Ready for what’s next after graduation

Graduation marks the end of one journey and the start of another. For the three Class Representatives from RMIT’s Hanoi campus this year, this moment is about being prepared to move forward, shaped by what they have learned and experienced along the way.

At RMIT Vietnam’s 2026 Graduation, three students from the Hanoi campus were selected as the Class Representatives for their schools. The honour recognises strong academic performance alongside leadership and service to the University and society. Their journeys beyond graduation may differ, but this honour points to a shared readiness for what comes next.

Finding a creative voice that travels far

For Design Studies graduate Nguyen Huong Giang, creativity was never a sudden discovery. She had enjoyed drawing from an early age but entered university without a clear plan for where design might take her.

“I later realised that you don’t have to start with a perfect plan,” Huong Giang reflected. “It’s okay to try things first and discover your purpose later.”

At RMIT, the space to experiment proved important. Through challenging projects and regular feedback from lecturers, she began to understand not only how to design, but how to refine ideas and communicate them more clearly.

“When I felt recognised in the learning environment, I realised this was a place where I could grow in the right direction,” she said.

International recognition followed. Her work won at major competitions, including the prestigious D&AD New Blood Awards, Crowbar Awards, and the International Society of Typographic Designers (ISTD) Student Assessment.

Alongside her studies, Huong Giang stepped into leadership roles that pushed her beyond her comfort zone. She co-founded the Japanese Culture Club (JCOR), led its visual identity, and worked with university teams on events and student engagement, learning how to build things collectively.

Her final-year internship at the Happiness Saigon agency marked another transition. Working on real briefs for clients such as Spotify, RMIT, and Hygiene, she found herself applying what she had learned under pressure. Today, she continues at the agency in a creative role that values both ideas and execution. Being ready for what’s next, for Huong Giang, means continuing to learn through practice, even when the path is still taking shape

Learning to move forward without certainty

Born and raised in Russia, Nguyen Chi Nghia returned to Vietnam at the age of 15 during the COVID-19 period, arriving in Hanoi after weeks of quarantine and with few connections. Adjusting to a new pace of life took time, and more than once, Nghia considered going back to Russia.

Choosing RMIT became a turning point. He enrolled with a clear interest in information technology, but little expectation of what university life would look like. What surprised him most was not the coursework, but everything happening beyond it. Student clubs became the spaces where he found connection and belonging.

Though naturally reserved, Nghia joined the Public Speaking Club, followed by the SIFE Club, Business and Finance Club, and Event Club. Organising events, working in teams, and supporting others pushed him beyond what felt familiar. The same lesson carried into his studies. Group projects demanded communication and trust, especially in industry-linked assignments such as an AI resume scanner developed for a industry partner.

In his final year, everything came together at once. “You’re trying to be job-ready, keep up with deadlines, figure out what you want after graduation, and still have a life. There were times I genuinely didn’t know where I was headed. But I think that’s normal,” he said.

When not attending his final classes, Nghia worked in the blockchain sector, moving into project and product management. He later left to co-found an AI-focused startup, working across technology, product, and strategy.

“What got me through was understanding that clarity comes from moving forward, not from having it all figured out in advance,” he reflected.

Today, his sense of readiness comes from experience gained through trying and adjusting.

Building readiness through structure and service

Business graduate Tran Le Thu Giang entered RMIT with an open mindset, initially exploring different areas before committing to a major in Finance. Along the way, she chose a minor in Digital Marketing, allowing her to complement analytical thinking with an understanding of how financial decisions play out in real market contexts. It was in this minor that she and her team won top prizes in client projects for big companies like Dragon Capital, Xanh SM, and Ahamove.

Over time, Thu Giang learned that direction did not come from planning alone, but also from taking responsibility and staying with it. That approach shaped her work as Vice‑President of the RMIT Business and Finance Club. She helped organise large initiatives, including Season 5 of the Future Business Analyst competition, which attracted nearly 1,000 students from across Vietnam and even some universities abroad. 

Thu Giang also spent time mentoring peers and building systems that allowed others to step forward. “Excellence, to me, has never been an individual pursuit,” she said. “It is a responsibility to uplift others and contribute meaningfully to the community that shaped me.”

Her sense of responsibility also deepened through her role as a Student Aid with RMIT’s Equitable Learning and Accessibility department, where she supported students with disabilities and long‑term conditions. The experience reinforced her view of leadership as something practiced consistently through everyday actions.

Having completed her bachelor’s program, Thu Giang is currently gaining experience as a Corporate Banking intern at VietinBank, applying financial analysis in a real institutional setting. Looking ahead, she will begin a master's degree in Australia in July 2026, building on both her finance background and her interest in data-driven decision making.

For Thu Giang, being ready for the future means moving forward deliberately, building skills step by step, and trusting the progress that comes from steady work.

Moving forward, differently

One graduate moves into creative work, another into entrepreneurship, and another into further study. Their next steps do not look the same, and none claim to have everything resolved.

For Huong Giang, Nghia, and Thu Giang, graduation is not a finish line. It is a point of departure, carrying forward what they have learned into whatever comes next.

Story: Ngoc Hoang