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, 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.
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 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. 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.
-
Founding the Vietnamese Student Society (DEVISE)
-
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.
-
Founding the Deakin Volunteering Hub
I founded the Deakin Volunteering Hub to empower students to take the lead on their own service projects. From organising blood donation drives and Fun(d) Night (raising $1,000 for Operation Christmas Child) to coordinating bushwalk fundraisers and trips to the Edgar’s Mission Animal Sanctuary, I wanted to help students discover how powerful it feels to give back.
-
Guiding Others as a Mentor and
Ambassador
As a Health Peer Mentor and Student Experience Ambassador, I supported over 50 students during their first steps at Deakin. I offered guidance on everything from managing school work to navigating campus life. 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.
-
Stepping Into History: Becoming a DUSA Councillor
In 2024, I became the first international Vietnamese student elected to the Deakin University Student Association Council. Representing nearly 60,000 students, I took on the responsibility of advocating for fairness, visibility, and change, especially for communities too often overlooked.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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 runner-up out of 59 teams across Melbourne.