Fall 2008 Scholarship Spotlight - Ohlone College Foundation
Ngoc Mai Lam Vuong
- Jones Hamilton Co. Scholarship
“Since then, I promised myself that one day I would open the biggest Vietnamese company that produces inexpensive and quality medicine to people…”
My mother is the one who affected me the most in choosing a career. She was born in a poor farm family and she spent her childhood in hardship and poverty. Thus, she sympathizes for poor people and wants to help them as much as she can. Every month, my mother sends food, clothes and medicine to a charity organization in the city.
In Vietnam, medicine, especially prescription drugs, are ridiculously expensive. Since we do not have a lot of pharmaceutical companies to meet the demand, most of the drugs are imported from France or other European countries and their cost has risen much more than the actual cost by the time the patients get the medicine.
I usually go to the charity with my mom to help her delivery medicine to poor people. Looking at the gratefulness and happiness in their eyes when getting medicine from my hands; my heart becomes so warmed, and I feel so happy. Since then, I promised myself that one day I would open the biggest Vietnamese company that produces inexpensive and quality medicine to people.
The pursue the goal, I decided to come to America to finish my education when I turned 16. By choosing major in Biochemistry and minor in Economics, I hope that I can go deeper into the pharmaceutical industry and learn how Americans produce medicine and operate the pharmacy store franchises here.
In college, I work as a student aide in the Microbiology and Biotechnology lab. I have learned many new things after working in the lab. Now, I know how to operate devices such as autoclaves, sterile microbiological nutrient media devices and clinical centrifuges. I also have the opportunity to prepare various medium for bacteria to grow and learn technique for transferring bacteria to plates and test tubes. In addition, I help the technician to prepare labs for Microbiology class and Biotechnology class. The techniques that I learn are basic, it will help me to have more confidence while working with devices. I believe that I chose the right field, and I love what I am doing right now. Hopefully, with the knowledge I get in America, I can fulfill my dream to produce inexpensive and quality medicine to people. To complete the goal, I must work extremely hard. Life is strange with its twist and turns; problems in daily life sometimes make me very tired, but I would not ever give up my dream. As an international student, I am required to pay much money for tuition compared to the American students. The scholarship helps me to pay a part of my school fee and support for my academic plan in America. Thank you so much!
Emergency