Undergraduate

Recently, the moment when a graduating student brought his collection of certificates of merit accumulated throughout his four years at university onto the stage to receive his degree attracted more than a million views online.

A Graduation moment that went viral

At the latest graduation ceremony at DTU, Marketing student Le Dinh Minh Quan caught everyone's attention when he walked onto the stage carrying his collection of certificates of merit. Looking back on the moment that unexpectedly made him the center of attention, Quan said he still feels overwhelmed with happiness.

Quan brings collection of certificates of merit to graduation stage

"At first, I simply wanted to preserve a memorable milestone after four years of hard work, as a way of acknowledging my own efforts. I never imagined that such a personal moment would receive so much attention and affection," Quan shared.

For Quan, this has become one of the most unforgettable memories of his student years and an invaluable graduation gift marking the end of his four-year university journey. He added that bringing his entire collection of certificates onto the stage was far from a spontaneous decision.

According to Quan, the idea originated during his early involvement in Youth Union and Student Association activities. He often admired senior students who excelled academically while actively participating in extracurricular activities, creating meaningful memories throughout their university years. Inspired by them, he was determined to make the most of his own student life and, by his final year, began looking for a special way to celebrate that journey.

"Before stepping onto the stage, I was quite nervous because I didn't know how people would react," Quan recalled. "But when I unfolded the certificates, I was genuinely surprised by the applause and encouragement from lecturers, parents, and fellow students."

After four years of study, Quan has successfully graduated and secured the job he had always hoped for

To him, the certificates represent far more than academic recognition - they stand as proof of his personal growth throughout four years of studying, learning, and self-development.

"What I'm most proud of is having the courage to step outside my comfort zone. From being a rather shy freshman, I gradually became more proactive, willing to challenge myself and take responsibility. That, to me, is the most meaningful achievement my university years have given me," Quan said.

Le Bao Ngan (23), a DTU alumnus who witnessed the moment firsthand, said the atmosphere in the auditorium became noticeably more exciting when Quan appeared on stage holding his impressive collection of certificates.
 

"At first, I thought Quan might prepare some kind of surprise for the graduation ceremony, but I never expected him to bring so many certificates of merit and certificates of achievement. As he walked across the stage, many lecturers, parents, and students couldn't help but express their admiration with warm applause and compliments. Knowing that every certificate represented four years of dedication to both academics and extracurricular activities, I felt genuinely happy and proud for him," Ngan shared.

The result of four years of perseverance

Behind Quan's remarkable collection of certificates were many challenging periods. He recalled that the most demanding time came during his final semester, when he was simultaneously completing his graduation thesis while juggling three part-time jobs. "I chose to take on multiple jobs because I genuinely enjoyed the work and wanted to gain practical experience across different fields," Quan explained.

Quan graduated with Honors, earning a GPA of 3.45/4.0.

To balance his studies, extracurricular activities, and work, Quan adopted a proactive approach from the very beginning of university. As early as his freshman year, he set himself the goal of gaining exposure to real working environments in order to build experience and develop professionally. Alongside participating in Youth Union and Student Association activities to strengthen his soft skills, he actively sought internships related to his major from an early stage.

According to Quan, the most important thing for students is that you should not wait until you have the skills before getting started, but that you should dare to begin early with a growth mindset, a willingness to learn, and the readiness to take on even the smallest tasks. This mindset yielded him opportunities to gain exposure to corporate environments from his first years at university, gradually building practical experience alongside his academic studies.

Family and friends gathered to celebrate Quan's graduation

Thanks to his initiative and persistence, Quan secured a full-time position in his field of study about three months before officially receiving his university degree. "For me, graduating from university is not the finish line but the beginning of a new journey of learning. That's why I always strive to improve myself every day so that I'll be ready to seize the opportunities ahead," Quan shared.

(Media Center)