I come from Buon Ma Thuot, where the mornings start with the scent of coffee blossoms and red soil clings to everything - your shoes, your hands and your spirit.
We are farmers, and we're proud of it. For generations, our land has grown not just crops, but the backbone of Vietnam's economy. We've always believed that building the future takes more than hard work - it takes knowledge, and the courage to dream beyond what-s familiar.
That belief led me, years ago, to make a bold decision: to send my children to study at RMIT Vietnam.
At the time, we were one of the very first families in our region to do so.
It was a big leap - the cost, the distance and the unknown all weighed heavily on us.
Still, I trusted in the quality and values of the education RMIT offered. I chose to look beyond the immediate. I believed in a future where my children wouldn't just inherit land - they'd inherit a mindset that could grow it better.
To me, education doesn't pull you away from your roots - it helps you return with the tools to make them thrive.
My first child stepped into RMIT carrying not only ambition but also the quiet hopes of our whole family. Then came the second - not following blindly, but choosing that same path after witnessing the transformation first-hand.
Diep's family in the second child's graduation at RMIT Vietnam
And just when I thought I had witnessed the full impact of that choice, they both decided to take it further - continuing on to RMIT's master's programs.
That moment made me realise - this journey is no longer just about my belief in them, but their belief in themselves - and in the power of knowledge.
Today, both of my children have graduated with bachelor's degrees from RMIT and are continuing their journey in master's programs. They are proof that the seeds we plant - whether in the fields or in their minds - can bloom into something extraordinary.
RMIT didn't just give them an education. It gave them a worldview, confidence and the tools to build, lead and give back. It gave them the readiness to shape their place in the world and the heart to remember where they came from.
And for me, this is the legacy I hope to pass on - a future that not only honours our roots, but also reaches far beyond them.
