major at a top public university of languages, while working part-time jobs to support myself. At first I was eager and excited, but gradually the pressure of competing with my peers began to weigh me down.

For a girl who came from a small village in a mountainous district, the baggage I carried with me was not strong enough to keep pace. I felt small in comparison with my classmates. Many of them had strong foundations and clear directions since high school. For me, my knowledge of universities and careers was limited during those years, leaving me now scrambling to find the right answer for myself.

I started to withdraw from the classroom and sought out community activities instead. It was there that I met and worked alongside young people who shared a background and starting point like mine, through a project called “These Books Are for Building Schools.” The project collected secondhand books still in good condition, sold them, and donated 100% of the proceeds to build schools in upland areas.

Yet that joy was not enough to fill the emptiness I felt when I realized I no longer fit the major or the environment I was pursuing. After a year and a half, I decided to put my studies on hold. Many people saw it as a failure, but to me it was a pause to listen to myself. I didn’t want to keep forcing a path I didn’t love, only to end up even more exhausted.

The milestone that marked my very first true “roar” was submitting my application for the Lionhearted Scholarship at British University Vietnam (BUV) - an international university I had never even dared to dream of before.

I came to know BUV through a very special chance. In 2023, I was fortunate to take part in “Somewhere In Time Concert” - an art project by BUV students celebrating the culture and beauty of Vietnam’s ethnic communities.

From that moment, I experienced for the first time the unique atmosphere of BUV: an international environment that still felt familiar and welcoming, with friendly lecturers, energetic and determined students. What struck me most, however, were the stories behind each Lionhearted Scholarship - journeys of resilience, of overcoming circumstances to affirm one’s true worth. It was then that I realized I had found the right place to begin a new chapter of my life.

Becoming a student of Digital & Social Media Marketing at BUV, I stepped into a world of programs taught entirely in English, international lecturers, cultural differences, and classmates who had grown up with far greater advantages than I ever had.

What makes me happiest every time I come to class is the feeling of being welcomed and trusted. My lecturers listen to my story, care about me, and encourage me. My classmates give me motivation, and even the security guards and cleaning staff have become part of my treasured memories.

I had never felt comfortable sharing with a university principal before, but at BUV, Professor Raymond changed that. One of the moments I will never forget is when he told me: “You don’t need to feel inferior because you are doing very well. At BUV, we don’t look at background, ethnicity, or circumstances. We look at your effort, and we are ready to give equal opportunities to all.”

If Hanoi once overwhelmed me, then BUV did even more, but in a different way: it gave me wings to fly instead of a weight to sink.

Studying at BUV is not just about acquiring knowledge. I have also found a deeper purpose by engaging in social projects. I have gained the confidence to take on important roles in volunteer work, student clubs, and campus initiatives, most recently as Head of Volunteers for “Vươn,” a community project co-founded by me and other BUV students.

“Vươn” was built out of our own journey, with the hope of sharing, listening, and walking alongside students who start from less fortunate circumstances. Through this project, we hope that even children in remote and mountainous areas will have the chance to reach out to the world, to have companions to learn and explore with, to find guidance, and most importantly, to have dreams and passions in the pursuit of knowledge.

From a small village, I stepped into the wider world and found my springboard at BUV, a place that gave me opportunities, trust, and strength to become “The Ethnic Girl with a Lion’s Heart.”

I believe my journey at BUV will continue to open doors for me to grow, to “roar” even louder, and above all, to not only write my own story but also stand beside and empower many other “little lions” on their path to writing theirs. Because where you start does not define where you will go. It is a resilient heart that makes all the difference.