Growing up means becoming calmer and more reflective

Doan Gia Han is currently a second-year student majoring in Data Science – Computer Science at Swinburne University (HCMC). The petite and cheerful Tay ethnic girl was once a student of Nguyen Du High School for the Gifted in Dak Lak. Three years ago, Han received a Certificate of Merit from the Minister and Head of the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs for her outstanding achievements in learning, training and community work.

What impresses people about Han is not only her long list of achievements, from a third prize in the National Biology Contest, the Odon Vallet scholarship to many community projects, but also her calm and thoughtful way of seeing herself.

Han said her most defining moment did not come from any award ceremony but from an afternoon sitting alone in the hall, just one week before the national exam.

“That was when I felt a mix of excitement, anxiety, regret and pride. When my teacher said ‘one more week and it’s all over’, I didn’t feel pressure but a sense of completeness. In that quiet moment, I saw a calmer, clearer version of myself, ready for a new chapter. It was also the last time I fully lived with Biology, the subject that had accompanied me throughout high school,” Han recalled.

From biology to computer science - an unexpected turn

Many people were surprised when a national Biology awardee chose Computer Science. But for Han, it was not an impulsive decision. Her passion for technology began in grade 8, when she wrote her first lines of code and felt the joy of creating something from zero.

“Biology gave me scientific thinking, patience and analytical skills. Technology opened a wider door to applying them. Biology gives me questions, technology gives me answers,” Han said.

Therefore, her choice was not leaving, but a continuation of the girl she was in grade 8. Perhaps her future journey will bring her back to biological data, combining the two fields she has always loved.

Besides academics, Han also stands out in sports, communications and community projects. But her path has never been a straight line. What keeps her grounded amid the race for achievements is the question: “Why am I doing this?”

In academics, the value lies in improvement. In sports, it lies in enjoying the game. And in community work, the value is the ability to create real impact, even small.

Han is often the initiator in teams and projects. “When I know I can do it, why not start right away?” she said. Her initiative does not come from a desire to stand out but from seeing a gap that needs filling and believing she can handle it.

Alongside maintaining a 3.75 GPA and taking key roles in many teams, Han has learned time management and inner development. For her, time management is not just scheduling but prioritizing and maintaining energy.

Even though she wants to do many things, she reminds herself that it is better to do everything “good enough” than to be perfectionistic to the point of stress and losing joy.

Throughout this journey, Han particularly remembers small but meaningful moments: the thank you note from a veteran when she helped him prepare for a prosthetic fitting at the Jaipur Prosthetics Camp; a friend from another province recognizing the keychain from the "Ivory is worth more than the life of an elephant" campaign; or the marked improvement of a student in the beginning- and end-of-course English videos. These experiences helped Han understand that giving back does not have to be grand; and creating a real, though small, impact is enough to bring value.

Of course, there are times when she is overloaded, sitting all day without finishing a single task. But Han does not see it as failure, but as a signal to adjust. When overloaded, she stops, checks her energy levels, rearranges her schedule, or pauses an overwhelming project.

Having experienced many environments, including domestic study, international debate, exchange programs, and community projects, Han realized that the self-confidence of Vietnamese youth does not come from proving they are better, but from believing in their own value, understanding their strengths, recognizing their limits, and actively learning.

Le Huyen