In this edition of MiYork Story, we dive into the inspiring research journey of Tố Như, which revolves around the study of "humankind." Starting with small-scale social behavior research projects during high school, Như’s curiosity and eagerness to learn have consistently driven her to refine her research skills. These efforts culminated in her acceptance to Trinity College, where she pursued a major in Neuroscience with a scholarship exceeding 8 billion VND (~$340,000) for four years of undergraduate studies.

But her story doesn’t end there. Như’s growing expertise has paved the way for more extraordinary opportunities, including a fully-funded exchange program at the University of Oxford. Let’s follow MiYork to learn more about her remarkable journey.

IGNITING THE DREAM OF STUDYING ABROAD

Throughout her formative years, Như’s family faced many challenges that shaped her study-abroad dream. Coming from a non-specialized high school in Ho Chi Minh City, she often felt a tinge of insecurity when interacting with peers from the city’s prestigious schools. Yet, instead of letting these doubts hold her back, Như turned them into motivation to grow and improve. She actively participated in debate competitions and took on various roles in non-profit projects nationwide.

This proactive mindset allowed Như to expand her network, connecting with friends across the country. Among them were her mentors, Khoa and Tuyết, from MiYork, who guided her in pursuing her aspirations.

From asking naive questions about strengthening her college application to selecting extracurricular activities that aligned with her goals, Như diligently noted every piece of advice and found her passion in academic research. Combining these insights with her early research failures, she concentrated all her efforts on improving her skills and broadening her academic research activities. These became the unique highlights of her application, which ultimately impressed admissions committees at several universities. One of these was Trinity College, a prestigious institution on the East Coast of the United States, which welcomed her with nearly full financial support.

EMBARKING ON SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

Anyone who looks at Như’s profile would notice her diverse research experience. Her earliest project, conducted during high school, was titled "Emotional Intelligence of High School Students in Ho Chi Minh City." The idea stemmed from an online course Như took out of sheer curiosity.

At the time, her research process was more intuitive than systematic. Every new piece of information she found in books or articles was hastily added to her paper. While these early projects were neither professional nor thoroughly verified, they served as the foundation that fueled Như’s enduring curiosity.

With guidance from MiYork’s mentors, Như’s research approach gradually became more organized and rigorous. She began by evaluating the feasibility of her research topics, identifying gaps in previous studies, defining key variables, and designing effective measurement methods.

For instance, in a project titled "Environmental Differences Between Specialized and Non-Specialized Schools and Their Implications," Như and her team successfully collected high-quality survey responses. These formed the basis for identifying patterns and improving the overall quality of their study. Their efforts paid off when their paper was published in the Entrepreneurship Education journal by Springer, an initiative under UNESCO.

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UNVEILING A BRIGHT FUTURE FULL OF OPPORTUNITIES

Như continued to leverage her accumulated experiences to tackle even more challenging endeavors. Her perseverance was rewarded with the chance to participate in an exchange program at the University of Oxford, studying Psychology and Biomedical Sciences—her fields of passion.

This opportunity was a testament to her dedication to developing research skills during and beyond high school. Pursuing a science-oriented major, skills such as reasoning, comprehension, summarizing, and analyzing data became indispensable tools for Như.

Như expressed her desire to further her education and knowledge in graduate studies. She dreams of applying her expertise to brain rehabilitation in Vietnam, combining global insights with local needs.

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MiYork hopes Như’s story has inspired readers exploring scientific research while still in school. We wish her continued success in her future endeavors!

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