Hồng Nhung - Rose of Vietnam
In a recent conversation with an old classmate, I was told about Hong Nhung (A1 class of 2003) who received a full scholarship from Harvard. I could not help wondering what this girl looks like and how smart and talented she must be. Hong Nhung has helped glorify the image of class of '03, and the entire Hanoi-Ams student body. She is a person to be admired and respected.
Assigned by HAO to interview Hong Nhung for Member of the Month, I have been anxiously waiting for today, the day we would meet online, chat and befriend each other. Hong Nhung was not different from what I had imagined: a friendly and smart girl with unique personality. When asked to describe herself, Nhung mentioned three qualities: Fond of study, Sympathetic, and Patient. The fourth, I am sure, would be Humble (if not extremely humble, right Nhung?).
Trang:
What was your impression first time stepping on the entrance gate of Harvard University? Was it anxiety, nervousness, or fear...?
None of the above. I just felt tired after such a long trip, tired of carrying my heavy luggage, happy that I had a safe flight, and felt homesick. I really missed my family and my country...
Trang:
Yeah, that is the common feeling most of us, students studying abroad, had when we first departed our family, our country, and all the familiar things, to embark upon the journey to a new, strange world. How about your first days at Harvard?
Oh, at Harvard, we have the "Shopping Week," which is the first week of the year, when people go auditing different courses that they think are interesting. The day school started, I had to take two placement tests, one in English and the other in Math, each two hours long. I was completely booked that day. Then on the day courses officially kicked off, because I had selected some courses at the same time, I had to run from one class to another, attending each for only half a session. I was really in a hurry, and there was no time to breath. Everyone was like me, trying to use the entire first week to pick good classes for the rest of the year. The classes' atmosphere and environment vary depending on the instructors. Some have about a hundred students, some have only ten. Here freshmen and upperclassmen can attend the same courses, so it's hard to chat with people inside the class. Friendship usually builds outside the classrooms, in many different extracurricular activities, or in the dining hall.
Trang:
Are you confident in your academic abilities? What is your current major, if you have declared one?
Uh, I'm pretty confident. I have not decided what to major in yet, but I'll very likely major in East Asian Studies, and maybe Government as well. The more I study, the more interested I become; I think knowledge in one field will help me in the other.
Trang:
Have you planned on doing anything after you graduate?
I haven't got a real plan yet. I want to start working early. If I can't find a job I will go on to graduate school. Usually I still talk about my plans of going home, getting married, having children, because otherwise I'd be on the shelf (smile) one thing for sure, though, is that I'm coming back to Vietnam. My plan is to work for international organizations, non-benefit organizations, or charity, etc.
Trang:
Why do you choose to participate in social works and charity, but not in any other areas?
I want to do things I love and am good at, things that at the same time benefit others. I think social works are very worth doing, though I'm still not sure which function I'll be handling: managing, fundraising, campaigning... there are lots of options.
Trang: Dr. Martin Luther King once said: "Everybody has the power for greatness, not for fame, but greatness, because greatness is determined by service."
Meng Tzu once said: "Perfect thyself, then open thyself to thy family, thy neighbors..." I must perfect myself first, perfecting our nation will be the responsibility of many others."
Trang:
Learning English is probably what everybody can do, but learning English well is not an easy task at all. What's your trick?
I read a lot of English stories. When I started, I read anything that was in English, from cookbooks to travel guides... When I was little, in fourth or fifth grade, I wanted to take English courses because I wanted to listen to and sing to English songs. Then I wanted to study English seriously so I could get the lyrics from the songs. Back then I liked Pop music; listened to Backstreetboys all day! For high school, I was in the English-specialized class. My junior year I joined the English competition team of the school.
Trang:
So you like to read a lot. Is it because both of your parents hold librarian jobs (Nhung's mother is a librarian at the Vietnam Institute of Technology Library, and Nhung's father works at the Goethe Institute - German Culture Institute)?
Not quite. When I was little, someone gave me "Uncle Tom's Cabin" as a gift. The book was about a laptop's size, yet I don't think I have ever got tired of reading since then. I spent most of my childhood in Germany, from my first to seventh grade. I was encouraged to read overthere, so I had some librarian friends at the library near home.
Trang:
Having stayed in Germany for so long, you must have been missing your friends at the library and very sad when you came back to Vietnam?
Sad, yes. But I was so busy with schoolwork that I had little time to think about other things. Besides I prepared myself a long time ago, I never thought I would stay in Germany forever so it's not all that bad.
Trang;
Do you feel proud of the achievements which you have put so much effort into?
Hmm, I think I'm really lucky. Actually I think of what I've done not as achievements, but opportunities acquired to obtain achievements. College is only the beginning. I must admit that Harvard has very good facilities, but I realize that I have to self-study for the most part. Harvard only provides the means. Even the teachers aren't that helpful, so for the most part I do research and study on my own. Now I'm still amazed by the enormous scale of the facilities of the institution: nearly a hundred libraries, computer labs everywhere, wireless connection in all locations, unlamentable music facilities, high percentage of students with international experience. Many have gone abroad, thus conversing with other students really helps me open my mind. Yet doing homework still involves sitting in your room, reading and writing.
Trang:
Wow, Nhung is so lucky, and you deserve all that!
Yes, I'm indeed very, very lucky.
Trang:
Okay, in O Magazine, every Oprah's interview has a section called "What Do You Know for Sure," and I'm also trying to make a similar part in my interviews. So, through out all the past nineteen years, what have you learned about life for sure?
Um, the most important is the emotional support from parents and friends. I have gone through many changes in living and studying environments, and without their support I would never have made it through successfully.
Thank you, Nhung, for letting HAO and myself have an opportunity to learn more about you.
Vietnamese version by Đoàn Trang A3 00-03
Translated by Anh Dũng A3 00-03
Edited by Quynh My
Posted by Nguyen Thu Hien V 98-01
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