Le Tran Phuong Ha is currently a final-year student majoring in Chemical Engineering Technology at the Hanoi University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. Although her academic background is rooted in the natural sciences, the young woman born in 2004 has found her passion in and gained extensive practical experience in event communications. Throughout her four years at university, Ha has gradually honed her skills and overcome moments of uncertainty to establish her individual confidence and capabilities. Her journey offers a realistic perspective on perseverance and the courage young people need to step outside their comfort zones.
The search for the better self
Stepping onto the university campus, Phuong Ha was filled with many concerns about her future direction. Looking back on herself at that time, she realized that she was quite reserved, hesitant to communicate, and constantly felt that she needed a strong enough push to step outside her comfort zone. Her decision to join the Volunteer Student Club became the first step in gradually finding answers along her journey of personal development.
Ha’s initial goal in participating in student activities was simply to contribute positive value to the community while expanding her social network. However, the dynamic volunteer environment unexpectedly became a bridge that led the young student into the field of communications. By proactively giving herself the opportunity to try her hand at an entirely new field, Ha was able to uncover hidden abilities and open up a completely new path for her future career.
First strokes on the honing process
Phuong Ha began her communications work with almost no prior experience, like a blank sheet of paper with little knowledge of writing or event photography. Her first assignments, such as managing timelines and reminding team members about articles, came with countless uncertainties, and her initial work often required extensive revisions due to problems with wording and spelling. Even handling a camera in the field proved challenging at first, as she had yet to master the techniques of framing and composition.
Nevertheless, her willingness to learn, combined with the patient guidance of those who came before her, became a major source of support that helped the first-year student gradually improve herself. Her most memorable milestone came with the challenge of designing a campaign profile image for Green Summer, the club’s largest program of the year. Despite the immense pressure of preparing for final exams while also getting ready for military training, Ha bravely discarded an unsatisfactory draft just before the deadline and started over from scratch. Those sleepless nights of painstaking work ultimately bore fruit, resulting in the communications piece she was most proud of throughout her extracurricular journey.
From institution-level projects to high-caliber professional events
Through persistent effort and a strong sense of responsibility, Phuong Ha gradually earned the full trust of her peers and took on the role of Vice President and Head of the Club’s Communications Department. Holding a management position was not merely about having a title; more importantly, it gave her the opportunity to earn the trust that others placed in her. The hands-on lessons, work coordination methods, and teamwork skills she accumulated in the student environment quickly became a solid foundation for her journey into the wider professional world.
That stepping stone gave her the confidence to enter the corporate communications field and participate in the organization of a series of major events such as GreenLife Legacy, the Anh Trai “Say Hi” concert, Miss Earth Vietnam, and Global Fashion Week. The enormous workload and tight deadlines involved in large-scale programs helped the chemistry student mature with each experience. Standing backstage at major productions, the girl who once trembled when submitting her work for approval had now taken full control of her responsibilities, further strengthening her determination to pursue the path she had chosen for the long term.
Using obstacles to support the personal path
At the beginning of her third year of university, Phuong Ha faced a severe period of emotional distress when she realized that she was no longer interested in Chemistry. The pressure that had built up over the course of a year left her feeling empty and increasingly withdrawn, especially as she watched her peers around her pursue paths in advanced research or laboratory work. Going against the direction chosen by most students at her university once caused her to deeply question her own decision.
However, that quiet and difficult period ultimately helped her understand that every individual follows a unique path of development. The steadfast support of close friends, together with inspiration from those who had gone before her, gave her the strength to overcome her psychological barriers. Through her journey, Phuong Ha hopes to convey a message to young people: allow yourself to try, allow yourself to make mistakes, and always have the courage and perseverance to see through the choices you believe in.
