Hi there! My name is Nhon Nguyen. I’m a 21 year-old senior at the University of South Carolina. Dedicated to making the most out of my university education, I will be spending the upcoming semester as a part of the inaugural Global Business Innovation (GBI) Cohort at the University of Auckland.

1. I didn’t quite choose the University of Auckland; I chose the program that led me to them.

I actually started my university career as a nursing major! I transferred to the business school wanting to study international business. My options were limited as a latecomer, but then the creator of the GBI Cohort visited one of my classes to recruit students. The program is a special partnership with the Chinese University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen and the University of Auckland. 10 students from each school come together for a semester at each partner university to study International Business and Entrepreneurship. After a competitive application process, I got in! I chose this program because of the unique opportunities it offered for collaborative learning in different cultural settings and developing lifelong connections.

My lovely cohort:

2. I’d be a good Kiwi Ambassador.

I represent the best of what being American means. My background as a born and raised American, child of immigrants, and an example of the American dream allows me to give a unique perspective on my time in New Zealand. Additionally, I am passionate about the discovery and exploration of the unfamiliar and anything artistically related such as photography or writing.

Some of my best shots:

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3. My goals align with studying in NZ and go beyond that.

My passion has always been the world: discovering it and making it a better place. I have spent my university career to reflect that by being involved with my school’s service center, working with international students, taking globally/culturally oriented classes, and studying abroad. My overarching goal is to continue following that passion. Studying in NZ helps me meet that and my postgraduate goals. I want to work with people and help them meet their goals by working in human resources and at some point, joining the Peace Corps. The more interaction I have with different people around the world, the more equipped I will be to help people of different backgrounds.

Volunteering with my fellow interns:

4: This scholarship means a lot to me.

I am a student with limited financial resources at a special time of difficulty with my younger brother now in university as well, worsening my family’s financial stress. My federal financial aid is at risk due to a fine print rule that I have too many course credits (despite the fact that I am still within my standard 4 years of university). This scholarship would alleviate the financial burden and help me enjoy my time in NZ more, rather than worrying about finances.

Thank you for coming to my Ted-talk about why I’d be a good fit for this scholarship!