Dear Ms. Karen, and everyone at Lifestart Foundation,

My name is Nguyen Vu Ai Nhi; I am currently a student majoring in General Medicine at Danang University of Medical Technology and Pharmacy. First of all, I would like to express my deep gratitude to the Lifestart Foundation for giving me the opportunity to attend the interview and for the honour of being awarded your scholarship and secondly, to share a little more about myself and my studies.

I was born and raised in a farming family in Quang Ngai. My parents both work as farmers and labourers for hire, but their income is quite unstable as it depends on the seasons and the weather. As time goes by, my parents are getting older and their health is declining. The physically demanding work they have been doing for decades is no longer enough to sustain our family. In recent years, my mother has only been able to do light work at home due to poor health caused by high blood pressure, thyroid issues and uterine fibroids leading to prolonged bleeding. My younger sister is currently in Year 11, and my younger brother is in Year 9. My grandmother is now 94 years old and requires medication and constant care from my parents. The daily expenses, medical costs and education for the three of us have always been a heavy burden that my parents struggle to manage.

Our family lives in a small, old house that was built many years ago. During the rainy season, we have to place containers around the house to catch leaking water from the roof. The kitchen and bathroom are in poor condition, with parts of the floor having sunk and many cracks appearing on the walls. I always think that when I am able to, the first thing I want to do is repair the house for my parents so they can live comfortably, without worrying about the rain, wind or heat anymore.

I study far from home in a big city and the costs are much higher than in the countryside. Moreover, the field of Medicine involves learning a vast amount of knowledge and takes much longer to complete than other majors, while the tuition fees continue to increase each year. These financial pressures, along with the heavy academic workload, have often made things quite challenging for me. Even so, I have always tried to study seriously, learning from various materials and developing essential communication and English skills to prepare for my future career.

I used to be a Physics major in high school but later decided to change my path and pursue Medicine because I truly have a passion for it. Switching from one to the other with a strong focus on Chemistry and Biology was not easy. I have had to put much more effort into my studies than others because my foundation in those subjects was not strong. But I never gave up. I learned on my own, asked for help from teachers and friends and spent days and nights studying to keep up with the program. Throughout my studies, I have always tried to maintain good results, live frugally and be independent so as not to become a further burden on my family. Whenever I feel tired, I think of my parents, my younger siblings and our leaky house and remind myself that I cannot give up. I always try to look forward. I look at those who are more capable than I am, not to compare myself or feel inferior to them, but to learn from them. When I look at those in more difficult circumstances than myself, I feel grateful and remind myself to work harder, not only to overcome the present, but also to build a better, more stable life for my family in the future.

After finishing the interview at Lifestart Foundation, I felt deeply moved and grateful for the opportunity to share and be understood. The interview was not just a selection round but also a valuable experience that helped me reflect on myself, understand more clearly the path I am following and strengthen my determination to pursue my dream of becoming a doctor.

When I received the news that I had been awarded your scholarship, my family and I were overwhelmed with emotion and happiness. It felt as if part of the burden had been lifted and the future ahead became clearer and brighter. The Lifestart Foundation scholarship holds a profoundly meaningful place in my life and provides extremely practical support for my family and myself. To me, the scholarship not only helps reduce financial pressure related to studying, accommodation and materials, but also motivates me to stay focused on my studies and professional training. For my family, it is a precious support during a time of financial difficulty, helping to ease my parents’ worries as they care for my grandmother and support the three of us still in school. This scholarship not only allows me to continue my medical studies with greater stability but also serves as a powerful source of encouragement for me to keep striving. Most importantly, it represents recognition and motivation. reassuring me that, no matter what my circumstances, I can still persevere in pursuing my dream of becoming a doctor and giving back to the community.

Thanks to the encouragement and support from the organisation, I have continued to work every day to improve myself. I am now a fifth-year student in the General Medicine program, where the study load is quite heavy with many clinical subjects. Balancing the theory and clinical practice has been a significant challenge. I always try to maintain good academic performance while gaining more hands-on experience during my hospital placements. This semester, my goal is to keep my grades steady while actively participating in more medical conferences and professional discussions. In addition, I also wish to take part in community activities related to mental health, to gain practical experience and better prepare for my future career direction. I also hope to further improve my English so that I can access in-depth medical materials in English to support both my studies and future work.

Besides studying, I take part in extracurricular, volunteer and academic activities to develop soft skills and expand my professional network. I am an active member of the provincial admissions advisory team, participating in career orientation programs, sharing study experiences and helping high school students understand more about university life and medical studies. This is an opportunity for me to spread my passion for the field and to improve my communication and community engagement skills. I have also been a member of my university’s volunteer club where I worked with seniors and peers to organise community support activities such as Mid-Autumn Festival events for disadvantaged children and logistics for charity trips to remote areas. These experiences have helped me better understand the value of sharing and the social responsibility of those in the medical profession.

After graduation, I plan to take the entrance exam for a Psychiatry residency program. I believe that in today’s society, mental health plays an increasingly important role but still does not receive the attention it deserves. Many people live with mental health disorders without access to proper medical support due to barriers such as lack of awareness, social stigma or limited professional resources. For this reason, I hope to pursue a Psychiatry residency to deepen my expertise, gain a more comprehensive understanding of the field and develop strong clinical skills in a structured way. I believe this will be an important stepping stone towards me becoming an accomplished psychiatrist who can also contribute to research, improve treatment quality and help raise public awareness of mental health.

I don’t think I am special or more talented than anyone else, but I believe I have determination. No matter how tired or pressured I feel, I will not give up on the path I have chosen. I chose Medicine out of passion, but I am determined to follow it to the end for my family and for those I wish to help in the future, especially psychiatric patients who are vulnerable and in need of compassion not only from doctors but from society as a whole.

Furthermore, I hope that once I have a stable career, I will be able to support my parents, share their financial burden, take care of my younger siblings and give back to the organisation by helping others in difficult circumstances. I truly believe that with perseverance and the invaluable support from this scholarship, I will have the strength to overcome challenges, achieve my dream and contribute more to the community.

Once again, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Ms. Karen and the Lifestart Foundation team for your support. I wish Ms. Karen and the Lifestart Foundation continued good health and happiness, so you can keep creating meaningful opportunities for many other students.

With sincere thanks and appreciation,

Nguyen Vu Ai Nhi