Meritorious Artist Hạnh Thúy: The journey to receiving a Master's degree at the age of 48
At the age of 48, Meritorious Artist Hanh Thuy completed her Master of Arts program, accepting the loss of her car, losing 4-5kg, and frequently suffering from sleep deprivation in her pursuit of knowledge.
A journey of learning filled with determination.
Meritorious Artist Hạnh Thúy, born in 1976, has just completed her studies and received her Master's degree in Film and Television Arts from the Hanoi University of Theatre and Film at the age of 48. Her academic journey was not easy, requiring extraordinary sacrifice and effort.
The artist shared that the process of studying for her Master's degree was fraught with difficulties. She had to balance work, teaching, and studying, leading to frequent burnout. "Sometimes, for an entire month, I would only sleep 2-3 hours a day, resulting in dark circles under my eyes, a gaunt face, and a weight loss of 4-5 kg," she recounted. Besides the pressure of time and health, she also faced difficulties in finding materials for her essays and thesis.
To focus on her studies and handle some personal matters, Hanh Thuy decided to sell her car. She said she doesn't regret this decision because she considers the car just a means of transportation and has now bought a new one. For her, studying is about challenging and improving herself.
Balancing classroom and stage performance
As both an active artist and a lecturer, Meritorious Artist Hanh Thuy has found a way to manage her time effectively. She says she has now achieved a "reasonably good" balance by consolidating her teaching schedule into two days a week, including morning, afternoon, and evening sessions. The rest of her time is dedicated to her artistic work.
Pursuing a Master's degree has greatly supported her teaching work. Hanh Thuy believes that the learning process helped her broaden her thinking, access research methods, develop critical thinking skills, and gain a more multifaceted perspective. "Studying for a Master's degree helped me understand that teaching is not just about imparting knowledge, but about inspiring and supporting the growth of learners in a better way," she shared.
The joy of seeing students grow and mature.
As a teacher, Meritorious Artist Hanh Thuy affirms that her greatest pride is witnessing the growth of her students. She is happy to see that her students, who were initially hesitant, have become more confident and self-assured.
However, she believes that success alone is not enough; kindness is also necessary. "The greatest joy and happiness for a teacher is seeing students grow up, become useful, kind, responsible, grateful, loving, and self-reliant individuals," the artist expressed.
She also learned a lot from young people, from their dynamism and determination to their approach to their work and their way of life. This also motivates her to constantly learn and improve herself.
Strong support from family
To be able to wholeheartedly pursue her passion for learning and her career, Meritorious Artist Hanh Thuy has always had the support of her family. She is fortunate to have siblings who share the responsibility of caring for their parents, and a husband and children who are always understanding and supportive.
When she's not working, she dedicates all her time to her family, cooking, helping her children with their studies, and enjoying meals together. She prides herself on being a close friend to her children, always maintaining the habit of talking and sharing to understand them, especially as they are reaching adulthood.
