Statement of Achievements
To the high-school me, leadership meant courage, taking the first step into a world that felt too big. It was carrying an unknown research project to a competition I could barely imagine. Leadership was not about titles; it was about daring to speak, believing my work could help someone, and trusting that initiative, even unseen, mattered.
To the first year me, arriving in a new country, leadership gradually took form as I found my place within Deakin and cultivated a desire to help the community. I searched for belonging but found a calling to lead. As the founding General Secretary of the Deakin Vietnamese Student Association and through volunteering with DUSA and the Rotary Club, I learned that leadership begins with service; showing up, doing the unseen work, and lifting others quietly.
By my second year, I had earned trust among my peers, which became the foundation of the Deakin Volunteering Hub, a platform empowering students to lead initiatives and create change. Leadership became less about my growth and more about helping others discover their voice and potential. As President of the Hub, Health Peer Mentor, and Student Experience Ambassador, and Wellbeing Ambassador, I learned that true leadership is guiding others to lead themselves.
My third year shifted from community impact to systemic change. Elected as a DUSA Council Member, I led projects like the Survival Guide, Academic Integrity Campaign, and Lab4Impact AI Workshop, creating systems that gave students a voice. Leadership, I’ve learned, is an ongoing commitment; starting small, serving with purpose, and growing alongside your impact.
This year, during my Honours year, I am proud to have been elected as Vice President of Education, where I led key policy changes such as 24/7 library access and the Automatic Short-Term Extension for students experiencing emergencies. I also led projects addressing the cost-of-living crisis, including the $5 Meal initiative, while maintaining excellent academic performance and preparing my Honours thesis for publication. I am also proud to have received several recognitions, including the RESPECT Award by Deakin Res, the Student Helping Student Award: Experienced Category, the Hallmark Excellence in Leadership Award, Victorian Young Volunteer of the Year Finalist, and New Club of the Year as President.
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At 17, I led a research project on how same-sex explicit novels shaped the views of rural students toward the LGBTQ+ community. This study, which won second prize at the Regional Young Scientist Competition in Vietnam, opened my eyes to the power of research to challenge prejudice and drive social change. It was through this work that I discovered my calling in psychology and advocacy—a calling that continues to guide me and fuel my academic excellence today.
In my first year at Deakin, I co-founded DEVISE, the Vietnamese Student Society, to create a space where Vietnamese students could connect, share culture, and feel at home, and we grew to have more than 150 members. As General Secretary, I led initiatives like our Survival Guide panel series, Open Mic Nights, and collaborations with other clubs. DEVISE taught me the power of community and the importance of cultural pride on campus.
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Founding the Vietnamese Student Society (DEVISE)
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Leading Through Service with DUSA Crew and Rotary
I volunteered with DUSA Crew and the Rotary Club Box Hill to help run events and distribute food to students in need. These experiences taught me that leadership isn’t always about being in the spotlight. Sometimes, it’s about being the person who shows up, helps behind the scenes, and makes sure things run smoothly. I learned that small acts of service can make a big difference.
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Founding the Deakin Volunteering Hub
I founded the Deakin Volunteering Hub (213 members) to empower students to take the lead on their own service projects. From organising blood donation drives and fundraisers to coordinating biggest bushwalks and trips to the Edgar’s Mission Animal Sanctuary, I wanted to help students discover how powerful it feels to give back. From 2024-2026, we have raised close to $4000 for Operation Christmas Child, WWF and Edgar's Mission.
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Guiding Others as a Mentor and
Ambassador
As a Health Peer Mentor, Student Experience Ambassador, and Wellbeing Ambassador, I supported over 50 students every trimester during their first steps at Deakin. I offered guidance on everything from managing school work to navigating campus life and maintaining students' well-being. More than anything, I worked to be the kind of mentor I wished I’d had, someone who listens, encourages, and helps others grow into their full potential.
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Stepping Into History: Becoming DUSA Vice President of Education
In 2024, I became the first international Vietnamese student elected to the Deakin University Student Association Council. In 2025, I continued with DUSA as the Vice President of Education. Representing nearly 60,000 students, I took on the responsibility of advocating for fairness, visibility, and change, especially for communities too often overlooked.
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The Survival Guide: A Toolkit for Thriving at Deakin
Inspired by my own struggles and my experience in student clubs, I led the creation of the Survival Guide, a series of 35 engaging and emotionally stimulating videos designed to help new students navigate university life. This project aimed to make information accessible, memorable, and supportive for all.
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From Mistake to Movement: The Academic Integrity Campaign
After falling victim to contract cheating during a difficult time, I turned my hardest lesson into a campaign for awareness and prevention. I led the production of a video series that told real student stories and sparked honest conversations about integrity, vulnerability, and growth.
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Lab4Impact: Turning Experience into Innovation
Building on the Academic Integrity Campaign, I brought the conversation to a wider stage through Lab4Impact. I co-created a social impact model addressing ethical AI use in education, winning first runner-up out of 59 teams across Melbourne.
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Advocating for students’ academic rights, learning experience, and access to support.
As Vice President of Education, I advocate for fair, accessible, and student-centred education. My work focuses on improving academic policies, reducing barriers to learning, and ensuring students have the support they need to succeed. This includes advocating for 24/7 library access, automatic short-term extensions during emergencies, fairer assessment practices, clearer academic integrity education, and practical cost-of-living support such as the $5 Meal initiative. I also aim to ensure that student voices are meaningfully represented in university decision-making, especially for international students, equity groups, and students experiencing financial or personal hardship in areas such as Academic Board.
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Working on my thesis publication: Women's sexual Health!
Alongside my leadership and community work, I have maintained strong academic achievement throughout my Honours year in Psychological Science. I am especially proud of my Honours thesis, which focuses on women’s sexual health and wellbeing, exploring how sexual shame and sexual pride may shape the relationship between masturbation and sexual wellbeing among women. This research reflects my commitment to advancing evidence-based, inclusive, and sex-positive conversations in psychology, particularly in areas that remain under-researched or stigmatised. I am currently preparing this thesis for publication, which demonstrates both the academic quality of my work and my aspiration to contribute meaningfully to psychological research and women’s health.
(I designed the poster myself, isn't it pretty?)