When I first arrived in New Zealand from Vietnam in 2017, I was seven years old. I still vividly remember stepping off the plane and being struck by how incredibly blue the sky was,  wide, open, and full of possibility. That first impression stayed with me, and in many ways, it came to reflect how I began to see my own journey.

 

I was first enrolled in Year 4 at St Thomas’s School, adjusting to a new culture, a new language, and a new education system. It was a lot for any child, but I was curious and eager to explore. Constantly I found myself restless with the desire to learn more and curiosity to understand the world in greater depth. With the support of my teachers and family, I made the decision to skip a year and enter Year 7. Around that time, I became one of the youngest members of Mensa in New Zealand, which helped me begin to understand that I was not only different as a student but also different as an individual in the way I think. It was both exciting and challenging to realize that I didn’t quite fit the mold of a typical student.

 

But instead of shrinking back, I made a conscious choice: if I had potential, why not explore how far I could take it?

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That question has guided me ever since. Four years ago, at the age of 10, I was studying Year 9 at Selwyn College. While many students at that age were just beginning intermediate school, I was beginning to look beyond high school entirely. At age 11, I became New Zealand’s youngest tertiary student, enrolling in university full-time within the Pacific Region. I completed my undergraduate degree and graduated at 14 in 2024. That same year, I was accepted into a Master of Philosophy programme, where my current research focuses on the intersection of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and sustainable development, with an emphasis on global communication systems. Alongside this, I’m also pursuing a Master of Psychology at Harvard University, driven by a deep interest in human behavior, cognition, and mental well-being—especially as it relates to young people and the challenges they face in a digital, fast-changing world.

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Looking back, it’s been a journey shaped by curiosity, hard work, and an incredible amount of support from my family, educators, and mentors. I’ve learned that intelligence alone doesn’t determine success, but resilience, purpose, and community matter just as much.

 

Sometimes, it’s the unexpected turns that open the most powerful opportunities. And for me, it all started with a blue sky and a question: what if?