A Passion for Learning, Nurtured by Family Support

Although Phương Tinh’s parents did not have the opportunity to pursue higher education, they deeply understood its value. Financial constraints never deterred them from investing in her education. For someone like Phương Tinh, who has loved learning since childhood, this support was a tremendous blessing, allowing her to excel academically. Among her notable achievements is the Second Prize in the Citywide English Competition for Excellent Students in 2020.

Since starting high school, Tinh has worked tirelessly to achieve outstanding results in school and on international standardized tests, including a 1510 SAT score (with a perfect 800 in Math), a 7.5 IELTS, and a CGPA of 9.6, among others.

For Phương Tinh, learning goes beyond acquiring knowledge from formal curricula or competing in academic contests. It is about experiencing, reflecting deeply on the world, humanity, and especially herself. Thus, she never viewed a full-ride scholarship as the ultimate goal. Instead, for her, the opportunity to learn and broaden her horizons in an ideal environment was a vital milestone in her life.

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NYUAD – A Dream School Opening the Door to Global Understanding

In her main essay for U.S. universities, Phương Tinh wrote about the differences in perspective between herself and her family. Speaking with MiYork, she shared that sometimes these differences made her feel uncomfortable or disconnected from her family. However, through persistent efforts to bridge this gap, she realized that differences stem from various factors—ranging from daily information intake to broader aspects like living environments and generational gaps.

“Differences sometimes make older generations’ views appear ‘outdated’ to younger ones, while young people’s behavior might seem ‘rebellious’ to adults,” she reflected.

From this realization, Tinh grew grateful for her family, as they helped her learn to embrace differences from a young age. She concluded that coexistence doesn’t require erasing differences but instead calls for empathy and mutual understanding, even amidst disagreement. “Be a connector, not a winner,” she said—emphasizing connection over victory in endless debates.

Carrying these values, Phương Tinh approaches relationships with openness and readiness to live and collaborate with people different from herself. While she admits she hasn’t completely shed all biases, she actively seeks to engage with groups she holds preconceived notions about. The greater her bias, the more she connects with such groups—to either “unlearn and relearn” (abandon old perspectives and form new ones) or develop deeper empathy.

Tinh shared with MiYork several reasons why NYUAD (New York University Abu Dhabi) is her ideal school. First, she aspires to better understand Arab culture and the Middle East to challenge stereotypes and gain a broader perspective on its people. Second, the liberal arts education, her intended major, and NYUAD’s interdisciplinary learning model align with her desire to explore global issues and solve problems through knowledge from diverse fields.

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The Importance of and Gratitude for Community

When asked whether she preferred being “a small fish in a big pond or a big fish in a small pond,” Phương Tinh responded that as long as the pond was suitable, she would thrive as a fish, no matter its size. For her, a supportive community is crucial to personal growth. By reflecting on herself within a community, she believes one can find their unique identity. In her words, “Without a community, there is no self.”

Phương Tinh recognizes that everyone in her community has contributed to shaping her current identity. She expressed deep gratitude to her family, who have always supported her unconditionally, and to her older sister, who first guided her academic path. She also thanks her mentors, who inspired her and demonstrated the value of “paying it forward.” Without them, she believes her dream of studying at a place like NYUAD would never have come true.

Finally, Phương Tinh extended her gratitude to her friends, who provided her with a safe space while also encouraging her to step out of it. Their support gave her the courage to embrace new challenges and opportunities.

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