Gia Nghi’s journey with Physics began with a natural curiosity about how the microscopic world works — nano particles, semiconductor materials, and the mechanisms behind them. For her, every lesson was more than just lines of text on a page — it was a gateway into a world of research and engineering, where the laws of nature take on real-world applications.

Three years of dedicated pursuit of this passion bore sweet fruit. Gia Nghi was not only awarded the prestigious ASEAN Full Scholarship for undergraduate studies from the National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), and Singapore Management University (SMU), but she also secured a full tuition scholarship for a Master’s degree at the College of Design and Engineering, NUS, starting in 2025 (valid from 2028–2032).

1. BEYOND BIAS, A BRIGHT TECHNICAL DREAM AWAITS

When Gia Nghi attended high school in Singapore on a full ASEAN scholarship, she found herself deeply drawn to Physics, thanks in part to the captivating teaching of her instructor. Every class felt like a journey of discovery. She would pause, transfixed by the equations on the board, and feel a quiet joy when the hidden laws behind seemingly random phenomena suddenly made sense.

The deeper she immersed herself, the closer the world seemed — as if there were an invisible language silently running everything around her. And all she had to do was be patient enough to listen. This fascination drove her to explore further into the microscopic world of matter, nano particles, and the inner workings of semiconductor materials.

But the road wasn’t always smooth. During one conversation, a senior engineering manager dismissed her ambitions outright, simply because she was a girl. He told her she shouldn’t pursue higher education and would be better off choosing something simpler. That moment shook her. It made her question her conviction.

But Gia Nghi realized something important: only feedback from people who truly understand the field and have professional insight should be taken into consideration. Baseless prejudice would not deter her.

Later, during an internship, she met a Deputy Technical Director who talked to her about the powerful roles women were taking in the industry — leaders who earned respect through intelligence and dedication. He understood that her passion lay in research and high-tech development, not in manual labor, as many often misinterpret. His recognition of her dreams gave her the strength and belief that she was in no way inferior to her male peers.

In addition, Gia Nghi found a deep sense of belonging while attending specialized seminars in Singapore. She took initiative to connect with professors, young engineers, and peers already working in the field. Every conversation, every new connection, helped her better understand both the industry and herself. She realized she wasn’t alone in her pursuit — there were others out there chasing the same dream of Materials Engineering.

2. A JOURNEY BUILT ON PASSION AND PURPOSE

In Grade 10, Gia Nghi began to approach her journey with more strategy. First, she focused on maintaining high grades in STEM subjects, especially Math and Physics. Achieving consecutive A1s became both a goal and a reflection of her serious academic commitment.

She also pushed her boundaries by competing in academic contests, placing in the top 5 of a national Math competition — a proud milestone that reaffirmed her abilities. Winning first prize for Math and Physics in her cohort further strengthened her confidence in her chosen path.

By Grade 11, Gia Nghi stepped out of her comfort zone and proactively sought new growth opportunities. She applied for the Nanyang Research Programme, a highly competitive research opportunity for high school students. She was the only student selected for a specialized project in materials engineering — researching energy transfer between rare-earth molecular ions within semiconductor structures to generate light.

This research required her to learn programming and complex scientific data analysis. With mentorship from her supervising professor and support from the MiYork community, she wrote and defended her research report in front of the faculty board at Nanyang Technological University. Her dedication earned her a prestigious Gold Medal and strong encouragement from professors to continue her pursuit in the field.

Not stopping there, Gia Nghi also undertook the advanced A-Level H3 course in NTU’s Semiconductor Physics & Devices — a subject designed for 12th-grade students but with the difficulty level equivalent to first-year university content. Enrolling in this class required consistent academic excellence in Grades 10 and 11. She eventually achieved a Distinction, a testament to her relentless effort and unwavering passion for semiconductors.

At the same time, Gia Nghi remained deeply committed to community work. She founded and led Erudito, a project focused on organizing Singapore study-abroad webinars and offering practical information and skill-building sessions for high school students. After the webinars, she expanded partnerships to deliver English and Math prep classes, supporting students in preparing for ASEAN scholarship interviews. Thanks to Gia Nghi and her dedicated team, 20 students have now received full high school scholarships.

For Gia Nghi, every young person holds limitless potential — often constrained only by a lack of information or confidence. That’s why she’s committed to inspiring, empowering, and equipping others to rise up and seize the academic opportunities ahead of them.

3. WHEN DREAMS AND OPPORTUNITIES CALLED — NUS ANSWERED

After years of unwavering effort, Gia Nghi was awarded ASEAN Full Scholarships for undergraduate studies from all three of Singapore’s top universities: NUS, NTU, and SMU for the 2025–2028 period.

With multiple prestigious offers in hand, she found herself carefully weighing each option. Every university had its own strengths and reputation.

NTU was the first to award her the scholarship and showed heartfelt care toward recipients — from meet-and-greet events and 5-star hotel luncheons with the top 20% of scholars, to intimate chats with leading professors. Alumni stories at NTU also deeply resonated with her.

NUS, however, not only confirmed her scholarship quickly but also arranged a private meeting with the Assistant Dean of Engineering — where she was told about a chance to work on a research project with a Nobel Laureate, directly aligned with her interests. This represented an ideal path for her long-term academic and professional development.

Torn between these incredible opportunities, her mentor from MiYork, Anh Khoa, gently told her:

“When your feelings and thoughts are this conflicted, it means none of the options are worse — they’re all equally good. Wherever you go, it will be fine.”

That simple insight gave her the clarity she needed. In the end, Gia Nghi chose NUS, because of the top-tier research prospects, the world-class academic environment, and most of all — because it had been her dream since high school.

This decision marked more than just the choice of a university. It symbolized her growth in maturity, vision, and self-awareness. She is deeply grateful to her mentors at MiYork, especially Anh Khoa and Chị Tuyết, who guided her every step — helping her identify strengths, address weaknesses, and build a solid, strategic application that genuinely reflected her true value.

In moments of intense stress and pressure, when tasks piled up and doubt crept in, the unwavering support from the MiYork team — who listened, encouraged, and stood by her — made all the difference. Their presence was not just academic support, but also emotional and mental companionship during the quiet, difficult moments.

MiYork wishes Gia Nghi the brightest and most fulfilling journey ahead at the National University of Singapore!

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