The journey of spreading values of January Star Award honorees

Among the 117 individuals selected by Central Committee of the Vietnam Students' Association to receive the January Star Awards in 2025, Dong Nai province has 3 students: Luong Thi Huong (Vietnam National University of Forestry, Dong Nai branch campus, in Trang Bom commune); Le Hoang Khoi Nguyen (Mien Dong Innovative Technology University, in Dau Giay commune) and Pham Nguyen Ha Vy (Dong Nai Technology University, in Trang Dai ward).

Student Le Hoang Khoi Nguyen (center) and a friend look for documents in the library. Photo: Nga Son

These are exemplary students who embody the spirit of overcoming difficulties; achieve excellent results in their academic performances and personal development; actively participate in Youth Union, association, and voluntary activities for the sake of the community... contributing to spreading a beautiful lifestyle among students.

Student Luong Thi Huong: Overcoming difficulties to reach the lecture hall

More than 2 years ago, Luong Thi Huong (a 3rd-year student, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Vietnam National University of Forestry, Dong Nai branch campus) received a university admission notice, but thinking of her elderly parents who still had to support her education, she planned not to enroll but to work as a hired laborer to support herself and help her parents.

Sharing about her decision at that time, Huong said: She was born and raised in Bu Gia Map commune. She is the youngest of 5 siblings, of whom, 3 older siblings have their own families, and she is the 4th child who is currently a student. Her parents are old and have worked hard on the farm for many years, so their health is increasingly weak. The harvest from the farm depends on weather conditions and market prices, so it is quite unstable. If she were to enrol at university, the burden on her parents would be even heavier.

Student Luong Thi Huong (far right, front front row) participates in activities organized by the Youth Union of the Vietnam National University of Forestry, Dong Nai branch campus. Photo: Courtesy of the student

However, encouraged by her relatives, Huong came to realise that education was the only path to change her circumstances and enable her to support her parents in their later years. Therefore, she decided to leave her hometown for Dong Nai to enroll at university. In her first year, she was still unfamiliar with everything, so her parents supported her with tuition and living expenses. From the second year onwards, Huong actively looked for part-time jobs.

Huong said: On weekday evenings, she works as a waitress at a restaurant near the school with an average income of 4 million VND/month. To increase her income, Huong also participates in packaging cordyceps mushrooms and serving at wedding parties on weekends. With this income, Huong not only covers her own tuition and living expenses but sometimes also helps her parents.

Although she has to spend much time on part-time jobs, Huong ensures that her studies are not affected. For 2 consecutive years, Huong has been an excellent student in both academic performance and personal development. Huong shared: To achieve these results, she always sets goals for herself with a clear roadmap for implementation. During her studies, in addition to diligently listening to lectures and taking careful notes, she also learns from her friends and senior students. After each part-time shift, she dedicates all her remaining time to studying, researching, and acquiring more knowledge.

As the Vice President of the Students’ Association Branch of the Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Huong is always exemplary and takes the lead in Youth Union and association activities. "Through the Youth Union and association activities, I have the opportunity to meet, interact, and expand my relationships; to experience and gain many soft skills that help me become more resilient in my journey of personal growth," Huong confided.

Student Le Hoang Khoi Nguyen: Spreading a beautiful lifestyle among students

Since he was a high school student, Le Hoang Khoi Nguyen has heard many stories about exemplary students who spread a beautiful lifestyle among students in universities and colleges. He always considered them as role models to strive for when he became a student. Therefore, after being admitted to and enrolling in the Pharmacy major (Faculty of Health Sciences, Mien Dong Innovative Technology University), Nguyen always focused on his studies, participated in movement activities, and strived to achieve titles such as "5-Good Students", "January Star Awards," among others…

Nguyen shared: The Pharmacy major is quite specific, closely linked to human health and life, so it requires students in this field to be highly specialized. To meet this requirement, the knowledge taught by teachers in class or in textbooks is not enough; each student needs to have a spirit of self-study and self-research. After classes and practical sessions in the laboratory, Nguyen dedicated all his time to self-reading and self-research to acquire new knowledge. With the unique characteristics of different subjects, Nguyen would find a suitable learning and memorization method for himself. Thanks to this, from his first year at university until now, Nguyen has consistently achieved excellent academic results every year.

Beyond his academic achievements, Nguyen also spread a beautiful lifestyle among students by actively participating in voluntary activities for the sake of community. Currently, Nguyen is a member of the school's Volunteer Club. Every week, the club organizes sales to raise funds. The money raised, combined with the support of philanthropists, is used to give gifts monthly to people, homeless children, and those in difficult circumstances. "Through this activity, I realize that there are still many places and many people in this life who are in need of sharing, and young people themselves need to contribute more," Nguyen confided.

Perhaps that is why Nguyen registers to participate in the Green Summer Volunteer Campaign every year. Nguyen said: He has participated in the Green Summer Volunteer Campaign twice. Each year, the campaign takes place in a different area. In the 2025 Green Summer campaign, he had the opportunity to join voluntary activities in Xuan Hoa commune. The memory he cherishes most from this campaign is participating in supporting the construction of compassionate houses for people in difficult circumstances, making streetlights, etc. These experiences have helped him gain more life experience, skills, and especially to see his own limits.

With tireless effort and dedication, Nguyen has achieved the title of "5-Good Student" at the school, provincial, and central levels, and this year, he is one of three students from Dong Nai province to win the "January Star Award."

Student Pham Nguyen Ha Vy: Striving to write a beautiful story during her student years

Student life is the most beautiful and memorable period of youth - where each person begins their journey of self-affirmation and nurtures big dreams. Those years are not only marked by a foundation of knowledge but also created by non-stop effort and striving to write one's own beautiful story. From that perspective, for more than 3 years at university, Pham Nguyen Ha Vy, a 4th-year student (Faculty of Economics - Management, Dong Nai Technology University), has continuously strived to write a beautiful story during her student years.

Student Pham Nguyen Ha Vy studies independently on campus. Photo: Nga Son

Proof of that effort is Ha Vy's excellent academic achievement for 3 consecutive years; 3 consecutive years achieving the title of "5-Good Student" at the school and provincial levels; 3 consecutive years achieving excellent results in association work and the Student Movement; 2 years as an outstanding association officer at the school and provincial levels. In the 2023-2024 academic year, Ha Vy achieved the title of "5-Good Student" at the central level, and in 2025, she was honored as an "Advanced Youth Following Uncle Ho's Teachings" in Dong Nai province, selected by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Students' Association to receive the "January Star Award," etc. Also in 2025, Ha Vy was honored to be one of 6 delegates from Dong Nai province to participate in the "Red Journey" program for research and study in China, which was co-organized by the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China.

According to Ha Vy, from her very first days at the university, she learned about the titles and awards available to students and the criteria to achieve them. Any title, award has criteria in terms of academic performance, and participation in Youth Union and Students’ Association movements. Therefore, right from her first year, she set out a serious study plan and dedicated time to participating in Youth Union and Students’ Association activities. From being a collaborator supporting the activities of the Youth Union of the Faculty of Economics - Management, she gradually joined the Executive Committee of the Faculty Youth Union, became Deputy Secretary of the Faculty Youth Union, and is currently the Secretary of the Faculty Youth Union and Vice President of the Students’ Association of Dong Nai Technology University.

In her role as Secretary of the Faculty Youth Union and Vice President of the Students’ Association of Dong Nai Technology University, Ha Vy has made many contributions to organizing Youth Union and Students’ Association activities for union members, association members, and students of the university, creating an environment for students to train, contribute, and grow.

By Nga Son, Translated by Mai Nga, Thu Ha