At 48, Nguyen Thi Yen started her first university year as an Economics freshman at the Academy of Administration and Public Governance in 2026. Her story shows how a lifelong dream can motivate adult learners.

Yen said she left school right after completing the 9th grade because of difficult family circumstances and the early loss of her parents. After marrying and moving to Hanoi, she raised two sons while working various jobs to support their education.

Yen said both sons later earned PhD positions abroad. She said her younger son, Dong Ngoc Ha, won a silver medal at the 2020 International Biology Olympiad, received PhD offers from Harvard, MIT and Princeton, and is now studying at Harvard. She also said her older son received the French Eiffel Scholarship and is currently a PhD candidate in China.

Yen said she began self‑studying primary and secondary subjects while her children were in high school. She said she re‑entered formal education at age 44, won third prize in a municipal History competition, and was named Exemplary Student of the Capital for the 2025‑2026 academic year.

Yen said her sons are paying her university tuition, allowing her to keep freelance work and family responsibilities. She said she studies out of passion, not to improve her résumé, and hopes the experience will inspire other adult learners.

Yen’s journey proves that with determination, family support, and careful time management, an adult can overcome past gaps and succeed in higher education. Her example encourages anyone who has postponed learning to pursue it again.