Dear Ms Karen and Lifestart Foundation,

My name is Nguyen Hoang Ky Anh, a student at Ong Ich Khiem Secondary School. I currently reside in Dien Ban Town, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam.

I am writing this letter to express my heartfelt gratitude to Ms Karen and Lifestart Foundation for giving me this precious scholarship. I am truly honored and thankful for your trust in me and the support you have given me. Through this letter, I would also like to share a bit about myself, my family, my studies and my current life.

My family consists of six members, including my grandmother, my mother, my younger brother, my younger sister and myself. My grandmother, who is 60 years old, works as a farmer growing rice and vegetables and raising chickens and ducks. Unfortunately, my father has passed away. My mother works as a kitchen assistant. She works tirelessly, starting her day at 6:30 a.m. and ending at 6:00 p.m., after which she still has to take care of our family. I love her very much but I can only help her with small household chores such as looking after my siblings. I try my best in my studies to make her proud of me. Currently, my younger brother is 6 years old and attends kindergarten, while my sister is 13 and in Year 7.

With regard to my studies, I achieved a GPA of 9.3 out of a possible 10 in the first semester, earning the Excellent Student award and ranking second in my class. Amongst the subjects I study, I enjoy English the most because I find great interest in exploring languages, but Literature is the subject I am best at.

At school, my studies are going well. I feel like I am making progress thanks to diligently studying, paying close attention in class, preparing lessons before class and attending school regularly. I also have a good relationship with my classmates and have found true friends who always support and encourage me. 

In addition to my school studies, I attend extra classes in Math, Literature and English at a local center. These classes help to reinforce my knowledge and deepen my understanding of the subjects, enabling me to tackle more advanced exercises.

At home, I dedicate 1.5 to 2 hours in the afternoon and 2 to 2.5 hours in the evening to self-study. During these sessions, I focus on completing my assignments, reviewing past lessons, preparing for new ones and practicing advanced exercises when time allows.

This semester, my goal is to maintain my “Excellent Student” title, improve my academic performance and study hard to build a strong foundation.

During my free time, I often tidy up the house, my study space and bedroom, help my siblings with their homework, play with them and read books. 

My dream is to become a journalist in the future as I believe I am well-suited for the social sciences and humanities. I feel confident speaking and presenting in public and enjoy dynamic and flexible environments.

When I received the scholarship interview invitation, my family and I were both excited and anxious. We were thrilled to have such a valuable opportunity, but also nervous since my mother and I had never experienced such an interview before and we did not know what to do or how to prepare for it. Thankfully, the staff at Lifestart Foundation guided us thoughtfully and answered all our questions. Upon receiving the news that I had been selected, my family and I were overwhelmed with joy and gratitude. I am fully aware that this scholarship comes with the great responsibility of studying hard and creating a brighter future for myself as well as, in the future, giving back to the community and supporting children facing hardships. This will honor the trust that Lifestart Foundation has placed in me. 

Before receiving the scholarship, during the Lunar New Year, my family and I were delighted to receive warm wishes and a meaningful gift from Ms Karen and Lifestart Foundation. Being selected as a scholarship recipient brought us immense happiness and hope. The scholarship covers my tuition fees, extra class fees and school supplies, and I also received a new schoolbag from Lifestart Foundation.

To my family and me, this scholarship is more than financial support. It eases the heavy burden on my mother’s shoulders and serves as a ray of hope that lights the way for my educational journey. Thanks to this support, I have been able to access specialized books with mock tests, something I never dared to ask my mother for, as each book costs about 150,000 to 200,000 VND, which is a significant amount for our family.

Once again, I sincerely thank Ms Karen and Lifestart Foundation for believing in me, supporting my education and easing the financial burden on my mother. This scholarship is not only a generous gift to my family and me but also a reminder of my duty to strive harder so that one day I may give back to the community and assist people in need like me. Finally, I wish you and your family good health and happiness. Thank you very much!

With deepest gratitude,

Nguyen Hoang Ky Anh