Professor 8x became famous with a loan of $2,000

Share at volume two In the series of seminars “Shine with Australia”, Prof. Dr. Lu Nhat Vinh said that, born and raised in a rural area, he has experienced many unskilled jobs, from washing dishes to repairing cars, to can become a professor of a prestigious university in Australia like now.

He believes: “Life has many chapters to experience new things”. Therefore, from an early age, he always aspired to go abroad to expand his knowledge and find his own future. Professor Nhat Vinh has been away from home since the 4th grade and was able to study well and take care of himself and his sister when he entered grade 12.

The independence and responsibility of an elder brother helped him a lot in the process of studying abroad. At the same time, his life and education in Australia contributed to creating the person he is today, who is enthusiastic and progressive but more balanced.

Prof. Dr. Lu Nhat Vinh recounted that he studied at Foreign Trade University in Vietnam and won a 100% scholarship from the University of Adelaide (Australia). At that time, it was very difficult for his family to study abroad. For a young man who grew up in a poor family in a remote district in Ben Tre, going to the city to study was a worry, so going abroad to study was even more difficult. His parents borrowed $2,000 in advance of their son’s promise to fend for himself. With that money, he went to Australia and lived with his cousin in a rental apartment.

In Australia, he was introduced to work at a restaurant by a Vietnamese colleague. “I can’t remember how many kilos of onions I cut, how many bowls and chopsticks I washed, how I worked in the vineyard in horribly hot weather, or how I stayed up at 4 a.m. to work in the supermarket,” he said.

However, Mr. Vinh shared that he was grateful for that time because he was not afraid of difficulties and hardships and worked hard with his own efforts. Thanks to that, he had the foundation to pursue his career and built his current strong personality.

According to him, his time studying in Australia had two important milestones. At the time of the Sydney Olympics in 2000, Nhat Vinh had the opportunity to work as an assistant to a professor specializing in marketing in researching the success of the Olympics, standing in a shopping mall to invite users to take surveys. From there, he began to wonder: what is research, why research, who benefits…

After completing his bachelor’s program, he was invited to write a thesis for the honors program. The school requirement for this program is that students must gain experience by working as teaching assistants in the department. This moment made him feel sacred, but also challenging because the practitioners were so good. “I grew up in a family of teachers. Therefore, I think the desire to become a teacher has existed for a long time, but I didn’t realize it until I was in fourth year,” he added.

However, when he expressed his intention to become a lecturer, the professor advised him to continue going out, experimenting, gaining more experience. If he is still willing to study for a doctorate, do research, be a university lecturer, he can come back, the school is always ready to accept.

“I graduated with a bachelor’s degree with honors and worked for the state government for a while. I thought and found myself ready to come back,” he added.

After years of dedication to teaching, he continues to challenge himself as a manager. In June, he will begin his 5-year term as Director of the School of Management, under the Faculty of Business and Economics – Australian National University.

“Each experience with me creates a ‘kick’ in my personal and career development,” he said. Wherever you are a student, you must be active to succeed. Studying at a university in Australia requires him to be proactive in his schedule and how to apply his knowledge.

All Australian universities offer interdisciplinary training for students to open their eyes and wide knowledge. At the Australian National University, where he is working, more than 60% of students study in two majors such as economics – law, finance – computer science, accounting – humanities…

“When I study many majors, I have a wide understanding, when I graduate from college, I can talk to others, build relationships and have many choices for a career path,” he affirmed.

Besides, the school always creates conditions for students to have work experience and volunteer. Teams of staff affiliated with employers from companies, Australian Government Agencies and the regional government, alumni will have the opportunity to practice, meet with consultants or go abroad to meet new people. study with international experience.

“So live to the fullest in 3-6 years of college. After graduation everyone says it’s great but everyone has a different definition of happiness. You have to make the most of your time. This is the most effective, seize every opportunity,” he advised young people.

In addition, Prof. Dr. Lu Nhat Vinh advises young people who intend to study abroad to learn information from their predecessors. Relationships and love are very important, especially in the process of living in a foreign country. Second, Vietnamese students should try to hunt for scholarships. The Vietnamese market is very attractive to universities around the world. As for the Australian National University, this year there are 10 Chancellor International Scholarships, 50% tuition reduction for Vietnamese students.

Finally, besides studying, international students also need to prepare for the future by doing part-time jobs, volunteering, internships, participating in groups on and off campus, international affiliate programs… to get more many experiences.

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