After much hardship, by means of her own efforts together with the support from her teachers and friends, Nguyen Minh Anh – class 12 History of Hanoi – Amsterdam High School – has successfully gained admission to the prestigious school of Les Roches.

Here are some of her outstanding schoolwork results and extra-curricular activity records:

- Head of the History major in NHAT 2016 

- Head of Logistics for the project “HomeUp Heroes” 

- Member of the Makeup – Stylish department of the club “Life’s So Drama” 

- Third Prize in the district History contest for 9^th graders

Nguyen Minh Anh honored to be the Head of the History major in NHAT 2016

Interviewer: Hello Minh Anh! First of all, I would like to congratulate you on winning the scholarship to Les Roches University. Could you please share with us your reasons for choosing Les Roches? Do you think a top school or a school that meets your need is more important?

I believe choosing a school that suits my career orientations is much more important. Les Roches’ education program inclines towards practice more than theory, making it an ideal choice for me. My grades at school are not exceptionally high, but I am confident in my social and thinking skills, and I can develop them further through opportunities and experiences in real life. That is one of the reasons why I chose Les Roches, beside its impressive top 4, top 5 rank.

Interviewer: Why did you choose Hospitality and what was the biggest challenge you faced when you decided to pursue it?

To this very day I still have yet to discover any word in Vietnamese that accurately translates “Hospitality”, as this industry covers a wide range of fields from services and tourism to hotel management. Ever since my childhood I have always enjoyed travelling, but I only intended to study and work in the tourism industry; I have never really considered taking such an extensive major as Hospitality. However, I gradually came to realize that studying Hospitality could bring me numerous opportunities to interact with people from different countries. As for the biggest challenge, I would say it is the cultural barrier. Hospitality is a global industry in which I will be exposed to various cultures. Although that in itself is a great advantage, at the same time it can also bring quite a few difficulties as I will have to adapt and adjust accordingly.

Interviewer: Can you give us some more details on your applying process right from the 10^th grade? What are the factors that attracted recruiters to your CV?  

Previously I had planned to study in Australia, having chosen a school and completed all the necessary procedures. However, it was only until 6 months ago that I decided to switch to Switzerland. While researching different schools and majors, I realized that Switzerland would provide me with the best Hospitality education there was, and Les Roches would be the ideal studying environment just like that of an actual working place. Right from my 10^th grade, I have tried to get a minimum GPA of 8 and take part in extra-curricular activities involving the necessary skills such as leadership skill, management skill and problem solving skill. I have read somewhere that “Hospitality needs the suitable people rather than the best”. Therefore, in my motivation letter, I always write and express myself clearly because I believe the truth is much more appealing than abstract, vague statements.

The talented girl always tries to practise her leadership skill to perfect her résumé

Nguyen Minh Anh as the Head of Logistics for the project HomeUp Heroes 2016

Interviewer: Do you have any difficulty balancing your schoolwork and your extra-curricular activities? What is your solution to this problem?

I think this is a common problem for many students, not only myself. My solution is to clearly divide my time schedule for the day. In the morning I attend classes at school, the afternoon is for extra-curricular activities and the evening is usually spent doing my homework or revising. It may sound simple, but after a long day of study and club activities it can be very hard to concentrate on your schoolwork. Thus, it all boils down to your efforts and determination if you really wish to study abroad.

Interviewer: Do you have any passion and does that make you stand out from other people?

I especially love makeup, which I also mentioned in my essay. Although nowadays there are still many prejudices against makeup, in my essay, I had managed to prove to the recruiters that I did really have a passion for makeup, and I would always spend time on it just like I would on Hospitality later on!

Interviewer: During the process of applying your family, friends and teachers must have helped you a lot. Could you please share something about the people who have always been beside you?

No matter what you do, support is always a crucial factor. I am grateful to my teachers since grade 10, who have always recognized my future plans and assisted me in both my studies and extra-curricular activities. As for my family, I am very lucky to have received total support from my parents and sister. While applying for university I had to face a lot of difficulties and pressure, but the encouragement from my family has been the driving force behind my success, and it will always remain so.

Thank Minh Anh for having an interview with Ams Wide Web! May you be more and more successful on your path in the future!

Interviewer: Dinh Dieu Linh – Literature 1720

Translator: Phuong Uyen – English 1 1720