Lucky to Learn, Lucky to Give
"Lucky" is one of the words Loc chooses to describe himself.
Not just because it is the meaning behind his name, but because Loc believes that everything he encounters, whether a challenge or an opportunity, gives him a chance to learn and grow.
His journey with Children of Vietnam is one of those opportunities.
Loc is a third-year student majoring in Japanese at the University of Foreign Language Studies, University of Danang. When he first came to Children of Vietnam in 2024, he faced a difficult road. Following a family hardship, he had to put his studies on hold while many of his peers had already begun their university journeys. With support from the Bright Scholars Program, Loc returned to the classroom.
"Without COV's support, I think it would have been really difficult for me to continue my university education," Loc recalls. "I might have had to wait until I was 30 to go to university instead of 20. To me, Children of Vietnam opened a new and brighter door in my life."
That door did more than bring Loc back to his studies. Beyond scholarships and living allowances, Bright Scholars creates opportunities for students to grow through skill development and real-world experiences. Through these opportunities, Loc gained new perspectives and began to realize that he, too, could do something meaningful for others.
"It may be something small, but these are the first steps toward making a contribution to society."
Loc (center) participating in the Global Competence Training in Da Nang
When Loc learned about the Bright Scholars Micro-Grant program, which encourages students to propose and implement community projects—he applied to launch "Learning Japanese Together." Drawing from his field of study, Loc wanted to create a space where fellow students could learn a new language and expand their future opportunities.
He developed the curriculum, prepared materials, and planned each lesson. When he began teaching, he realized that sharing knowledge required flexibility. Each student had a different starting point. Loc adapted his approach, dividing the class into two groups so everyone could keep up.
Loc teaching his "Learning Japanese Together" class
After a month, students who had started from scratch could introduce themselves, recognize written characters, and understand basic everyday phrases. Small steps, but meaningful ones. What Loc had learned was no longer something that served only his own education. It had become something he could share with others.
Three years ago, Loc entered the Bright Scholars Program as someone who needed support to continue his education. Three years later, Loc has begun using what he learned to give back.
For Loc, this is about more than simply sharing knowledge. It is also a way to help someone realize that they still have value, that they can keep moving forward, and that they are capable of doing something meaningful for their community.
What's lucky, Loc believes, isn't just having a door opened. It's being able to hold it open for someone else.
Perhaps that is how an opportunity continues its journey.
Join Children of Vietnam in creating more opportunities and helping stories like Loc's continue to unfold.
