The valedictorian graduated in 2023 from Van Lang University: Beyond the limit

On August 20, 2023, Van Lang University held a commencement for new bachelors in Travel and Tourism Management, Hotel Management, and new architects majoring in Architecture. The event also marked the completion of a series of commencements for the undergraduate and postgraduate levels at Van Lang University in August 2023.

Architecture, Travel and Tourism Management, and Hotel Management are all majors that have contributed significantly to the brand of Van Lang University today. Previous generations have effectively shown the training excellence of the industry in the labor market through many outstanding achievements. As Van Lang University's successors, new bachelors, and new architects appreciate the benefits that seniors have delivered, but they also confront many challenges and concerns: How to inherit, promote, and maintain Van Lang's tradition of Morality - Will - Creativity.

New Bachelor Le Huynh Dang Khoa is the valedictorian graduated with an Very Good degree from Hotel Management in the Honors program with a GPA of 3.57. Dang Khoa, in particular, will emerge next year with a new position - A new bachelor in Accounting honors program in the commencement next year. During this year's ceremony, Dang Khoa represented the journey of studying with a double degree at Van Lang University, which is also a journey to shape a clear future and the journey of a new valedictorian in Honors Program Hotel Management to overcome his own limits to succeed.

“My name is Le Huynh Dang Khoa, the valedictorian who graduated from Course 25 in Hotel Management, Honors Program.

This is the last Commencement in the series of amazing commencements in Van Lang that have gained popularity on the internet in recent days. People frequently say ''waiting is happiness,'' and ''the last is the best,'' respectively. I hope that the Faculty of Architecture and Tourism family will demonstrate their inherent passion so that our event is filled with emotions.

It is a great honor and pride for me that today representing for new bachelors to share my thoughts and gratitude to lecturers, parents, and friends before concluding a remarkable four-year adventure at Van Lang University.

In recent days, we are very happy to receive well wishes from friends, lecturers, and family. In those wishes, everyone hopes for our success in our future career path.

The past 4 years at Van Lang University are not a long time, but it is enough for each of us to have the opportunity to learn, experience, and grow up. And I'd like to offer my own story, what I've done and will do in the future to achieve success as everyone aspires.

There is a very interesting term, Moonshot thinking, which is innovative and creative thinking, with the purpose of creating breakthroughs and overcoming your limitations in order to attain 10 times greater success.

I have not ventured to say that I have made major breakthroughs, but the following small story can be seen as a tribute to my efforts to constantly desire to overcome my own limits.

I studied at Van Lang University with two student cards: Course 25 in Hotel Management and Course 26 in Accounting, Honors Program. A year after today's Commencement, I will attend the second Commencement in Van Lang with a Bachelor of Accounting degree.

Initially, I chose to pursue Hotel Management in Van Lang with the intention of working in the industry that is popular in Vietnam and throughout the world. I was encouraged to pursue this career in order to improve myself and become less timid.

It was one of the trendiest industries at the time, so I was concerned about my knowledge and communication with my classmates when I started. To be honest, it was difficult for me to communicate with my classmates and lecturers in my first year. However, I realized that I needed to change, to step out of my comfort zone, and to push beyond my own limitations in order to discover and experience new things, I changed my thinking, opened my heart, and challenged myself to discover even more new things.

The fate of the Covid 19 pandemic is that I have a lot of time because I don't have to go to school, can't go to work, or visit friends during the social distancing period. At the time, I considered studying another major in order to use full of my free time, but more significantly, I wanted to strengthen my Finance - Accounting knowledge in order to support the Hotel Management position I was seeking.

At first, I was first nervous because I was concerned that I would not be able to plan study time and hence would not be able to fully absorb the information of both majors. After some reflection, I received the advice of a former Van Lang University lecturer. She said: “Things only change when we begin to take action, even if it is just 1% of the time, but we ourselves become better every day”. And since then, I've chosen to push my limitations even further and enroll in another field in order to uncover my own new abilities.

I can flexibly schedule time to study two majors with the help of the school and lecturers, as well as friends. Although I sometimes want to let go to relieve the pressure, but after all, pressure creates diamonds, and you have to explore your limitations. We always have the potential to do better than we thought.

The fact that we are here today is already a success of the version 4 years ago, the first step of our professional path later. There may be many thorns and obstacles in the road ahead, but as long as we keep moving forward, renew our thinking, are not scared of challenges, and are willing to go beyond our limitations, miracles may appear and reward our efforts.

I wish that the new Architects and Bachelors of Tourism Faculty will find the right path for the most favorable journey ahead. And as equally important as your professional accomplishments, please maintain and exercise your physical and mental health, as well as spend time with your family and loved ones.

I'd like to thank the Honors Program students, particularly those in Course 25 Hotel Management. Thank you for being there for each other over the last four years, connecting and creating a student life with a fantastic learning life experience.

I'd like to represent the new faculty to thank everyone who has accompanied us over the last four years.

First of all, I would like to thank our parents for their constant encouragement from behind the scenes, allowing us to study at Van Lang University, pursue our passion freely, and constantly support and encourage us at the most difficult times. 

Next, I'd like to thank the lecturers of Van Lang University, particularly the Faculty of Tourism lecturers, for consistently supporting us during our time at the school. Although there are sometimes problems and difficulties, lecturers always patiently follow us step by step and encourage each student's small successes.

We will meet our lecturers and good friends at Van Lang University soon one day. For generations of students, Van Lang University is always home.”

Le Huynh Dang Khoa
The valedictorian graduated from Course 25 in Hotel Management, Honors Program

******************************

BEYOND THE LIMIT- Human history has shown that leaving a safe zone is inevitable. With collisions, daring to interact with many new things, we may fill our inner knowledge and experience inside like a circle progressively widening its bounds. Van Lang's youths, together with Huynh Le Dang Khoa, have been making attempts on the voyage to establish themselves and go beyond the limit. I wish you a lot of interesting experiences, whether you succeed or fail, to continue going forward and always being joyful and serene.

Valedictorian Pham Thi Thu Huong – Course 25 majoring in Applied Literature 

• Cumulative GPA: 3.24
• Degree Classification: Very Good
• The entrance valedictorian of Applied Literature at Van Lang University in 2019 
• Achieved scholarships for 6 consecutive semesters
• Achieved Shinhan Scholarship in 2020 and Lotte Scholarship in 2022
• First prize in the Olympiad on Marxism-Leninism at the school level in 2019
• Exceptional student representing to visit & study at Hung Temple in 2021
• Student with 5 Good Criteria in 2020 - 2021, 2021 - 2022
• Union staff - Typical Association at the school level in 2021
• Exceptional student in 2020 - 2021, 2021 - 2022
• Former Union President - Deputy Secretary of the Faculty of Social Affairs and Humanities

“'Choosing a major is an important first step in life.” I decided to change all my parents' previous wishes into only one,  which is the Applied Literature major at Van Lang University. Looking back on my four years at Van Lang, what makes me most proud is Van Lang's feelings for me. Van Lang University constantly loves students in its own quiet and unique way, which makes me feel warm and pleased since I have had so much love from lecturers, friends, and seniors here. That emotion has helped me through many difficult times in the past.”

Valedictorian Nguyen Doan Hong Hanh – Course 25 in Finance - Banking 

• Cumulative GPA: 3.39
• Degree Classification: Very Good
• Achieved scholarships for 7 consecutive semesters
• Participated in Faculty-level scientific research in 2021
• Student with 5 Good Criteria at the faculty level 2019 - 2020, 2020 - 2021
• Student with 5 Good Criteria at the school level 2020 - 2021
• Outstanding student in 2021, 2022
• Green Summer Soldier 2022, Spring Volunteer Soldier in 2020, 2021, 2022

“When I was still in school, like any other classmate, I didn't realize how much I was connected to this school. It wasn't until today, when I was about to say goodbye, that I missed, craved the feeling of going to school, seeing friends, remembering the days of studying for the final exam.…

The decision to study Finance - Banking was a risky one because Math was not my strength in high school. Four years of education and living at Van Lang pushed me beyond my limits, making me more confident, competent and responsible every day. I am pleased and proud to be a member of the student community - alumni of Van Lang University's Faculty of Finance - Banking.”

Valedictorian Nguyen Minh Tri – Course 24 in Architecture

• Cumulative GPA: 3.29
• Degree Classification: Very Good
• Achieved scholarships for 9 consecutive semesters
• Outstanding student at the school level 2021 - 2022
• The valedictorian of the thesis defense council in 2023
• First prize of Junglim competition - Architecture Culture Award For Vietnamese Student - Design of Vietnam - Korean Cultural Center in 2022, visit and study experience in Korea organized by Junglim Company in 2023
• ACSD Competition Second Prize (Japanese House) - Japanese Architecture and Metabolism 2022 
• Top 5 finalist of ACT Competition – Future Architecture 2023
• Top 50 Impact Competition - The Tiny House in 2021
• Top 25 Green Projects on Impact Magazine in 2022

“Time flies by as I embrace that new getaway, and my university trip comes to a close. At the moment, I feel quite right and pleased of my decision to spend five years of my youth at Van Lang University. That will be a terrific source of inspiration for my future goals. In the future, I hope to become someone who keeps and carries on the flame of passion to future generations of Architecture. When I received my prestigious Architect's degree, I promised myself that I would always maintain a professional and polite working approach toward any partner. That is also my obligation to myself, with the expectation from the school of contributing to positive future development in Architecture in particular and society in general. ”

Valedictorian Tran Anh Tuan - Course 24 in Architecture 

• Cumulative GPA: 3.29
• Degree Classification: Very Good
• Achieved scholarships for all semesters
• Achieved Shinhan Bank scholarship 2020
• Outstanding student Van Lang University in 2019 - 2020, 2020 - 2021, 2021 - 2022
• Outstanding student representing to visit & study at Hung Temple in 2022
• Participated in University-level Scientific Research with good acceptance 2020 – 2021
• Two ISSN papers published in international journals, 2021 and 2022
• Participated in the EURÉKA Scientific Research Student Award 2021
• Participated and completed 5-semester teaching assistant tasks at the school
• Member of the Executive Committee of the Youth Union - Faculty of Architecture from 2019 to 2023
• Excellent Union - Association officials, school year 2019-2020
• The Head of the Board actively organizes and participates in activities, movements, and programs at the Faculty from 2019 to 2023

“My student life is completed with inspirational lecturers, seniors, and friends who have been with me during this period. Each story from seniors who has graduated before me is an inspiration and the most familiar lesson for me to fill with experience, faith, and attempt to develop myself. The Patron and Negre culture continue to aid generations of the Architecture Faculty to stay strong and stable. Thanks for the years at Van Lang that strengthened my desire of being an heir to the Architecture Faculty's wisdom and legacy, inspiring me to continue learning nonstop in order to pass on that treasure to future generations..”