Woman, 75, finishes pharmacology degree 'with excellence'

Nguyen Thi Hong Luu was among 2,600 new graduates at South Can Tho University’s graduation ceremony on Sunday. She was also the eldest among them.

Luu was among those distinguished by graduating "with excellence."

Holding her degree in hand, she said she was proud of the journey she had undertaken and completed.

"I'm happy and proud to have finished the program that I love, realizing a dream I've had for several decades," she said, thanking her teachers for having helped her along the way.

Now living in Tan An City, Luu has three children who all pursued pharmacology and medicine careers. Her husband died 30 years ago after a severe illness.

When she was a young child, Luu wanted to pursue pharmacology, but her family had no means to pay for such an education. So, she later became a primary school teacher instead.

In 2003, when she retired, she began considering pursuing her childhood ambitions. That same year, she studied in an intermediate school, and then a college. In 2020, at the age of 72, she decided to enter a university and pursue an official university pharmacology degree.

"Ever since, every weekend, I woke up at 3 a.m. to catch the ferry, traveling from Long An to Can Tho to study," she said.

As the eldest student at South Can Tho University, she made sure to put in her best efforts to attend classes and take notes, as well as study additional materials.

"With this degree, I will open a pharmacy of my own," she said.

Do Van Mai, deputy head of the Pharmacology Department at the university, said Luu's efforts and tenacity were commendable, and that she was an example for people to follow.