In 2019, passing the university entrance exam with excellent scores, Bui Thu Trang (born in 2001) became the valedictorian of the Spanish Department, Hanoi University. After 4 years of studying, the girl from Hanoi was the valedictorian of the graduating class with near-perfect academic scores.

Special Gen Z teacher

After graduating, the valedictorian still did not know what she really wanted so she did many jobs, from office worker to translator, interpreter, and even tour guide. Bui Thu Trang admitted that she is quite individualistic, not wanting to just listen to advice from those who have gone before but to try and experience herself to draw lessons for herself.

After many jobs, Trang returned to her old school to work as a teaching assistant, teaching a second language in the Spanish department, something she had never thought of before.

"I have always avoided the teaching profession, but after experiencing other professions, I wanted to give myself a chance to try this profession. So I became a teacher," Bui Thu Trang shared.

Teacher Trang is always remembered and loved by students not only for her new and youthful teaching methods but also for her distinctive blue hair that has become a trademark. When asked if she was afraid that her unusually bright hair color would affect her work, she humorously said: “Many people say that dyeing your hair makes it difficult to find a stable job, I wanted to try to see if it was true or not. In the end, I still got a job.”

As someone who understands herself and her abilities, the young teacher always strives and constantly contributes to her expertise instead of changing her hair "to better suit her job" according to some people.

"The current educational environment needs teachers with ethics, capacity, awareness, and attitude, not just appearance," said the Gen Z teacher, adding that the prejudice about the image of teachers in today's society is the motivation for her to strive harder.

Trang commented: “If people judge others by their abilities and ethics instead of their appearance, more people will have the opportunity to contribute their talents to building society.”

The young teacher shared that the first days in her new position were quite strange but no less interesting, such as the story of her having to practice teaching with relatives, the story of the security guard not letting her through the gate because he thought she was a student who had "lost" to the staff gate, and countless other funny and sad stories.

Sudden turn at 18

For Thu Trang, her current job is a joy, but to achieve that joy, the teacher born in 2001 had to go through many turning points in life.

From 2015 to 2019, Trang spent all her time studying for the art exam. However, about the last month before the university entrance exam, she suddenly realized that art was not for her, so she changed direction to find another major.

Trang chose to enroll in the Spanish Department simply because many people considered it an easy language to learn. At that time, Hanoi University was the only school in the North that offered this language. Trang decided that this would be the place where she would spend the next 4 years of her youth.

Although she made the decision to change direction in a short time, Trang has never regretted it. Studying in the Spanish department has opened up new horizons for the young girl. “Without the Spanish department, without the teachers and friends, I would not be able to have today,” Thu Trang said emotionally.

Having found the right passion, Trang strived to study to prove that she was suitable for this language. In 2021, the young girl achieved the title of "5 Good Students" and won an Erasmus scholarship with a 6-month exchange study at the University of Granada (Spain).

Trang also achieved the DELE C1 foreign language certificate - the highest level of the 6 levels that recognizes understanding and proficiency in the Spanish language.

Not only possessing impressive academic achievements, Bui Trang is also a familiar name in many extracurricular activities of the faculty, the Executive Committee of the Student Union and Spanish-speaking embassies in Hanoi.

"You should experience a lot to know your strengths and weaknesses. If you have a passion, try to follow it to the end," Trang advises young people.

Sharing about her future plans, the young teacher said she is preparing to return to Spain and will continue her master's program in the next year.