Sarah Nguyen
Pharmacy
For much of her childhood, Sarah's world felt small in the best possible way. Growing up in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, she lived in a peaceful neighbourhood where life was familiar and steady. It was only after changing high schools that she began to see a much bigger world. And she wondered whether she truly belonged in it.
Her new school introduced her to classmates who seemed to excel effortlessly, while she was adjusting to a new curriculum that was completely different from the public education she had known. Surrounded by high-achieving peers, Sarah often felt like she was falling behind. Many of her friends were already planning to study overseas, something that felt far beyond her reach.
"I never thought I could attend university overseas," she says. "It felt like an unrealistic dream for someone from a less advantaged background."
Instead of giving up, Sarah chose to keep going. She worked tirelessly to catch up academically while becoming more involved in extracurricular activities. The experience demanded resilience, but it also showed her what she was capable of achieving.
As university representatives visited her school and teachers from around the world shared their own study experiences, Sarah began to imagine a future she had never considered possible. Australia felt close enough to home while offering the opportunity to challenge herself, and Monash University's Biomedical Science program stood out for its research opportunities, industry experiences and vibrant student community.
The hardest decision was leaving home.
Moving to another country without her family's daily support was daunting for everyone involved. Yet her curiosity and determination outweighed her fear, and taking that leap opened doors she could never have imagined.
Halfway through her degree, Sarah once again found herself questioning her path. Unsure whether research or medicine was the right direction, she turned to her professors and teaching associates for advice. Their response stayed with her.
Her educators told her they hadn't always known the answers either. What mattered was continuing to explore, embracing opportunities and trusting that clarity would come with experience.
Sarah took those words to heart. She became a student ambassador, a language facilitator for the Monash Student Association, a student representative for Biomedical Science, completed a research-intensive unit and participated in a research scholarship program. Each experience helped her better understand where her strengths and passions lay.
She realised she wanted a career that combined health sciences with meaningful human connection, leading her to pursue a graduate degree in Pharmacy with confidence.
Looking back, Sarah says it wasn't one defining moment that changed her life. It was the people. The encouragement of educators, the friendships formed in class and through volunteering, and a community that made her feel she belonged gave her the confidence to shape her own future.