Big Dreams Start from Humble Beginnings

Born and raised in the mountainous region of Đắk Lắk, Hoàng Nguyên developed a keen awareness of the disparities and inequalities in education. For him, the educational gap in the region stems from various factors, including geographic isolation, limited opportunities, and outdated prejudices such as “mountain people only need basic literacy.” This realization fueled his determination to address these disparities through initiatives like Bridging the Educational Gap, a project he began in high school to break down barriers in education.

Nguyên’s personal growth journey wasn’t confined to education. With a love for exploring new experiences, he also delved into diverse fields, but his burning passion to “Think Big” was ignited when he discovered economics. Observing everyday life in his rural hometown inspired his ambitious dream: “I want to study economics to develop my hometown.”

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The Road to Social Entrepreneurship

To Hoàng Nguyên, education and economics are two concentric circles with “social entrepreneurship” as their intersection. Driven by his passion and dedication to education, he began developing a community model in 10th grade to help middle school students gain admission to Nguyễn Du Specialized High School in Đắk Lắk. True to its community-oriented philosophy, Nguyên’s model is entirely free and has already helped many underprivileged students realize their high school dreams.

Later, his exposure to economics introduced him to innovative business models, particularly social entrepreneurship, which captivated him. Nguyên devoted significant time and effort to researching this model and sought validation by presenting his ideas at major competitions. He and his team earned a consolation prize in the CiC Startup Idea Competition and ranked in the top 0.25% of the Young Tycoons Business Challenge.

Through these experiences, Nguyên recognized the advantages of social entrepreneurship over traditional community models—from economic impact to societal contributions. He realized this approach was the perfect harmony of his dual aspirations in economics and social progress.

“What I’ve been pursuing all along reflects my deepest passions and desires,” he shared. “Everyone has their own dreams and aspirations, and these are what make life so worth living.”

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100 Applications for 1 Acceptance

Aware of the importance of an advanced educational environment, Hoàng Nguyên set his sights on studying abroad as early as high school. His roadmap was vividly sketched in his mind, and despite financial constraints, he adopted a “shotgun approach,” applying to as many schools as possible. In addition to his dream schools in the U.S., Nguyên prepared backup plans, including universities in Vietnam, Singapore, and Europe.

Nguyên applied to nearly 50 universities, 40 of which were in the U.S., with 30 requiring essays. In his senior year, he wrote over 100 essays while actively engaging in meaningful social activities to build a strong application. He humorously remarked:

“I love life! While the application process was exhausting and stressful, I didn’t burn out. I’ve honed my time management skills since childhood, and I know how to care for my mental health. So even though writing 100 essays sounds daunting, I managed to complete them quite ‘chill.’”

Nguyên’s dedication extended to joining the national gifted team, which allowed him more time to focus on his essays. He thoroughly researched the structure and purpose of college essays, starting with the core values he wanted to convey—education, economics, and development—and referenced resources like College Essay Guide. From there, he crafted personal stories that showcased his unique identity.

However, the journey was far from smooth. Despite his immense effort, rejection letters poured in. By the 39th rejection, his confidence wavered, and he questioned, “Am I not good enough?”

In those moments of doubt, Nguyên reminded himself, “Good things always take time.” On April 14, when the 40th response arrived, he nervously opened it and was overwhelmed with joy—it was a full scholarship offer from Duke University.

“Out of the 100 essays I sent, only one school accepted me—Duke University. Ironically, the schools that rejected me were ranked lower than Duke. This taught me that we shouldn’t let college admissions define our self-worth. Sometimes rejection happens simply because the school already has someone similar to you. Even if Duke had rejected me, I would’ve remained confident in my value, knowing that I would eventually find where I truly belong. Faith is like a lighthouse on the sea; as long as we stay true to our ideals, we will always find the place where we are meant to be.”

Will I Still Keep My Passion for Economics?

Passionate about both education and economics, Hoàng Nguyên dreams of building a social enterprise to support middle school students aiming for high school abroad while creating sustainable funding for future social projects.

Sharing his future plans, Nguyên reflected:
“In today’s context, I find economics to be more focused on analysis—its knowledge is rather ‘static.’ I want a field that’s more dynamic and up-to-date. I once took a computer science course from Harvard University, and it offered an exciting new experience. Now, I’m eager to challenge myself in an entirely new field. With Duke’s open environment, I’ll seize every opportunity to explore. By the end of my first year, I’m confident I’ll make an informed decision.”

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