A HUST in Memory, Where Stumbles Turn into Wings!

At Hanoi University of Science and Technology, people often mention the number 4,300 - the number of students possessing "special survival skills" who studied at HUST during the Covid-19 pandemic. Nguyen Thi Nguyet Hang - an alumna of Chemical Engineering (CH1) - is a piece of that number, a girl who went through the difficult days of a special circumstance to understand that: HUST teaches students how to stand firm in adversity. Hang's story began with brilliant pride, passed through the very low notes of disappointment, and finally closed with a sturdy pair of wings reaching out to the vast sea of global science.

The 0.5 GPA Shock and the Bravery of a HUSTer

Nguyet Hang entered the Parabol Gate of Hanoi University of Science and Technology with the baggage of a national excellent student title and a proud direct admission ticket. That confidence was so great that when hearing her father warn about the difficulty of this environment, she only replied with an innocent smile. In her first academic year, Hang devoted her entire mind to volunteer activities, joining clubs, and vibrant student programs. In the thoughts of the ambitious 18-year-old girl Nguyet Hang at that time, general courses seemed to be just a minor challenge, and she even set a goal to win a scholarship right in her first semester.
  However, the reality at HUST dealt a blow to that confidence. As the semester closed, the GPA of 0.5 appeared as a harsh reality. Hang recounted that she burst into tears right in the middle of a class meeting, an overwhelming feeling of shame when she couldn't understand what was happening to herself. That bitter moment helped her realize a truth: HUST is not a place one can pass through with old study habits or subjectivity. If she didn't change, she would be eliminated from this game.

Hang began a phase of strict self-restructuring. She decided to pause most of her extracurricular activities to return to her desk and books. A harsh motto always echoed in her mind: "Cannot just be good." Stopping at the "good" level was never the ultimate goal; it had to be a complete breakthrough from the old limits.
  The Turning Point Named CADD and the Sweet Fruit of Perseverance

The turning point that truly changed Hang's student life took place in her second year, during a Biochemistry class by Dr. Dao Huy Toan. Knowledge about life, protein structures, and cells ignited a strange passion in her. She became curious about Computer-Aided Drug Design (CADD) - a field that uses the power of computational tools to support drug research and development. In 2021, this was still quite a new direction at the university, but that very unfamiliarity created an intense attraction for Hang.

Her scientific research path began with early morning sessions in the laboratory and long nights pouring over specialized document files. Hang had to face an ever-present, tough question: Would computer simulations and predictions bring practical value when put into experiments? At the Student Scientific Research competition that year, the result she received was the Poster prize - a spiritually encouraging award. Instead of choosing disappointment, Hang saw it as a new beginning.

Under the dedicated guidance of Dr. Toan and Assoc. Prof. Pham Minh Quan - Deputy Director of the Institute of Natural Products Chemistry (Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology), Hang started a new project with multiplied caution and perseverance. She poured her whole heart into this research, turning it into the content for her graduation thesis. Standing before the defense committee, her persistent efforts were rewarded with an absolute 10/10. For Hang, the Excellent degree in her hands was not just an academic result, but the manifestation of a journey overcoming the "bottleneck" - where everything is narrowest but serves as the premise to open up a vast sky ahead.
    Firm Feet and the Aspiration of Gratitude

Choosing to follow a distinct path brought Nguyet Hang opportunities that even she did not expect. After graduating, she continued to delve deep into the field of CADD at the master's level, constantly learning from leading researchers.

A significant milestone in her academic career was her exchange trip to Ghent University (Belgium) in 2025. Here, she got access to Machine Learning applications in CADD and realized the immensity of the scientific world. This international experience made her even more steadfast on the path of professional research.

Faced with concerns about whether to study abroad early or not, Hang always keeps a clear perspective. She believes that everyone has their own path; some choose to go abroad early, others choose to develop solidly domestically before reaching out to the world. The important thing lies in the level of effort and what one learns, rather than the place of study. If a person is serious and steadfast enough, any place can become an environment to mature.
  Looking back at the past years, Hang dedicates profound gratitude to Hanoi University of Science and Technology. This university gave her knowledge, opened up opportunities, and especially delivered the necessary shocks to mold a mature person. Thanks to that strict training, she gained legs strong enough to walk on rocky roads and still make the path ahead bloom with flowers.

In the nostalgia for her old school, Hang still preserves beautiful memories of her "godfather" teacher - Dr. Dao Huy Toan, camping trips with international friends, or the days of volunteering and participating in the University Youth Union. Concluding a brilliant chapter, that girl always harbors the dream of returning one day to contribute her efforts to the "home" of HUST - the place that turned her first stumbles in life into powerful wings.