Inspiring stories
Story of Thuong, a SAL Scholar 2021
"Looking back, I know that SAL was not just a scholarship. It was a turning point that gave me confidence, resilience, and the belief that my dreams are worth fighting for."
I was born and raised in Easúp District, Dak Lak Province, a remote area where life has never been easy. In my hometown, many families still struggle financially, and for many students like me, dropping out of school before finishing high school to work and support our families has become a common reality. Growing up in that environment, I constantly faced an inner conflict between my responsibility to my family and my own dreams.
As the older sister, I often asked myself whether I should go to work to help take care of my younger sister and my mother, or allow my mother to continue supporting us so we could pursue our education. When I chose to keep applying for university, both my mother and I felt enormous pressure. For a long time, we went through what I can only describe as a quiet cold war filled with worry, doubt, and unspoken fears.
When I received my exam results and realized I had not been accepted into my first choice university, I was deeply disappointed. At that moment, I was ready to give up on my dream of higher education and follow my family’s wishes to start working instead. But at the most critical turning point in my life, I came across the SAL Scholarship Program. That encounter changed everything.
With renewed hope, I decided to apply again. I was accepted into my second choice school, the Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry, and at the same time, I was fortunate enough to receive the SAL Scholarship. From choosing a major to completing enrollment, the entire process took only about two weeks, yet it reshaped my future completely. At the scholarship award ceremony and graduation celebration, I shared from the bottom of my heart that it is truly not wrong to say this scholarship was the lifeline that saved my nearly drowning dream and allowed me to stand here today, honored to accompany the SAL Scholarship Board on this journey.
Beyond academic knowledge, SAL gave me opportunities to grow in ways I had never imagined. Through meaningful community activities, I learned new skills and broadened my perspective. Most impactful of all was the Mentoring Program, which truly sets SAL apart from other scholarships. Over three years, I changed profoundly. That period was neither too short nor too long. It was just enough for me to recognize my strengths and face my weaknesses. I grew from someone who was stubborn, hot tempered, and often negative into a calmer person who understands how to manage emotions and think more positively about life.
My journey with SAL concluded with double the joy when I became the first scholar to graduate and later began a new chapter as a staff member in the Marketing Department at N.H.O. Looking back, I know that SAL was not just a scholarship. It was a turning point that gave me confidence, resilience, and the belief that my dreams are worth fighting for.
