Orignal Article: https://vnexpress.net/nam-sinh-cham-bo-tai-bien-gianh-hoc-bong-my-gan-10-ty-dong-5015128.html
Writing about the days balancing his studies with caring for his stroke-stricken father—having to "learn to be an adult" at just 11 years old—Tri Duc secured a US college scholarship worth nearly 10 billion VND (around $380,000).
Do Tri Duc, a 12th grader at the United Nations International School of Hanoi (UNIS Hanoi), was admitted to Lafayette College during the Early Decision admission cycle in late 2025. The institution currently ranks in the top 30 National Liberal Arts Colleges and 13th for Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs in the US, according to US News.
"I was so happy, I ran all around the house and called my mom immediately," Duc recalled the moment he received his acceptance letter.
Duc's financial aid package is valued at approximately $380,000 for four years (9.9 billion VND). His family will only need to pay about $3,000 per year.
For Duc, behind the application and this "dream-come-true" result lies a journey of early maturity following a family tragedy.
As Duc was preparing to enter 6th grade at Trung Vuong Secondary School, his father—a telecommunications engineer—suffered a stroke that left him paralyzed on one side of his body. From that moment on, his mother became the family's sole breadwinner. Meanwhile, Duc, carrying the heavy thoughts of an 11-year-old child, began to "feel anxious for his family."
By chance, the father of a friend sent him information about a full-ride scholarship at UNIS Hanoi, designed for high-achieving students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Duc decided to apply. He enrolled in the 8th grade, with the scholarship covering all tuition, lunches, field trips, uniforms, and a laptop through to the end of 12th grade.
Stepping into an international environment, Duc faced numerous challenges. Aside from Vietnamese language class, the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum was taught entirely in English, while Duc’s language and communication skills were still limited. Whenever he couldn't keep up with the speaking pace of his peers and teachers, Duc would ask them to repeat, then study independently after hours to fill the gaps.
It was also here that Duc found the inspiration to study abroad. He applied to several colleges but fell in love with Lafayette College due to its strong engineering program—his field of interest. The young student was also deeply impressed by the college's statistics, which showed that 95% of its alumni are engaged in "meaningful life work."
In his personal statement, Duc wrote about his journey of "learning to be an adult," where he had to master life management, balancing his academic pursuits with family responsibilities.
Every day after school, he would take the school bus to his drop-off point, then head over to his maternal grandmother's house to pick up dinner because his mother usually worked late. At that moment, Duc saw himself as a "delivery boy." In the evening, he transitioned into a "caregiver," helping his father with personal hygiene, dinner, and medication so his mother could get some rest. Later in the night, he became the "big brother," tutoring his younger sibling.
Connecting these roles to the concept of "meaningful life work," Duc believes that kindness and meaning do not necessarily have to stem from grand gestures; rather, they begin with how a person lives and treats those around them.
"If I had to choose a religion, I would choose the religion of being kind and doing good things for people," Duc shared in his essay.
Ms. Andrea Fleming, a School Counselor at UNIS Hanoi who guided Duc through the college application process, noted that his essay clearly reflected his maturity and kindness—qualities that cannot be measured by trophies or awards.
"Duc is always willing to treat everyone with openness, kindness, and support. He beautifully showcased this vital quality of his in the essay," Ms Andrea said.
Academically, Duc achieved a predicted IB score of 38 out of 45, securing perfect scores in Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry. He also participated in domestic and international math competitions. For two consecutive years, he earned the highest score in his school in the ASMA (American Scholastic Mathematics Association) contest, earning a ticket to the UK to compete in the World Mathematics Championships.
Additionally, Duc and three friends co-founded the Hanoi Youth Math Conference—a bi-annual math festival for secondary school students. He directly developed the content, designed the questions, and reached out to participating schools.
Duc has also been dedicated to a community project called Sustainable Agriculture and Social Enterprise (SANSE) for four years. He and other members traveled to Ban Lien, Lao Cai, to teach English to students, donate books, clothes, and essential supplies to local households, and help them market their tea products. According to Duc, these activities helped him better understand social issues and the role of education in driving sustainable change.
However, what impressed Ms. Andrea most about Duc was how he faced his family circumstances. Duc never complained or used his situation as an excuse, rarely even mentioning his hardships. Alongside this, he possesses a deep curiosity and a drive for self-improvement, always receiving and responding to feedback with the utmost seriousness.
Regarding his personality, the counselor described Duc as the most "polite and thoughtful" student she has ever known at this age.
"Duc always expresses genuine gratitude verbally, followed by a thoughtful email," she shared.
Duc will begin his studies in the US this fall. For now, his immediate goal is to maintain his IB scores to successfully graduate in May. Once in the US, he plans to major in fields related to engineering and mathematics.
Looking back on the road he has traveled, Duc believes the most important thing is to never stop trying.
"I need to overcome difficulties and learn every single day," Duc said.
- Alumni News