Amy Nguyen- In search of Academic Excellence

Amy Nguyen arrived in Australia at the tender age of 16, leaving her parents and her former life behind in Vietnam. While Amy’s command of English wasn’t as good as she’d like, it didn’t stop her from becoming Dux of Helensvale High School two years later. Now studying Actuarial Science at Bond University, Amy was recently acknowledged in the Executive Dean’s Awards for Bond’s Business School and made the Vice-Chancellor's List for Academic Excellence.

“I always dreamed of studying abroad. My aunt and uncle were living on the Gold Coast, so I did some research and it seemed like the ideal place for me to study. I was 16, but my family were happy for me to come to a city where I had relatives. It’s very challenging, so I had to get my mentality right – I am going to do this, I am going to learn and I’m going to keep an open mind about it. There were cultural differences for sure, but I learnt a lot about myself through the process of adapting to my new life here.”

While still at high school Amy was introduced to the Mayor’s Student Ambassador program by a teacher. “It sounded so amazing to me – all the experiences and opportunities the program creates, like developing your professional skills. The program really accelerated my personal development. It was more than I anticipated. The people I met in the program had a big impact on my self-confidence, as much as the activities themselves.”

After securing exceptional grades in year 11, Amy felt that it just might be possible to try and become Dux of the school by the end of the following year, but there were psychological barriers to overcome.

“Coming from a foreign country I had a lot of anxiety when I first arrived because everything you’ve achieved in your life up until that point, all of your identity – is stripped away from you. No one knows what you have done, you’re starting from zero.

That just made me more determined. Initially I wasn’t aiming for the top, but just to be the best I could be. When I received my Year 11 grades I thought I had a chance to prove to myself that I could do it. I worked really hard to achieve the honour of being Dux and in reaching that goal it really lifted my self-confidence.”

A scholarship to Bond University followed with Amy opting for an accelerated program to study Actuarial Science, an experience that’s exceeded her expectations.

“I’m grateful for the scholarship because it’s relieved my financial burden. I love the environment at Bond and appreciate the smaller class sizes. You have easy access to the lecturers on a personal level with lots of career guidance and insightful industry advice, so that’s a really big help.”

Amy’s recent acknowledgement in the Executive Dean’s Awards for Bond’s Business School means far more to her personally beyond academic recognition.

“My journey in many ways has been inspired by the people who have supported me. I really do appreciate it because it’s that much harder when you’re young and you’re in unfamiliar territory. It’s a reflection on what I’ve received from the community. When I first came to Bond I knew nobody, but as I got to know people they were so helpful to me and it made such a big difference. All sorts of people have come into my life that have supported and encouraged me. I really feel like I belong here and that I’m treated like any other Australian with the same opportunities.

There’s been so much support for me that now I don’t feel like I’m an international student – I feel like I belong here. Last year I had an internship in Perth and I wasn’t thinking about Vietnam at all – I was missing the Gold Coast!”

Amy is has also served as a member of both the Qld International Student Advisory panel and the Study Gold Coast Student Advisory Board:

“It’s something that I’m so passionate about. From my perspective I’ve had inferiority issues because of my background, but I did have family here. A lot of international students don’t have that. They not only have to struggle with their studies, but they have to support themselves with a part time job.

I’m very aware of their situations and I want to help them the way others have helped me. Study Gold Coast for instance has been a huge help to me and it’s important that international students know that there is help here if they need it – they only have to ask for it.”