VLU Public Relations Valedictorian 2023: Continuing the Family’s Dream

On the afternoon of August 17, 2023, Van Lang University held a Commencement for the fresh Public Relations graduates, inspiring the next PR generation to proudly pursue their journey.

From August 17th to August 20th, 2023, Van Lang University held a grand Commencement for more than 118 new masters, 6,376 bachelors, engineers, pharmacists, and architects graduating from 32 full-time programs in 2023. Among these, Public Relations - one of the “hot” majors with a large student and alumni community, proudly welcomed 880 fresh graduates.

With the highest GPA of 3.63 and an Excellent degree, new graduate Le Thanh Tien was honored as the Valedictorian of 2023 from the VLU’s Public Relations. During his studies, Thanh Tien achieved scholarships to encourage studies for seven consecutive semesters and was often recognized with the "Students with 5 good merits" award, as well as being an outstanding student at both the university and faculty levels. Not only did he excel academically, but Thanh Tien also actively explored and gained experience in many roles within the communications field. Currently, he is a Marketing Executive at Linh Chi Truong Sinh Company. At the 2023 Commencement for Public Relations graduates, Le Thanh Tien shared with the faculty, parents, and fellow attendees a touching story about his journey with the responsibility of continuing his family's dream.

Here is the speech from the valedictorian, Le Thanh Tien:

“My name is Le Thanh Tien, the Valedictorian of Course 25 in Public Relations. To have the honor of standing in this position today on the Commencement is, for me, nothing short of a miracle. Four years ago, setting foot in Van Lang University was truly a big dream for me and for my family.”

I was born in the rural area of An Giang province and grew up in a place where children often hear, "It's enough to just learn to read and write, so you can then help the family earn money." Every day, having meals with fish, sauce, and soup was a challenge in our land. 

When I turned 18, I felt I needed to change. I needed to succeed. I wanted to be an example for my younger siblings and relatives to aspire to. And in a bold dream, I wanted to go to Saigon to attend university, to be the first in my family to access up-to-date cultural and educational values. Because I know knowledge is power against prejudices and discrimination based on race, skin color, and gender.”

I always remember my father's words then: "Go and study, just try your best, I got you." Those simple words were the precious motivation for an 18-year-old young man to bravely head to Saigon and chase his dreams. And he got to experience the best four-year journey of his youth.

At VLU's big PR community, I was surrounded by a strong community filled with unique personalities and abundant talent. Everyone had strengths that I learned from and deeply respected.

Every PR student who chooses VLU starts with their own dreams, and I hope that today, many of you have ticked off numerous items from your university journey checklist. 

On that journey, we hold onto countless memories: the hours spent chasing the deadline day and night to deliver outstanding presentations; the relentless effort to secure scholarships each semester; the hard work when making the NEON events brilliant and pride-filled; the longing to return to the classroom, greeting each other face-to-face after days and hours of quarantine and social distancing due to the Covid-19 pandemic... All these memories are filled with love and the strong bond of a determined and tightly-knit faculty.

In 2023, the VLU’s Faculty of Public Relations and Communication is proud to celebrate its 15th anniversary. The Faculty Head stated that the greatest achievement of the Faculty are the talented and passionate generations of PR students who are socially responsible. For us, being part of the PR Course 25 students is an honor.

We would like to express our deep gratitude to our lecturers – passionate generations with grand visions that built the strong and reputable Faculty of Public Relations and Communication, ensuring every student's confidence in entrusting their dreams here. The trust and love from our lecturers and senior alumni motivate us, Course 25, to strive further in our upcoming professional journey, living up to the reputation of VLU PR.

Dear new Graduates,

The university journey has come to an end, and each of you will continue to pursue your own career dreams. The career world of PR is vast, and I hope to see you all out there as partners, colleagues, or simply as friends sharing memories and experiences from our university days. The best part is, we'll reunite during many return visits to our beloved PR Faculty. Because for all of us, PR IS HOME!

Once again, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Van Lang University and all the lecturers who have accompanied me throughout my student years. Thank you for always loving, encouraging, and supporting me over the past four years. Thank you, Van Lang, for giving me such beautiful memories, a journey that's both unique and special in my life. I deeply appreciate everyone's affection and support.

I'd like to use the few minutes left to continue the story of my first day away from my family to attend university in the city. Twenty years ago, in 1998, there was another young man and his wife from An Giang who came to the city with dreams of a better life. They were my parents. They wandered the city's alleys selling Southern glass paintings to make a living. My mother said, “Although our family won't settle here, this city helped your father and me hold onto our dreams. That dream is you.”

Today, after 22 years of being raised by my parents, my happiest moment is inviting my mother back to the city, having her present to the hall to attend her son’s commencement. Even though my father isn't here, I want to thank him, as his dreams inspired my determination and courage. I'm grateful to my mother for teaching me kindness and compassion. 

I thank my parents for their endless sacrifices, so that today, I can hold my head high and watch my dream come true.

Dear friends,

Every young person among us probably has dreams for the future. And do you know? Behind us, our parents are always silently watching over those dreams. We are the dreams of our parents. 

At this commencement, we want to express our gratitude and say how much we love our parents. 

Thank you all so much.

Thank you Van Lang for the memorable moments I will cherish forever.
In this warm atmosphere, I invite our lecturers and friends to turn their attention to the screen as we look back at the unforgettable memories of our vibrant student days under the roof of Van Lang's PR Faculty.

Le Thanh Tien
Public Relations’ Valedictorian 2023

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The story of dreams always seems to be one filled with emotion and inspiration for young people starting their university journey. As you took those initial hesitant steps in choosing your major and university, it was your dreams that motivated you. When you stumbled, it was those very dreams that helped you not to give up, but to rise and continue until today.

Every new graduate’s journey is shaped by the protection, sacrifices, and dream nurturing of parents, lecturers, seniors and friends who’ve always been by their side. With a strong inner drive and immense support from close ones, we hope that the new VLU masters, bachelors, engineers, architects can succeed in achieving their dreams and spreading positive values to the community.

Valedictorian Nguyen Tan Duy - Course 25 of the Software Engineering major

• Cumulative GPA: 3.5
• Degree Classification: Very Good
• Outstanding Student at the Faculty level for the years 2020-2021, 2021-2022;
• Received scholarships for 6 consecutive semesters;
• Finalist in the "Ra Khơi 2023" competition;
• Participated in a university-level scientific research project.

“Driven by a passion for tinkering with computers, I decided to pursue Software Engineering at Van Lang University. My decision was influenced by the robust growth and future prospects of this field. Information technology is rapidly advancing, and software is increasingly integrated into all areas of life. As such, Software Engineering offers students many attractive and promising career opportunities.”

"After graduating from university as valedictorian, my dreams burned brighter than ever. I aspire to become an outstanding software developer, creating quality products that benefit daily life and society. My educational journey has ignited a profound passion for technology in me, and I can't wait to continue exploring, learning, and contributing to the ever-evolving field of Software Engineering."

Valedictorian Van Thi Thanh Truc -  Course 25 of the Honors Program English Language Major

• Cumulative GPA: 3.31
• Degree Classification: Very Good
• Received scholarships for multiple semesters.

“I began my journey at Van Lang University with the dream of becoming a professional translator. Whenever I read books, I marvel at the natural and brilliant translation style. Reflecting on my four-year journey as an English Language major in the Honors Program, I'm proud of how hard I've worked towards my dream. My experiences at Van Lang also introduced me to another passion: drawing. Whether I become a translator or an artist in the future, I'm deeply grateful to Van Lang - a place that taught me to cherish and value my dreams.”

Valedictorian Du Huynh Huong - Course 25 of Oriental Studies major (Korean Studies)

• Cumulative GPA: 3.61
• Degree Classification: Excellent
• Third place in the King Sejong Korean Writing Contest in 2020;
• Received scholarships for 7 consecutive semesters;

“I have a deep love and passion for Korean culture. That was the greatest motivation for me to begin my journey in Oriental Studies, majoring in Korean Studies at Van Lang University. To me, this place is where I embarked on a new journey filled with ambitions and aspirations. After a 4-year journey, I have managed to maintain that passion. More importantly, Van Lang has helped me grow, boosting my confidence to walk new paths. The title of Valedictorian is a testament to my continuous efforts. The honor I receive today is my deepest gratitude to my parents for standing by me and supporting my every decision. I would like to thank the esteemed faculty of Oriental Studies - Korean Studies and all my friends who have been with me, supporting me throughout this journey.”

Valedictorian Nguyen Ngoc Minh Chau - Course 25 of the Hotel Management major

• Cumulative GPA: 3.48
• Degree Classification: Very Good
• Received scholarships for 7 consecutive semesters;
• “Students with 5 good merits” at the Faculty level for the academic years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021;
• “Students with 5 good merits” at the University level for the academic year 2020-2021;
• Outstanding Student at the University level for the academic year 2022;
• Exceptional Union - Association Cadres at the University level for the academic year 2019-2020;
• Exceptional Union - Association Cadres at the Tourism Faculty for the academic year 2020-2021;
• Participant in the 2020 Green Summer campaign, and an outstanding participant in the 2021 Green Summer campaign.

“I chose to study Hotel Management to continue my family's tourism business. However, the time I spent studying with lecturers and friends from the VLU Tourism Faculty has greatly ignited my fire. It's no longer just a family direction; through many trips and practical lessons, I realized I love interacting and sharing with customers. I appreciate the work attitude that is always serious, well-organized, and professional in every detail. Thank you, Van Lang University, for strengthening and enriching my passion for tourism.”

Valedictorian Tran Le Thien Quynh - Course 25 of Oriental Studies major (Japanese Studies)

• Cumulative GPA: 3.24
• Degree Classification: Very Good
• Received scholarships for consecutive semesters;
• Outstanding participant in the 2021 Green Summer campaign.

“Choosing to study Oriental Studies, majoring in Japanese is not just a hobby, but a personal love for the culture of the Land of the Rising Sun. My family and I carefully considered and recognized the potential for development and job opportunities for those who understand the Japanese language and culture in Vietnam in this cross-cultural era. Reflecting on my academic and social activities at Van Lang University, I am confident it has been a wonderful journey.

Thank you, Van Lang University, for introducing me to our dedicated Japanese Studies lecturers, who always enthusiastically guide and closely follow our progress every step of the way. I appreciate their patience and unwavering support, from our early days of learning Japanese till now, when we successfully graduated. I also extend my deep gratitude to my parents for their encouragement, and to my friends who have always been there to help me along this journey. Thank you, Van Lang, for painting such a beautiful chapter of my student life.”