Dear Ms Karen and Lifestart Foundation,

My name is Tran Hai Yen, a student in Year 9.

I am writing this letter to express my sincere gratitude to Ms Karen and Lifestart Foundation for awarding me such a meaningful scholarship, which has provided me with valuable opportunities and favorable conditions to continue striving in my studies. In addition it provides me with hope for my future and will ease the financial burden on my family. In this letter I would like to share a little about myself, my family, my studies and our current living situation.

I live in a small family with my maternal grandparents, my mother and my younger sister. My grandparents are farmers who have worked tirelessly for many years to cultivate rice and support our family. My mother works hard every day for a footwear company. My younger sister is currently in Year 6 and has achieved good results. Although our family is facing certain financial difficulties, we are all doing our best to overcome these challenges together and create a better future for my sister and me.

At present, I am putting in my best effort to maintain good academic performance at school. I always remind myself of the importance of staying focused on my studies for the sake of my future.  In addition my family works hard to support me and my teachers and friends provide me with much support so I must do my best for them, and my generous sponsors. 

History is the subject that I am most passionate about and I have been studying it in the gifted student training program at school. As a Vietnamese citizen, I have always been deeply interested in learning about both our national and world history. This passion has given me a deep appreciation for the value of peace and a profound respect for the heroic sacrifices made by our ancestors to achieve the peace we enjoy today. Over the past eleven months, I have undergone an intensive period of training with the full support of my teachers at school and at the town level, and on April 4th, 2025, I completed the Provincial Excellent Student Exam in History. This journey has granted me numerous opportunities to learn, to reflect on my mistakes and to grow, experiences I truly cherish. Alongside my training, my studies at school are supported by enthusiastic and devoted teachers. My classmates are friendly and play an important role in supporting my emotional well-being. I have also actively participated in school activities such as camping events, environmental cleanups and other extracurricular activities.

At home, I read in my free time for over 30 minutes a day or take a short nap to recharge. I also help my grandmother with household chores. My self-study schedule is flexible according to my class timetable. Prior to the Provincial Excellent Student Exam, I focused most of my time on revision, while also allocating one to two hours to completing my school assignments and one hour to studying English and Math. I attended online lessons with my teachers in these subjects and also studied textbooks in preparation for the upcoming high school entrance exam. After 10:30 PM, I set aside time for myself to reflect on the day. I usually write in my diary what I have accomplished during self-study, take care of my personal hygiene, prepare materials for the next day and then go to bed. I also attend extra classes in English and Math, for which I am fortunate to receive financial support from my teachers. I am deeply grateful for their kind assistance and encouragement.

My first-choice high school for the upcoming school year is Nguyen Duy Hieu High School. Looking further ahead, my dream is to use the knowledge I acquire to teach children from disadvantaged backgrounds, especially ethnic minority students living in mountainous areas. With deep empathy for their circumstances, I hope to contribute to nurturing future generations and give back to the community.

Thanks to the support and encouragement from my homeroom teacher and the school, I had the opportunity to learn about Lifestart Foundation’s scholarship program. I prepared and submitted my application with hope, and was incredibly fortunate to be selected for an interview. Both my family and I were excited and a little anxious about this unexpected opportunity. I attended the interview with my mother, initially feeling nervous, but we successfully completed it and left feeling relieved and comfortable. After a period of waiting, I was thrilled to hear that I had been awarded this scholarship. My joy was shared by my mother, younger sister and grandparents, all of whom were just as happy as I was. Before receiving the official scholarship certificate, I was also given a meaningful Tet gift from Lifestart Foundation, which included essential items such as rice, cooking oil, toothpaste and other daily necessities. This meaningful gift brought warmth to our home and made our Tet celebration even more special.

Receiving a scholarship from Lifestart Foundation has been an invaluable opportunity, offering tremendous encouragement to both myself and my family. I am deeply grateful for the support from Ms Karen and Lifestart Foundation. This assistance plays a crucial role in my personal development and my family’s well-being. The scholarship has become a powerful driving force that motivates me every day to maintain my academic performance and continue earning the trust and support of Ms Karen and Lifestart Foundation.

Finally, I would like to extend my heartfelt wishes to Ms Karen and your family for good health and happiness. I also sincerely wish Lifestart Foundation continued success in bringing light to the futures of many people in need. Thank you very much!

With sincere gratitude,

Tran Hai Yen