Phạm Thị Hạ Vân: Slowly Sowing Seeds, Steadily Blooming

Every young person walking out of university gates carries their own baggage: some bring great ambitions, others a thirst for change, and some quietly and patiently take small steps toward what they believe in. For Phạm Thị Hạ Vân – Valedictorian of Cohort 43, International Law major at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam – her journey was not a straight, glamorous line, but a slow and steady path, built with effort, discipline, and trust in her own process.

The first footsteps: Growing through stumbles

Hạ Vân’s story doesn’t begin like a novel with a pre-written ending. She chose the Diplomatic Academy… because it was close to home, because people she knew praised it, and because, at 18, she had no answer to the question: “What do I want to do with my life?”

“At that time, I just thought I should pick a major I could handle and that suited me. People said diplomacy was good, so I chose it.” That startlingly honest answer marked the beginning of a memorable academic journey, one that ended with her becoming valedictorian. Perhaps the magic doesn’t lie in the initial choice, but in how we live wholeheartedly with it.

Vân wasn’t someone who always knew her destination, but she was always someone who tried her best at every step. Entering university, she treated it as a journey of self-navigation and discovery. She sought out friends who truly fit, built lasting connections, and gradually adapted to both academics and extracurriculars. To her, university was a free sky – no one pushed her, but no one waited either. So she told herself: you just have to keep walking, even if it’s slow.

Student life wasn’t just lectures, but valuable experiences that shape who we are. For her, mock trials – a signature activity of the International Law faculty – left the deepest mark. From her freshman year, she timidly joined in, supported wholeheartedly by teachers and senior students.

“Thanks to their guidance, I matured enormously – not just in knowledge, but in character and skills. That was a major puzzle piece in my student years, and it shaped the career path I later pursued,” she shared.

But student life was never smooth. She once failed a course. She once lost confidence when she couldn’t answer what her strengths were. There was even a period when she applied to countless jobs but was rejected from all. Yet it was from these stumbles that she learned to rise. She didn’t let failures paralyze her, but treated them as chances to reflect, learn, and keep trying.

“If you fail a class, the important thing is to reflect and find out why. There are many possible reasons, and if it’s not due to ability, you don’t need to be too sad or disappointed. Studying is bound to come with setbacks. What matters is to review the issue, take the lesson, and keep going.” Her story isn’t bathed in glory, but steeped in perseverance, resilience, and self-healing after setbacks.

Everyone has their own season to bloom

The Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam is often associated with careers in the public sector. But Vân chose the private sector – and succeeded. Graduating as valedictorian in 2020, she switched from international law to practicing private law, a tougher path. Yet her alma mater had equipped her with critical thinking, problem framing, and writing skills – the “foundation bricks” she built on to self-study and grow.

In a world full of pressures and expectations, Vân holds on to one principle: effort. Not excessive pushing, but “trying within one’s capacity while listening to oneself.” The most important lesson she learned after leaving the Academy’s safe zone was not to fear difficulty. From shifting from international to private law, to facing personal failures, she kept her spirit: “not afraid of difficulty, not afraid of hardship.” What she has today is the result of slow but steady steps.

When asked what success means, she admits she hasn’t found her own definition. For now, success simply means “having goals and gradually achieving them.” She shares: “Honestly, very few people in their twenties can answer exactly what their passion is. It’s okay if you haven’t found your path yet. Experience a lot. Try different things. At least you’ll know what you don’t like. That’s also a way to find yourself.” She remembers a friend once told her: “There’s no wrong choice.” From that, she learned to live kindly with herself – to see that every journey, whether marked by success or failure, has meaning, bringing her closer to her own right answer. In a world where everyone is rushing, comparing, and expecting, she chooses to go “slow but steady.”

She reflects: “We all have our own timeline. Every decision comes from a specific moment and circumstance. So it’s hard to compare ourselves to others. Constantly looking at other people’s lives is like a bottomless pit – it drains your energy. So when I feel that, I choose to just keep walking step by step, slowly but surely. Focus on your own journey, and keep trying. I believe everyone has their own ‘season’ to bloom. Maybe others are blossoming this season, but next season it will be your turn.”

Her simple but sincere words remind us of the diversity of life and personal growth. When you live fully in the present and focus on developing yourself, success will arrive at the right time, in the most beautiful way.

Her path wasn’t straight or easy – but through detours and setbacks, she learned to rise, to grow, and to walk firmly at her own pace. She shines quietly – with kindness, persistence, and wholeheartedness in her choices. For young people still searching at life’s crossroads, her story is a gentle reminder: Success is not a destination, but the way we travel through winding paths. Don’t fear slowness, don’t fear detours. Everyone has their own journey. With courage and perseverance, one day you’ll find your own “blooming season.”

Minh Phuong