Traveling nearly 600 kilometers from his remote village to attend university, Sung Thanh Xuan, a student of the Ha Nhi ethnic minority group, has defied the odds to graduate as valedictorian in Office Management at the Academy of Administration and Public Governance.

Recently, Xuan was honored as one of 12 top graduates across academic departments at the academy in 2025.

"If I had stayed home to work the fields, life would never have changed"

Over four years of study, encompassing 51 courses and 127 credits, Xuan achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.3 out of 4.0. He earned A+ grades for both his graduation internship and thesis, graduating with honors and topping his field.

"Before coming to Hanoi for university, I was determined to work hard, but becoming valedictorian was beyond my expectations," Xuan said.

Born and raised in Go Cu Village, Mu Ca Commune, Muong Te District, Lai Chau Province, Xuan comes from a farming family where neither of his parents can read or write. His older brother dropped out after grade 10 to help on the family farm. Among his peers, Xuan was the only one in his village to pursue university. In the entire commune, only one other student did the same.

“Since I started university, my parents have never been to Hanoi. Their lives remain rooted in our village,” he shared.

For four years, Xuan lived entirely on his own, handling everything from daily chores to his studies. “At first, I thought of staying home to help my parents on the farm due to our financial struggles. But my grandfather insisted I keep studying. I still remember his words - only by continuing school could I help my family. If I stopped, our lives would remain difficult forever.”

First laptop, paid off just weeks ago

In high school, Xuan had only limited exposure to computers. When he entered university, COVID-19 struck, and classes moved online. To study remotely, he relied on a local installment loan support program to purchase his first laptop.

“My first laptop cost 13 million VND (about USD 525), and I’m still using it. At first, all I knew was how to open Zoom for class and shut the computer down afterward. Just last month, in June 2025, my parents were finally able to finish repaying the loan,” he said.

After a disappointing first year with low grades and even a few Cs, Xuan reevaluated his study habits. He began preparing course outlines from the start of each term, noted every key point mentioned in lectures, and read scholarly articles to enhance his understanding.

“Before each exam, I’d stay up late reading to add relevant examples to my essays,” he recalled.

Financial hardship remained a constant. “My parents’ income depends on seasonal harvests. Some months we had money, some we didn’t. I had to learn to manage my expenses carefully.”

English proved the toughest challenge. “In remote areas like mine, we hardly ever learn English. I studied day and night. When the library closed, I sat outside on the balcony until 7 p.m. before going back to my dorm. Still, I passed all three English courses with a C,” he said.

In his later semesters, Xuan’s results steadily improved. By his final term, he achieved a perfect GPA of 4.0. Over four years, he also completed three faculty-level research projects - winning a Consolation Prize in his second year, Second Prize in his third year, and First Prize in his final year. He also co-authored two published papers with his lecturers in the Journal of State Management.

Now, Xuan feels confident in his skills and says perseverance was the greatest lesson he learned in university. “Some things feel impossible at first. But if you give it your all and stay patient, you can make it,” he said.

Looking ahead, Xuan hopes to return to his hometown and contribute to its development. However, with recent local administrative mergers, he acknowledges that job opportunities may be limited. In the meantime, he plans to find an entry-level administrative job in Hanoi to build experience and skills while waiting for the right opportunity at home.

“Just out of school, I’m not focused on salary. What matters most now is gaining skills and growing professionally,” Xuan said.