Dao, Hien

FY, EA, Fall 2024, 01/19/2006

CEEB: CAID: 36713307
FERPA: Waived

Profile
Personal information
Name Dao, Hien Nhat

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Share different name No
Birthdate 01/19/2006

Contact details
Email, Phone

Permanent address
telephone
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thenitrogen.unilife@gmail.com, +84.911118270, Mobile, No other

26 Alley 134 Ba Trieu Street Phu Hoi Ward Hue, Thua Thien Hue,
530000, VNM
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Demographics
Gender Identity Male
Sex Male
Pronouns He/Him
Military status None
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Language
Vietnamese First Language, Speak, Read, Write, Spoken at Home
English Speak, Read, Write, Spoken at Home
French Read

Geography and nationality

Citizenship status Citizen of non-U.S. country
Birthplace Hue, Viet Nam 0 years US
Other citizenships Viet Nam
Current US Visa None

CA Dao, Hien CEEB: Fall 2024 1 FY EA CAID: 36713307

Intended US Visa F-1 Student

Common App fee waiver

Fee waiver requested Yes, Signed: Hien Nhat Dao

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CA Dao, Hien CEEB: Fall 2024 2 FY EA CAID: 36713307

Family
Household
Parents Married
Home Both Parents

Parent 1

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Mother
Name Tien Phan
Education Graduated from college/university
Bachelors (2006), Hue University of Education, Hue, Thua Thien Hue,

Parent 2
Viet Nam

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Bachelors (1998), Hue College of Education, Hue, Thua Thien Hue, Viet
Nam
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Father
Name Hac Dao
Education Graduated from college/university
Bachelors (1998), Hue University of Sciences, Hue, Thua Thien Hue,
Viet Nam
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Siblings
Han Dao, Age 23

CA Dao, Hien CEEB: Fall 2024 3 FY EA CAID: 36713307

Education
Current or most recent secondary school
Quoc Hoc Hue High School for the Gifted, 12 Le Loi Street, Vinh Ninh Ward, Hue, Thua
Thien Hue, Viet Nam, Public (08/2021 - 05/2024)
Other Nguyen Tri Phuong Secondary School, 63 To Huu Street, Xuan Phu
Ward, Hue, Thua Thien Hue, Viet Nam, Public (08/2017 - 05/2021)

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Progression No change in progression
Graduation Date 05/2024

Colleges & universities

Grades
Rank
GPA
na / 400
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9.9 / 10, Weighted
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Current or most recent year courses
First semester Second semester
MATH - Maths - (ADV) MATH - Maths - (ADV)
OTH/ELE - Vietnamese Literature - (ADV) OTH/ELE - Vietnamese Literature - (ADV)
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PHYS - Physics - (ADV) PHYS - Physics - (ADV)

CHEM - Chemistry - (ADV)
BIOL - Biology - (ADV)
COMPSCI - Informatics - (ADV)
HIST - History - (ADV)
HIST - Geography - (ADV)
LANG - English - (GFTED)
LANG - French - (ADV)
OTH/ELE - Civil Education - (ADV)
OTH/ELE - Technology - (ADV)
PE/HLTH - Physical Education - (REG)
OTH/ELE - National Defense Education - (REG)
CHEM - Chemistry - (ADV)
BIOL - Biology - (ADV)
COMPSCI - Informatics - (ADV)
HIST - History - (ADV)
HIST - Geography - (ADV)
LANG - English - (GFTED)
LANG - French - (ADV)
OTH/ELE - Civil Education - (ADV)
OTH/ELE - Technology - (ADV)
PE/HLTH - Physical Education - (REG)
OTH/ELE - National Defense Education - (REG)

CA Dao, Hien CEEB: Fall 2024 4 FY EA CAID: 36713307

Honors
Third Prize (2023) & National 10, 11
Consolation Prize
(2022), National English
Competition, Majored
Division
Second Prize (2021- State/Regional 9, 10, 11
2023), Thua Thien Hue
Provincial English
Competition, Majored
Division

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First Prize, Thua Thien School, 9
Hue English Eloquence State/Regional
Contest
Silver Medal, American National 9
Math Olympiad

Future plans
Undecided, Masters
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CA Dao, Hien CEEB: Fall 2024 5 FY EA CAID: 36713307

Testing
IELTS
Listening 9 04/29/2023
Reading 9 04/29/2023
Writing 7 04/29/2023
Speaking 8 04/29/2023

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Overall 8.5 04/29/2023
Taken 1
Planned 0

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CA Dao, Hien CEEB: Fall 2024 6 FY EA CAID: 36713307

Activities
Foreign Exchange
11, 12 Lead Youth Participant and Project Facilitator, Learn2Link, Denver, CO
Year Facilitated weekly virtual meetings, discussed diversity and 17 SDGs,
6 hr/wk, 44 wk/yr addressed problems in Hue and Colorado, launched a mental health
Continue awareness blog

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Academic
9, 10, 11 Organization Board Member and Regular Volunteer, Free to Learn -
Break Tam Academy, Hue
10 hr/wk, 10 wk/yr Tutored, initiated project design and activities, compiled resources,
Continue arranged & hosted seminars, contacted guests and volunteers,

Other Club/Activity
10, 11
organized outings

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Project Executive, Senior Prom and Graduation Ceremony - Quoc Hoc
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School Senior High School for the Gifted
70 hr/wk, 12 wk/yr Conceptualized event, devised timeline, recruited and managed staff,
oversaw progress, setup, budgeted $2500, managed Facebook page of
12000 followers

Other Club/Activity
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11 Vice of Content Department , Fifteen Orientation Camp - Quoc Hoc

Break Senior High School for the Gifted
20 hr/wk, 10 wk/yr Conceptualized event, worked with 27 school clubs to organize
Continue entertaining games for 360 freshmen introducing them to the school
and the clubs.

Science/Math
11 Collaborator of Content Department, Bong Den Science Summer Camp
Break - Bong Den Hue Non-profit Educational Organization
25 hr/wk, 10 wk/yr Organized activities, hosted science lessons for 80 local campers aged
Continue 11-16, devised lesson plans, executed experiments, crafted engineering
models

CA Dao, Hien CEEB: Fall 2024 7 FY EA CAID: 36713307

Other Club/Activity
11 Member of External Affairs, Lang Kinh Science Project - Quoc Hoc
Break High School for the Gifted
10 hr/wk, 10 wk/yr Contacted philanthropists and sponsors, securing approximately $500
Continue in funding for the development of science-teaching materials.

Theater/Drama
10 Member of Content Department, Campfire, Youth Union Anniversary -

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School Quoc Hoc Senior High School
20 hr/wk, 10 wk/yr Conceptualized event, devised event coordination plan, co-wrote a script
Continue for a 15-minute play and led rehearsals.

Cultural
9
School, Break
70 hr/wk, 52 wk/yr
Continue
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Project Executive, Event: "Race of NTP: The Nguyen Dynasty" - Nguyen
Tri Phuong Secondary School
Researched local feudalism, recruited and managed staff, oversaw
progress, setup, budgeted +$500, managed a Facebook page of 3000
followers
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Academic
12 Mentoring, IELTS Mentor
School, Break Held small-sized study groups, devised the learning curriculum, oriented
10 hr/wk, 20 wk/yr learners' self-study, improved students' academic writing.
Continue
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CA Dao, Hien CEEB: Fall 2024 8 FY EA CAID: 36713307

Writing
Personal essay
Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a
new understanding of yourself or others.

On a breezy afternoon, I sat by the riverside with the guitar resting on my lap. The guitar’s hollow
body filled with the wind’s playful caresses, and the gentle ripples on the river's surface reflected

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the chaos within my mind. I traced the guitar strings absentmindedly, producing a muted,
disjointed sound that mirrored my inner turmoil.

I have often been labelled as "mature beyond my years,” due to my introspective nature and
approach to life, driven by empathy and a quest for harmony. But it is this disposition that has led

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me to perceive others as constantly discordant and one-dimensional. Conversations became mere
background noise in the symphony of my story, which no one seemed to hear. My uniqueness and
detachment from others fed my ever-expanding sense of self. Driven by a desire to understand my
own narrative's place in the world, I invested time, effort, and devotion into self-discovery.
However, what initially felt joyous soon became a burden. I distanced myself from the human
world, deactivating social media accounts, leaving letters unopened, and replying to messages
with brief, casual words. My belief in the uniqueness of my issues made me hesitant to confide in
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anyone. It was as if I had lightly pressed a guitar fret in one hand, and in the other, I struck a string
as hard as I could. My efforts were all in vain.

Then, gently plucking the guitar string, I released the frets that held the notes. The guitar
responded with resonant tones, harmonizing with others, similar to water molecules. A firmer
press on the fret was like holding the shared human experience: if a chord embodied the collection
of vibrations in the present moment, then every person's music, despite differences, contained
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both melancholic and joyful chords. No one is truly unique, and no emotion is entirely personal. We
all experience similar emotional nuances at some point and traverse similar life paths.
Recognizing shared harmonies and unique compositions, the similarity of these notes and
harmonic blends made us alike, while the differences in the chords made us truly unique,
composing a symphony of diversity.

Learn2Link played a pivotal role during this turning point in my life, guiding me to embrace
diversity and recognize the common threads that connect us all. Despite the initial distance in the
online encounters of this virtual exchange program, we soon shared stories and nurtured common
values, including empathy, respect for diversity, and collaboration. With deep listening, mindful
speech, and self-reflection practices, I discovered that I knew nothing about life in Richmond,
Virginia—apart from the unique perspectives of my exchange partners, John, Riley, and Landon. I
realized that every individual's story defied the stereotypes I once held. This realization made me
feel remarkably humble. I became more modest in my understanding of my own narrative. This
recognition, born from moments of mindfulness, made me feel like part of a larger whole. It was

CA Dao, Hien CEEB: Fall 2024 9 FY EA CAID: 36713307

as if we were all sitting side-by-side, with hearts full of empathy and the simple desire to connect
to another human. Those moments, though scarce in everyday life, reminded us how, despite
cultural differences, language barriers, and countless dissimilarities in our personal lives, we, with
our hearts and stories naked, are plainly and strikingly similar. The geographical barriers were
powerless to stop the human connection.

These realizations are the seeds of community action I am now digging into, where our unique
stories and strengths unite to solve shared problems. Empathy connects us through shared
emotions; diversity inspires humility and appreciation; and collaboration amplifies our impact. I
have found my unique way to contribute: telling stories through writing. Sharing and listening to
personal stories reminds us of our beautiful differences and striking similarities. By connecting

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with others, I connect with myself. By connecting with the world, I have learned to create a
harmonious symphony, blending myself with countless other melodies in life's diverse
compositions.

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CA Dao, Hien CEEB: Fall 2024 10 FY EA CAID: 36713307

Education progression
Details
Education progression No change in progression
details

Required explanation

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Secondary school change

The transition from Secondary school to High school occurs after 9th grade in the Vietnamese
education system.

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PR

CA Dao, Hien CEEB: Fall 2024 11 FY EA CAID: 36713307

Macalester College questions
General
Preferred start term Fall 2024
Admission plan Early Action
Financial aid Yes
DTAP Question: Does not apply

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Macalester practices Yes, I'd like to include my ACT and/or SAT score
test optional
admissions. Do you
want Macalester to
include your test scores
in our evaluation of your
application?
As part of Macalester's
test optional policy, you
may also choose to
include AP and/or IB
scores in the evaluation
of your application. Do
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No, I don't want to include AP or IB scores
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you want Macalester to
include your AP or IB
scores?
Art Supplement No
Question
OK to text Yes
Mobile number for +84.911118270
texting
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Parent Communications Do not include parent(s)/guardian(s) in communications

Academics
Academics1 question1 Psychology, Educational Studies, Sociology

Activities
Activity 1 Community Service
Activity 2 Newspaper/Literary Magazine
Activity 3 Music: Vocal
Activity 4 Cultural Organizations

CA Dao, Hien CEEB: Fall 2024 12 FY EA CAID: 36713307

Activity 5 Outdoor Activities

Resume Upload

Uploaded document attached.

Resume Upload

"Resume.pdf"

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Family
Sibling applied No
Relatives attended No
member
Relative employed at No
member

Background Essay
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Optional Essay: Macalester is one of few highly selective liberal arts colleges located in the
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middle of a metropolitan area. Students benefit from the strong sense of community on campus
and opportunities to engage in academic, social, and civic engagement options in the Twin Cities
of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Have you thought about how Macalester's location might impact
your experience? If so, in what ways?

The Huong River in my hometown of Hue, Vietnam, represents the blending of tradition and
modernity, just like my personal journey as a student. As I envision myself at Macalester, the
confluence of old-world Saint Paul and vibrant Minneapolis mirrors my aspiration to merge
academic excellence with cultural richness.
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With the abundance of on- and off-campus student internship opportunities all year round, I hope
to hone my research methodologies and delve deep into a learned subject matter at the internship
sites near the campus. I hope to learn, work and explore my psychology interests such as: "What
role does our environment play in the development of our traits" or "Are our traits fixed and how we
can change them". I love to be constantly challenged and have my horizons broadened through
these learning and working opportunities. Furthermore, I plan to participate in programs such as
the Brain Research Institute and the Institute of Child Development to deepen my understanding of
neural substrates and childhood learning.

Macalester's location offers unique opportunities for me to apply my knowledge through

community-based projects and coursework. Off-campus classes such as Psychology of Behavior

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where students are exposed first-hand to garbage processing in Hennepin Energy Recovery Center
and talk to environmental activists, will help me gain a tangible understanding of the burden on the
physical and psychological health of human beings, and put psychological tools to help solve
these problems. I am also eager to explore the multicultural life of the Twin Cities. Whether biking
at Carver Lake Park, enjoying nature at Minnehaha Falls, or immersing in the city's diverse culture, I
plan to connect with people from all walks of life.

I look forward to being a part of Macalester’s melting pot of cultures where I am guided to
discover humanity across various backgrounds.

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Other Information
Identity Question: Four values permeate Macalester’s mission and purpose: academic

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distinction, internationalism, multiculturalism, and service to society.

My journey has predominantly been rooted in the local sphere, so much so that it could have easily
been confined within the bounds of a singular perspective overshadowed by an inflated ego.
However, a few experiences were essential to my transformation into an open mind receptive to
diverse perspectives and committed to contributing to the greater good.
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As a member of the FreeToLearn organizational board, I helped nourish a safe space for young
learners to design and implement their own educational paths. This non-profit project challenged
the Vietnamese traditional educational norms by creating learning models inspired by institutions
like Sudbury Valley School and Summit Public Schools in America. Our project engaged learners
from diverse backgrounds, facilitated by volunteers from across the Vietnamese nation and the
US, putting our educational vision on a national and global scale. Additionally, active involvement
in Learn2Link, a US-Vietnam exchange program, has offered me insight into how the danger of
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generalizing a community's culture is the oversimplification of the rich tapestry of individual

stories and experiences. We found common threads connecting us as we addressed issues in the
Hue and Richmond communities using the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

I believe the mindset I have inherited from these experiences will inform my next steps toward
embracing diversity, internationalism and civic responsibilities in Macalester. I am excited to take
a wide range of courses and learn from a student body represented by over 70 countries. I want to
volunteer in Lives of Commitment Programs and engage in Study Away opportunities to foster my
global citizenship.

My personal experiences have made me a strong advocate for diversity, internationalism, and civic
responsibility. These values have become an integral part of my identity, and I am seeing the

CA Dao, Hien CEEB: Fall 2024 14 FY EA CAID: 36713307

opportunity to nurture and strengthen them throughout my journey at Macalester.

Grade Fluctuation Question: Has there been a significant fluctuation in your grades at any point
during grades 9-12 (up or down)? If so, please tell us the reason(s) for the changes.

No.

Have you ever been found responsible for a disciplinary violation at any educational institution
you have attended from the 9th grade (or the international equivalent) forward, whether related

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to academic misconduct or behavioral misconduct, that resulted in an out of school suspension
or more significant sanction? Macalester asks this question as a means to identify areas of
support to an incoming student that has experienced an academic or behavioral challenge.

No.

Affirmations
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By submitting this application, I affirm my understanding of and agreement to the statements
found here: http://www.commonapp.org/affirmations.
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CA Dao, Hien CEEB: Fall 2024 15 FY EA CAID: 36713307

Resume

Hien Nhat Dao

26 Alley 134, Ba Trieu Street, Phu Hoi Ward, Hue City, Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietnam
+84 911118270 | daonhathien.unilife@gmail.com

EDUCATION
Quoc Hoc Senior High School for the Gifted GPA 9.9/10 September 2021 - Now
English Major Class

Nguyen Tri Phuong Junior High School September 2017 - May 2021
QUALIFICATIONS
IELTS 8.5
SAT 1570

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HONORS
Third & Consolation Prize March 2023 & 2022
National English Competition, Majored division, Ministry of Education of Vietnam
Competed against 300 selected excellent English Major students all nation

Second Prize November 2022, 2021, 2020

Thien Hue

First Prize
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Thua Thien Hue Provincial English Competition, Majored division, Department of Education of Thua

Competed against 200 selected English Major students all province

Thua Thien Hue Provincial Eloquence Contest, Department of Education of Thua Thien Hue
Competed against 40 selected eloquence speaker all province
March 2021
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EXPERIENCE
Lead Youth Participant and Facilitator November 2022 - Now
Learn2Link Vietnam-U.S. Virtual Exchange Program, Learn2Link, Denver, CO
- Facilitated and participated weekly virtual lab meetings connecting Vietnamese and American youth
participants to discuss diversity across cultures, individuals and communities.
- Learned about the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and addressed problems in home
communities of Hue and Colorado using the SDGs
- Launched a youth-focused mental health awareness blog, aligning with SDG Good Health & Wellbeing.
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Organization Board Member and Regular Volunteer June - August 2023, 2022, 2021
Self-directed learning, Free to Learn 1 & 2
- Pioneered a non-profit five-week pilot learning project based on the Sudbury Model of Education,
centering on the “democratic learning” approach granting tens of learners complete freedom to decide all
aspects of their learning with support from volunteers.
- Initiated and adapted the project design in accordance with the learner’s needs and the project’s values.
- Compiled resources focusing on English learning along with other interest fields for learners’ ready
access.
- Arranged and hosted seminars and discussion sessions revolving around learners’ concerns, connected
with guests and online volunteers, and held special outings to connect learners through English
communication.

Project Executive March - May 2023

Senior Prom and Graduation Ceremony, Quoc Hoc Hue High School for the Gifted
- Conceptualized the event, devised the timeline, and organized activities.
- Recruited and led a team of 110 members and collaborators, overseeing project preparation and event
coordination.

CA Dao, Hien CEEB: Fall 2024 16 FY EA CAID: 36713307

Resume

- Designed, set up, managed 4 memory spaces for about 400 seniors and catered for over 200 participants
in prom.
- Collaborated with the school's youth union, philanthropists, and sponsors, securing a $2500 budget and
managing its allocation.
- Managed a Facebook fanpage with 12.000 followers for event promotion.

Vice of Content Department July - September 2022

Fifteen Orientation Camp, Quoc Hoc Hue High School for the Gifted
- Initiated the orientation camp’s concept, timeline, and activities featured throughout the event.
- Responsible for managing the progress of the Content Department.
- Worked with 27 school clubs to organize entertaining games for 360 freshmen introducing them to the
school and the clubs.

Collaborator of Content Department June - August 2022

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Bong Den Science Summer Camp, Bong Den Non-profit Educational Organization, Hue
- Organized and hosted engaging science lessons with interactive experiments and fun activities for 80 local
campers aged 11-16.
- Devised lesson plans, executed scientific experiments and crafted engineering models to facilitate
hands-on learning experiences.

Member of External Relations June - July 2022

Member of Content Department

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Lang Kinh Science Project, Quoc Hoc Hue High School for the Gifted
- Contacted philanthropists and sponsors, securing approximately $500 in funding for the development of
science-teaching materials.

Senior Prom and Graduation Ceremony, Quoc Hoc Hue High School for the Gifted
April - June 2022

- Developed the concept used throughout the events and themed storyline for online and offline media.
- Wrote the script for senior prom event and graduation ceremony.
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Member of Content Department March - May 2022
Campfire, Youth Union Anniversary, Quoc Hoc Hue High School for the Gifted
- Conceptualized event, devised event coordination plan.
- Devised a script for a 15-minute play and coordinate rehearsals.

Project Executive January 2020 - January 2021

Event: "Race of NTP: The Nguyen", Nguyen Tri Phuong Junior High School
- Conceptualized event, devised timeline, and organized activities.
- Recruited and led a team of 35 members and collaborators, overseeing project preparation and event
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coordination.
- Developed interactive educational activities, enlightening 90 eighth-graders about Nguyen Dynasty's local
culture.
- Collaborated with the school's youth union, philanthropists, and sponsors, securing a - $500+ budget and
managing its allocation.
- Managed a Facebook fanpage with 3,000 followers for event promotion.

OTHER EXPERIENCE
English Tutoring
IELTS Mentor
- Held small-sized classes of 10 learners.
- Devised the learning curriculum, compiled learning content, oriented learners' self-study based on their
needs and levels.

Languages: Fluent in Vietnamese and English, A2-level French user.

CA Dao, Hien CEEB: Fall 2024 17 FY EA CAID: 36713307