Behind UTS’s Prestigious 100% Scholarship: A Journey of Teaching a Child to Understand Herself
Thứ Tư - 03/06/2026
Many people believe that winning a prestigious full scholarship requires students to grow up under intense academic pressure from an early age, or that families must invest significant financial resources and follow a meticulously planned long-term strategy.
However, the story of Tu Khanh Phuong– the student who recently won the only 100% scholarship available globally from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS)– began with something much simpler in an ordinary family: being listened to, being allowed to make mistakes, and being encouraged to understand herself.
Tu Khanh Phuong- the Foreign Language Specialized High School student who successfully secured UTS’s 100% scholarship.
From Household Chores and Part-Time Work to a Journey of Self-Discovery
Khanh Phuong’s family never placed pressure on her to stand out or achieve remarkable results at an early age. Instead, her parents chose to accompany her through each stage of her development, allowing her to discover what truly suited her and what she genuinely wanted.
Reflecting on her daughter’s journey, Phương’s mother, Ms. Lê Thị Kim Oanh, shared:
“Everything started from my daughter’s own aspirations. Only then did our family begin exploring study-abroad opportunities through Duc Anh EduConnect. Phương was not an outstanding student from the very beginning, so all she did was take one small step at a time. Both she and our family viewed every setback and every failure as an opportunity to gain more information about what needed to be changed.”
For the family, education was never the sole focus. Equally important was how their daughter lived, learned, and experienced life each day.
“What our family focused on most was encouraging her to seek knowledge and develop skills through various forms of learning- not only through academics but also through everyday activities such as cleaning the house, cooking, socializing with friends, pursuing her hobbies, and even tutoring part-time. Through these daily experiences, we supported her in understanding herself, recognizing her core values, and ultimately motivating herself to pursue goals that aligned with those values and aspirations.”
Perhaps because she was never burdened with the expectation of having to excel immediately, Khanh Phuong had the opportunity to grow more naturally.
Every competition, activity, and new environment became a chance for her to reflect on herself and gain valuable insights.
“Our family has always encouraged her to explore and challenge herself through competitions and activities whenever opportunities arose. Through each experience, she could identify what she had not done well and what she needed to improve, helping her better understand herself and become more mature.”
Being given the freedom to explore herself did not make Khanh Phuong complacent about her studies. On the contrary, once she understood her strengths, interests, and goals, she gradually built a very clear roadmap for her personal development.
Throughout her three years at the Foreign Language Specialized High School, Khanh Phuong consistently maintained excellent academic performance, achieving an outstanding Grade 12 GPA of 9.8/10. She also built an impressive academic profile, including a SAT score of 1570/1600, with a perfect 800/800 in Mathematics, as well as an IELTS score of 8.0, including a perfect 9.0 in Listening.
Beyond academics, Khanh Phuong actively participated in extracurricular and community activities. She took part in the Literary Works Performance Program at the Foreign Language Specialized High School, served as a speaker at TEDx Marie Curie Ha Dong Youth, where she shared her story and inspired fellow students, and joined the Ánh Mộc Charity Project, which promotes English learning and provides educational supplies to children in remote mountainous areas.
“Step by step, throughout her learning journey, she continued moving forward. Those small achievements accumulated over time until she was confident enough to prepare her scholarship application and ultimately receive the 100% scholarship—the only one offered globally for UTS’s July 2026 intake,” Ms. Kim Oanh added.
Khanh Phuong’s journey of self-discovery through extracurricular activities.
Three Years of Dedicated Support from Duc Anh EduConnect
Alongside family support, Ms. Kim Oanh emphasized that having an experienced consultancy guiding them from an early stage significantly reduced stress and helped the family remain proactive throughout the study-abroad preparation process.
The family began working with Duc Anh EduConnect during Phương’s early years of high school.
“We chose Duc Anh because of its extensive experience in international education consulting, particularly for students who wish to study in Australia.”
Ms. Kim Oanh especially highlighted the dedication of the consulting team throughout the entire journey:
“From the very first time we contacted Duc Anh until now—three years later—Ms. Kate and the entire team have consistently provided our family with clear, comprehensive updates and guidance regarding study pathways and opportunities. Their approach has always been thoughtful, meticulous, and highly professional.”
Receiving timely updates about universities, programs, scholarships, and preparation strategies gave Khanh Phuong sufficient time to build an application that reflected her strengths, rather than rushing through the process under pressure.
Khanh Phuong’s scholarship was not the result of a sudden breakthrough. It was the outcome of countless small efforts accumulated over many years: understanding within the family, learning through trial and error, and receiving guidance from experienced mentors at the right moments.
It is not an overly dramatic story, but it clearly demonstrates that what helps a student go far is not necessarily pressure to be exceptional from the very beginning. Rather, it is growing up in an environment that allows them to understand themselves and progress in a way that best suits who they are.
Want to Win a Scholarship Like Khanh Phuong?
Let the experts at Duc Anh EduConnect accompany you on your journey.
Duc Anh EduConnect is your dedicated study-abroad consultant, offering:
- The Most Effective Education Agent – with an outstanding track record in university admissions, scholarship applications, student visas, and international student support. Students are free to choose their preferred universities and programs while receiving tailored guidance every step of the way.
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- An Award-Winning Company – recognized with numerous awards for service quality and student support.
Duc Anh Students’ Achievements
- 99% gain admission to their desired institutions.
- 80% receive study-abroad scholarships.
- 98–99% obtain student visas successfully.
- 99% secure employment after graduation.
- 55% successfully achieve long-term settlement overseas.
Contact Us for Study Abroad Consultation and Application Support
Duc Anh EduConnect
Hotline: +84 9887 09698 | +84 9630 49860
Email: duhoc@ducanh.edu.vn
Website: www.ducanhduhoc.vn




