Graduating with distinction and securing a Grade Point Average of 9.79/10, thereby becoming the valedictorian of both the Data Science department and VNUHCM-University of Science (HCMUS), Võ Thị Khánh Linh refuses to view herself as exceptional. For Khánh Linh, this accolade represents the culmination of years of persistent exertion, discipline, and a ceaseless passion for learning. The path began with a young girl from Quang Nam Province who held a deep affection for Mathematics and maintained the conviction that “the manner in which one executes a single task determines the execution of all tasks.”

Overcoming Adversity to Affirm Personal Worth

Born into a lineage with a strong pedagogical tradition and raised in Da Nang City (formerly Quang Nam Province), Võ Thị Khánh Linh imbibed the studious spirit of the region from an early age. Since secondary school, Khánh Linh has established disciplined academic habits: reviewing materials prior to lectures, listening attentively in class, posing questions immediately upon encountering ambiguity, completing all textbook exercises, solving past examination papers, and compiling personal study outlines. Linh’s university narrative does not commence with a ‘moment of brilliance,’ but rather stems from daily persistence and meticulous attention to detail.

The connection leading Khánh Linh to the Data Science programme at HCMUS began with a fortuitous encounter on Facebook during the final year of upper secondary school. After conducting further research and conversing with a data analysis specialist based in Austria, Khánh Linh realised this trajectory served as “a bridge between a love for Mathematics and a penchant for exploring life.” Furthermore, many alumni of Nguyen Binh Khiem High School for the Gifted (Da Nang City)—where Linh studied—had placed their trust in this institution. Consequently, the young student decided to list a single preference across all three admission methods: the Data Science programme at HCMUS.

Two weeks spent at the PiMA Mathematics and Applications Summer Camp 2021 became a pivotal milestone, allowing Linh to enter university with a robust foundation through exposure to advanced Mathematics, machine learning algorithms, and real-world data projects. Following the summer camp, a heartfelt letter from an admired mentor instilled the confidence and motivation required to pursue knowledge. The experience at PiMA enabled Linh to ‘encompass nearly two years of Mathematical knowledge,’ thereby facilitating faster acquisition and a deeper comprehension of the subject matter’s significance.

Throughout four years at university, Khánh Linh not only excelled academically but also engaged actively in numerous extracurricular spheres. The student participated in scientific research from the conclusion of the first year, progressing from a supporting role to becoming the primary co-author of international papers, such as those presented at MediaEval 2022 (Norway), CBMI 2022 (Austria), and MMM 2024 (The Netherlands). Notably, Linh’s team achieved the Distinctive Mention Award at MediaEval 2022 for recognising scientific papers making outstanding contributions with significant potential in the field of urban air quality assessment; the group simultaneously secured Third Prize at the Viet Nam Datathon 2023.

The most demanding challenge arose in the second semester of the third year when Khánh Linh participated in the NUS Young Fellowship Programme 2024 during the final examination week. Alongside activities and competitions within the fellowship, Khánh Linh completed a final project whilst in Singapore. Upon returning, the student continued to finalise another project and attend examinations; these pressures were condensed into a period of less than a fortnight. Nevertheless, the score for that semester stood at a perfect 10.0/10.0—a milestone the student remembers vividly.

Another source of pride for Linh involves receiving nine scholarships, the most significant being a full four-year grant from the VietSeeds Foundation (sponsored by Temasek). This assistance not only alleviates the financial burden on the family but also aids Linh in self-discovery, the honing of soft skills, and learning to balance emotions while caring for mental health. Consequently, the young undergraduate managed to perform well academically, participate in extracurricular activities, conduct research, and simultaneously support the family whilst her parents underwent medical treatment.

Future Journey of the “Daily Disciplined” Individual

Graduating with a GPA of 9.79 alongside the title of valedictorian of Data Science and the entire university, Khánh Linh remarked: “I am not a genius. I am merely a person of effort and daily discipline.” Such a result brings to mind the process of undertaking the graduation thesis—the most challenging module for the student personally. Particularly in the final stage, Khánh Linh had to work late into the night continuously to conduct experiments, analyse data, propose improvements, and finalise the report. After the defence session, recovering full health required half a month. Yet, the experience cultivated a robust research mindset: meticulous, transparent, and scientific.

Khánh Linh believes the valedictorian title does not represent a destination, but rather serves as a reminder of responsibility towards knowledge. Currently, the graduate has commenced full-time employment, continuing to refine skills to apply Data Science to practical problems. Regarding the long term, Linh intends to pursue postgraduate studies and return to Viet Nam to teach, “because I love conveying and sharing knowledge and wish to continue spreading the benevolence received from teachers, seniors, and programmes such as PiMA or VietSeeds.”

Beyond professional work, Khánh Linh maintains the role of mentor and speaker at summer camps and schools related to data science. Linh expresses a cherished desire to return as a personal sponsor, awarding scholarships to young people who possess similar determination.

Looking towards the future, Khánh Linh avoids setting overly distant goals. Her desire is to become a careful, creative scientist with a solid foundation who always maintains integrity in research. “Deeply understanding the problem being solved and creating truly effective solutions,” constitutes the model to which Linh aspires.

When asked what readers should remember, Linh replied gently: “I am not the smartest person. I am simply someone who always strives with utmost effort. I wish to be remembered as a normal student, but one who is very disciplined and always trying every day to develop oneself, support the family, and contribute to the community.”