One yes led to another: From a student competition to a dream internship

This semester marked a memorable chapter in my RMIT journey, which was fully filled with unexpected opportunities and brave decisions. As I approached the end of my university journey, I was balancing my capstone course with the pressure of maintaining my GPA. Meanwhile, unexpected opportunities challenged me to step outside my comfort zone and take chances I might otherwise have avoided. 

My final semester was demanding. Professional Communication Studio was my capstone course, which required a heavy workload, including four major assessments packed into 6 weeks. To me, maintaining a Distinction-level GPA is important, especially with my capstone carrying double credit. At that time, even a small setback felt extremely significant.

During this time, I found out about Perfect Pitch, a competition taking place just two days before a major assignment deadline. Joining the competition meant taking on more work when I was already struggling to keep up with the assignment. With no guarantee of winning, I worried that committing to the competition might affect my academic results. However, with graduation approaching and internship semester just around the corner, I wanted to make the most of the remaining time as a student. I hoped to create memories beyond assignments, deadlines and grades, so I decided to give it a shot.

As expected, things became more challenging. I constantly switched between preparing for the competition and completing my coursework. There were moments when I questioned whether I had made the right decision, but I reminded myself to keep going.

On competition day, I presented our LEGO campaign for children with Down syndrome, met industry professionals and reconnected with lecturers who had taught me since my early days at RMIT. I also had the chance to speak with parents of children with Down syndrome. One conversation in particular changed how I viewed our work: a parent shared how much our campaign meant to them.

In the end, my teammate and I won the Most Creative Pitch award. I was thrilled, but that conversation with the parent meant even more to me. It showed me that our work could have a real impact on someone. Looking back, I was glad I had taken the chance.

Another unexpected opportunity came to my way through Perfect Pitch. During the competition, I met a member of RMIT’s Careers team who encouraged me to attend a mock interview. At first, I hesitated because another capstone deadline was approaching. Still, I decided to give it a try, thinking it would be a good chance to practise my interview skills.

Things went beyond my expectations. I was connected with an agency, which opened the door to an internship opportunity. To secure the internship, I had to complete a final assessment at one of the busiest points of my semester. Having just finished a major presentation, I had only 24 hours to complete two demanding assignments. Overwhelmed by the workload, I began to doubt whether I could manage everything and considered looking for something less demanding.

However, I reminded myself of what had kept me going: the desire to keep learning and the belief that the experience I gained along the way would be worth the effort.

Looking back, preparing for Perfect Pitch had been challenging, but I had managed to get through it. I thought that this new opportunity could also teach me something valuable, regardless of the outcome. With that in mind, I worked through both assignments and submitted them before the deadline.

Today, I am an intern at the agency I had always hoped to join, gaining hands-on experience and continuing to learn along the way.

Looking back, I realise that both experiences began with the same fear: putting time and effort into something without guaranteed outcomes. For a long time, this fear had held me back. I always wanted to feel fully prepared before trying, but the more I worried about the outcome, the harder it became to take the first step. These experiences helped me see things differently:

Trying does not guarantee success, but it gives success a chance.

If I had decided not to join Perfect Pitch because of my fears, I would have missed the experiences, connections and opportunities that came along the way.

Of course, this does not mean I should say yes to everything or push myself beyond my limits. I have learned to see the coming opportunities more openly, rather than being afraid of the outcomes. I am now trying to apply this mindset during my internship. When I receive a task I have never done before, I focus on understanding what is expected, asking questions and learning along the way. Rather than immediately doubting my abilities, I give myself a chance to figure things out.

As I reflect on my final semester, I feel proud of the award I received and the internship I secured. But what stays with me most are the moments when I refused to say no. Had I let my doubts make those decisions for me, I would never have known what I could achieve. My biggest win this semester is learning to believe in my ability to figure things out, even when I feel uncertain at first. I used to think I needed to be confident and prepared before taking on a challenge. Now, I understand that confidence can also come from trying, making mistakes and learning through the experience. I still do not know where my next opportunity will take me, but I am learning that I do not need to have everything figured out before I begin.

Story by: Do Nguyen Ngoc Phuong, an RMIT Vietnam student. This article does not reflect the views of RMIT Vietnam as an institution.