Dear Ms. Karen,
I hope this letter finds you in good health.
My name is Ngo Ngoc Linh, a fortunate student who has received a scholarship from Lifestart Foundation. I have recently graduated from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy – Hue University with a degree in General Medicine and have officially begun my journey as a new doctor.
Today, as I look back on my university journey, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to you and everyone at the Lifestart Foundation for your generous support throughout my studies at university. At the same time, I would like to take this opportunity to update you on my academic progress during the second semester of my final year and share with you my plans for the future.
Last semester seemed to pass by incredibly quickly. I completed six major subjects: Paediatrics Theory, Paediatrics Clinical Practice, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Theory, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Clinical Practice, the Graduation Theory and the Graduation Clinical Practice Exams.
For both Paediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynaecology, I spent every weekday morning undertaking clinical practice sessions at the hospital, while attending theory classes approximately three afternoons each week. In addition, I was scheduled for night shifts two to three times a week. As a final-year medical student, I was entrusted with greater responsibilities during both clinical rotations and night duties. Besides examining patients, monitoring their condition, presenting cases to supervising doctors and completing medical records, we were also responsible for preparing departmental handover notes and academic presentations. The academic workload was equally demanding. The clinical exams were held immediately after each clinical rotation, so throughout every placement I balanced patient care with intensive revision, focusing on the major conditions treated within each department. At the same time, I constantly reviewed theory lessons and completed practice examinations in preparation for my written assessments.
After completing the semester, I had one month to prepare for the graduation examination, which included both written papers and clinical assessments. Faced with the enormous amount of knowledge I had accumulated over six years of medical university, I studied as diligently as I could to achieve the best possible results.
I was pleased with my academic performance during the second semester. I received two A grades in Paediatrics Theory and Obstetrics and Gynaecology Theory and a semester GPA of 3.35 out of 4.0.
Via this letter, I’m pleased to share that I graduated with a cumulative GPA of 3.41 out of 4.0 and earned my degree with a Very Good classification. Looking back on my six years at university, I am proud of this achievement because it reflects the perseverance and determination I maintained throughout my studies. There were times when I felt uncertain and overwhelmed, but I continued to push forward to successfully complete my medical degree.
As for my future plans, I plan to return to my hometown in Nghe An Province to complete the required twelve-month internship for my medical practice license. Afterwards, I hope to secure a position at one of the hospitals in Vinh City while pursuing postgraduate studies in the future.
Before receiving the Lifestart Foundation Scholarship, my family’s financial situation was extremely difficult. My mother worked as a domestic helper and her income was modest and unstable. Despite significant financial pressure, she worked tirelessly to pay for both my education and our daily living expenses.
I first learned about the Lifestart Foundation Scholarship through an announcement at my university. Realising that I met the eligibility requirements, I submitted my application. I still remember my very first meeting with the Lifestart Foundation team. From the moment I arrived, everyone welcomed me with such warmth and kindness that my nervousness quickly disappeared. During that meeting, I shared all of the financial and personal challenges my family and I had been facing with Ms. Karen and Ms. Nhung. More importantly, I felt truly listened to and understood. Afterwards, everyone kindly invited me to lunch. Even now, I still remember every detail of that special day because it marked an important turning point in my life.
I was awarded the Lifestart Foundation Scholarship during the second semester of my third year. At first, I simply thought that the scholarship would help ease my financial burden so that I could focus more on my studies. At that time, I had already reduced my part-time tutoring work in order to dedicate more time to university, which meant that my personal income had become even more limited.
However, after becoming a Lifestart Foundation scholarship recipient, I realised that I had received far more than financial support. The scholarship enabled me to pay my tuition fees and cover my living expenses. It also gave me the confidence to move into a better rental room with improved living conditions. In addition, I was provided with a laptop that became an essential learning tool throughout my studies. More importantly, I found something even more valuable than financial assistance. Through the Lifestart Foundation, I became part of a supportive community filled with mentors, senior students, fellow scholarship recipients and younger students who, despite facing difficult circumstances, all shared optimism, determination and remarkable achievements. This became a second family where I learned not only from everyone’s knowledge and experiences but also from their resilience, generosity and positive outlook on life.
Receiving the Lifestart Foundation scholarship felt as though a tremendous weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I no longer had to constantly worry about tuition fees and daily expenses and my entire family shared that sense of relief and happiness. Thanks to the scholarship, my mother no longer had to worry about paying my tuition fees and could even save a small portion of her modest income. Seeing her become happier and less burdened by financial pressures brought me tremendous comfort. At the same time, she felt reassured knowing that her daughter was working hard and achieving good academic results.
The scholarship became one of my greatest sources of motivation. It encouraged me to continue striving for academic excellence and to maintain the grades required to retain this precious support. Looking back now, I honestly do not know whether I could have achieved everything I have today without the scholarship. Had I continued carrying the heavy financial burden of rising tuition fees and living expenses on my own, I believe it would have been far more difficult to concentrate fully on my studies and achieve these results.
Through your compassion and generosity, you have given us far more than financial assistance. You have given us the confidence to pursue a long and demanding educational journey, while creating a second home where we are connected as one family. Within this community, senior students generously mentor younger students, sharing study materials, practical advice and valuable life experiences. This spirit of mutual support has become one of the greatest gifts we have received.
Your kindness and unwavering belief in us have planted the seeds of hope, giving us the strength to overcome difficult challenges and inspiring us to pass that kindness on to others. Although each of us will soon embark on different paths and careers, I firmly believe that the values, friendships and sense of family that you have so carefully nurtured will remain with us throughout our lives.
Finally, I would once again like to express my heartfelt appreciation to Ms. Karen and everyone at the Lifestart Foundation. I wish you all good health, happiness and continued success in your work. I hope that many more students facing difficult circumstances, just like me, will have the opportunity to receive the same life-changing support that you have so generously given.
With sincere gratitude,
Ngo Ngoc Linh