I used to be what people called a "true bookworm".
In middle and high school, I barely knew how to connect with others. My life was study - home - repeat. No stories to share, no close friends, no skills beyond grades. Who would have thought that one day I’d become a mentor - someone who shares, guides and connects generations of students the way I do now.
It all began in Australia. At 17, I lived alone for the first time in a foreign country. By day, I went to classes. By night, I washed dishes, waited tables, cleaned cars and later worked at Uniqlo for nine months straight. Study - work - eat - sleep - repeat. No one to talk to, no one to lean on. Just me, trying to figure out finances, taxes, housing and all kinds of chaos. Back then, I wasn’t really living. I was merely surviving. Until one day, I realised: my dream of studying abroad shouldn’t come at the cost of losing myself.
So I decided to return home - a decision that felt like 'taking a step backward', but turned out to be the biggest turning point of my life.
I didn't choose RMIT just for the tuition, reputation or facilities. I chose it because I believed this was the place I could start over. On my first day at RMIT, I was still afraid - afraid I'd feel as lost as I did in Australia. But this time, I refused to let fear take over. I started conversations with classmates. I broke the ice first. I didn't want anyone to feel "invisible" the way I once did. Even though IT is a major where people often keep to themselves, I believed that if someone took the first step, the whole atmosphere would change.
And then I discovered the Student Ambassador Team (SAT). I didn't expect much when I applied - but to my surprise, I got in. And at that moment, it felt like a new version of myself was "born" - more colourful, braver and ready to step out of my comfort zone. I brought into SAT everything I had learned in Australia: communication skills from Uniqlo, a service mindset, patience from working with customers and above all, a willingness to listen and share. I told my real story to high school students who were still struggling with choosing a university, just as I once did. I didn’t paint RMIT as perfect, but I shared how RMIT saved me from feeling lost. Maybe because of that honesty, I felt a genuine connection with the young people who were searching for their own path.
After a year of giving my all, I received a full set of three awards:
But what stayed with me most wasn’t the titles. It was a simple comment from a parent after a campus tour I led:
I don’t think you’re suited to being a coder all day. You’re meant to talk, to guide and to inspire others – that’s what makes you special.
Such a simple sentence - but it was enough to open a new direction in my mind.
Nguyen Ngoc Dung with his Student Ambassador Team (SAT).
I began to ask myself: if I could create connections like that in SAT, could I do even more for the RMIT community?
So I kept going.
I joined BUFI (Business & Finance Club), where I learned external relations, worked with businesses and secured sponsorships for FBA (Future Business Analyst Contest, organised by BUFI).
Then came IEC (Innovation & Entrepreneurship Club), where I served as HR (Human Resource). I cared for members, organised bonding sessions and internal events, listened and connected with each individual. I learned that a small team could grow close not just through outings, but through genuine understanding. I was fortunate to be recognised as Best Member of HR. Then I became a Student Representative (from School of Science, Engineering & Technology) - bringing student voices to the schools and helping improve learning quality.
Dung presented his sharing in one of the university events.
As an IT-SE ambassador, I continued telling my story to high school students: that studying IT doesn't mean becoming a "dry coder with no feelings", but that you can still be approachable, creative and capable of connecting people.
Then came a journey that truly touched me.
I accepted the role of mentoring Robotics for four teams of elementary and middle school students. Why did I accept? Because I saw myself in them - the kid who once competed in Robotics from regional to international levels, who stayed up fixing code, who was excited but also lost without guidance.
I didn't just bring knowledge, but also the heart of someone who understood the importance of having a companion. I taught them from the basics: assembling robots, adjusting mechanisms, revisiting simple code. But more importantly, I focused on strategy, calmness, problem-solving when robots went off track and teamwork spirit. I travelled dozens of kilometres daily, stayed up nights with them, adjusted competition strategies, tightened tiny screws and cheered until the last second of each match.
And the results?
In our very first season, all four teams made it to regionals, won six major awards, placed Top 2 and Top 3 in the North and advanced to the national finals. Even though we didn't get a ticket to the international round, what mattered most was seeing their growth - not only in skills but in spirit.
Dung in the role of mentoring Robotics for four teams of elementary and middle school students.
The look in their eyes on that stage…
No more fear. No more hesitation. Only confidence, shining bright.
We did it - because we knew you were always there.
I - just a freshman - had the honour to guide, inspire and witness their transformation. I was awarded Mentor of the Year, but what made me proudest was the trust those students placed in me.
From that journey, I was honoured with RMIT's Inspiring Leadership Award - something I never expected, but that came at just the right moment. Because true influence doesn't come from a title, but from the small, quiet seeds of positivity you plant in others each day.
And the journey doesn't stop there.
At the beginning of my second year, I applied for an internship at FPT IS as a Project Coordinator Intern. It's a role that requires organisation, teamwork, communication and quick adaptation in a real work environment. In the past, I would have been worried and afraid. But after everything - SAT, clubs, mentoring - I know I'm ready.
Dung always strives his best in student club activities.
I’m not carrying just a CV. I’m carrying a story, a living journey of connection, leadership and a growing belief in myself every day. And this time, I'm not waiting for opportunity to knock. I'm the one opening the door. RMIT didn't just change me. RMIT empowered me to change others.
I once walked alone with my head down. Now I lift my head to lead. I once felt isolated. Now I create community.
I once needed someone to reach out. Now I'm the one reaching out to anyone who feels lost.
This is the legacy I'm building - not with medals or titles, but with the hearts I've touched and the change I've inspired in others.
Be the change – Make the change.
I don't know how far this journey will take me. But if I can keep living fully, spreading kindness and building genuine connections - then to me, that is already a legacy worth carrying forward.
