To my parents

Thank you for building the foundation on which everything in my life stands. From the pharmacy’s quiet hum to the long evenings of patient encouragement, you taught me that success means nothing without integrity and that ambition must always serve compassion. Every project I’ve led, every idea I’ve pursued, carries a piece of your resilience and sacrifice. You worked tirelessly so that I could learn freely, and you never once let hardship limit my sense of possibility. When I look at every system I’ve built, every research paper I’ve written, I see your influence in the patience behind it all. I owe every opportunity, every step forward, to the lessons you built into my character long before I had words for them.

 

To Mr. Khanh

Thank you for being the first person who saw possibility in me before I did. When you introduced me to Z-Pitch, you opened a door that changed the course of my life. That first pitch—nervous, unpolished, but full of conviction—became the spark for everything I’ve built since. You never just taught me business or competition; you taught me courage and accountability. You showed me that discipline is not punishment but a form of belief in one’s own potential. I still carry the memory of your calm encouragement and your quiet trust in my capabilities when I doubted myself. Without your mentorship at Vinschool, I might never have realized how ideas, no matter how small, can grow into impact.

 

To Mr. Alex

Thank you for showing me that physics is not about formulas but about wonder. You gave me the tools to think in systems—to see how every force, every motion, and every reaction has meaning. More than equations, you taught me patience, precision, and humility in experimentation. Every time I wire a circuit or design a control system, I hear your reminders: “Think first. Simplify the variables.” You made me fall in love with the process of asking questions and proving answers. That mindset became the backbone of my engineering journey, and your belief in me during moments of self-doubt reminded me that curiosity, not perfection, is what drives science forward.

 

To Mr. Niall and Mr. Adam

Thank you both for teaching me to see business as both an art and a science. Mr. Adam, your tough grading in the early days forced me to stop writing for approval and start writing for clarity. You taught me the discipline of structure—how logic and tone can shape ideas into impact. Mr. Niall, you built on that foundation, encouraging me to think like an entrepreneur: to recognize opportunity, to analyze risk, and to find meaning in leadership beyond profit. Together, you transformed how I approach every decision, whether in research or management. You taught me to balance ambition with purpose, and to see that leadership is not measured by authority but by the strength of ideas.

 

To Mrs. Roxanna

Thank you for being the teacher who challenged the way I think. Sophomore year, you handed me worlds of science fiction and told me to read them not for escape but for insight. Through those stories, I learned how to question what it means to be human and how technology defines us. You sharpened my academic writing, taught me how to deconstruct complexity through PEEL paragraphs, and helped me find a voice that was analytical yet alive. Your classes taught me that ideas are only powerful when they are well expressed. I still return to your lessons whenever I need to connect logic with emotion—to make my writing breathe.

 

To Mr. Pado

Thank you for believing in the potential of student-led innovation. You gave me the trust and freedom to turn an idea into TH School’s first U.S.-style Science Fair. You didn’t just grant permission—you gave confidence. You showed me that great institutions grow when they trust their students to lead. Every initiative I’ve launched since carries that same spirit: that with enough faith and structure, young people can create systems that last. You gave me room to grow into both a leader and a builder, and for that I will always be grateful.To Mr. BrettThank you for teaching me that leadership isn’t about control—it’s about growth, even when it’s uncomfortable. Ours was sometimes a love-hate relationship, but your lessons were the ones that stayed longest. You let me make mistakes, fail publicly, and learn privately. You showed me that responsibility is heavier when it’s real, and that resilience is forged only through challenge. You made me understand that leadership is not the ability to avoid failure but the courage to rise after it. Looking back, I’m grateful you never made things easy, because ease doesn’t build character. Difficulty does.

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To Professor Don Howard, Professor Paula Crippa, and Allison
Thank you for the experience of the Notre Dame Leadership Seminars. In those few weeks, you gave me a glimpse of what it means to think at the intersection of science, ethics, and humanity. Professor Howard, your discussions on responsibility in technological progress shaped how I now view engineering as moral action. Professor Crippa, your insights into systems and sustainability refined my vision of long-term change. Allison, thank you for your patience and guidance throughout the process—you made me feel seen and valued as a student and as a person. The lessons I took from Notre Dame continue to guide every decision I make about the future.

 

To anh Luân
Thank you for being both mentor and brother in faith. Through every rehearsal and Mass at Emmanuel Choir, you’ve led with humility and grace. You taught me how to listen—not just musically but spiritually. Under your direction, I learned that music is prayer in motion, that precision and devotion can coexist. You helped me find harmony not just in voice but in purpose. The discipline and unity you cultivate in the choir mirror everything I aspire to build in my professional life—systems rooted in compassion and collaboration.

 

To cha Hùng
Thank you for your constant guidance and kindness. At Cua Bac Parish, you’ve been both a priest and a shepherd, reminding me that faith is not about perfection but perseverance. Your homilies have carried me through difficult moments of doubt and exhaustion. You reminded me that service begins with stillness and that humility is the truest form of strength. You made me see that the soul of leadership lies in empathy. Every time I lead or teach, I try to embody the calm strength you model so effortlessly.

 

To Ms. Thuy
Thank you for always standing behind every student project and for giving us the platform to turn dreams into real initiatives. You believed in the Science Fair, the Solar Generation, and every wild idea I brought to your office. Your calm and pragmatic support made impossible things happen. You’ve shown me what institutional courage looks like—the courage to say yes when it would be easier to say no. Your encouragement has helped shape TH School into a place where students not only learn but also lead.

 

To Ms. Linh
Thank you for helping me navigate the complexities of ambition and expectation. You taught me how to set boundaries, how to stay focused, and how to pursue excellence without losing balance. Your empathy made school not just a place of achievement but of understanding. You reminded me that emotional clarity is as vital to success as intellect. Your guidance helped me remain grounded through the chaos of deadlines, competitions, and projects. Because of you, I learned that success is not a race but a rhythm—a balance between striving and breathing.