On my first day back in Vietnam, I carried with me three years of high school memories from the U.S., where I had used to a different way of living and studying. I chose RMIT, thinking an international university would be the perfect bridge between the two worlds. But to my surprise, that feeling of unfamiliarity still hit me hard. Everything, from the people and the way of learning to the pace of life, felt foreign.
I lived in my own small world. Went to class in the morning, headed home in the afternoon. No events. No clubs. Not a single new name in my contacts. Two semesters passed quietly and the more I looked around, the smaller I felt. My peers were brilliant, with DI and HD grades one after another, big circles of friends, and bright smiles shining on RMIT's Facebook pages. And me? A few rare DIs, mostly CRs and nobody really knew who I was.
By the third semester, I realised I could not go on like that. It would be such a waste if my university years were only about assignments and the same streets between home and school. I wanted to open the door and step out. To try something new. To see my name, my face, my story appear somewhere on those Facebook pages too.
And then RED Core Gen 12 showed up. I did not even know why that little splash of red caught my eye so much, but I applied without thinking twice (maybe it was fate, haha). The first time I stepped into the RED room, I was facing nine unfamiliar faces. I worried whether I could fit in or even start a conversation. Now every time we meet, it is louder than a market. Together, we have pulled off all kinds of events, from orientation days and graduation ceremonies to ambitious projects like RED.X, Eco Day and Into Our RED Zone. Each project started out feeling impossible, but little by little, with every poster, every plan, every late night, we made it real.
Pham Thanh Lan with her Red Core team, a volunteer student group, organised by Student Life department at RMIT.
I remember those nights we stayed on campus until it was almost empty, when only the yellow lights lit up the floor, and we were still there building stages, setting up chairs, testing every detail. Passing bottles of water around, cracking jokes, laughing through exhaustion. Those moments taught me that teamwork is not just about splitting tasks, but about sharing joy, pressure and the unshakable belief that we could do it.
"Those nights we stayed on campus until it was almost empty, we still worked together."
In RED, no one was above anyone else. We sat in circles, talking, listening, debating and figuring out how to move forward together. At first, I was clumsy, full of questions, making plenty of mistakes. But instead of frustration, I was met with 'It is okay', 'Let’s try again', 'I will show you'. That patience pulled me out of my self-doubt.
From someone who avoided the spotlight, I learnt to stand in front of hundreds, lead, coordinate and deal with stressful situations. I picked up communication skills, design, planning and time management, and most importantly, I learnt to lead with empathy.
RED Core Gen 12 has wrapped up. But if you asked me what RED Core gave me, it is not just a role, a title, or a line on my CV. RED Core gave me nine amazing teammates who became family. It gave me laughter I will never forget, and the chance to grow within a circle of people who truly cared.
"RED Core gave me nine amazing teammates who became family."
And speaking of family, I have to thank the one who always believed in us and cheered us on: Ms Ha Le and the Student Life Team. You trusted us, led us and held our hands through struggles and moments of self-doubt.
Now, I can walk into any student club or event with confidence, ready to strike up a conversation or take on a new role. My studies have improved too, even though I am busier than before. I have earned more DIs and even some HDs (knock on wood). I have also been lucky enough to team up with classmates to enter a pitching session, something every Digital Marketing student dreams of. I know there is still a lot to learn and many challenges ahead, but I remind myself to keep striving not just to join, but to create meaningful experiences for others too
"RMIT gave me the stage - RED taught me how to shine."
I came to RMIT as an outsider. Now I live and belong here. And that journey began with the red of RED.
RMIT gave me the stage – RED taught me how to shine.
