ISP Student Leadership

From NHS to the Netherlands: A Scholarship Success Story- Minh TRAN   

 We are delighted to share an inspiring update from one of our international students, who has recently embarked on an exciting new chapter in the Netherlands after being awarded a scholarship in 2025. 

During her time at NHS (January 2024 – December 2025), she completed Years 11 and 12 with remarkable dedication. A consistently bright and hardworking student, she maintained excellent attendance and received the Excellence in School Values Award in 2024. Beyond her academic success, she was a vital part of our school community, forming meaningful and lasting friendships along the way, including her Australian school sourced homestay family, Kristen and Damian. 

Her journey was defined by a strong sense of independence. While navigating the challenges of senior secondary school, she successfully balanced her studies with a part-time job and contributed actively to her homestay household.  In her email response, she shared the following:  

“I’ve learned so much during my time in Australia, especially at NHS, so I didn’t expect to be too surprised when moving to the Netherlands. However, actually living here as an expat has been a wonderful surprise. The environment is incredibly multicultural, and people are very open, honest, and friendly. I’m one of the youngest (and smallest!) in my class, but everyone embraces the differences while maintaining a strong sense of harmony. 

Life here also feels very close to nature, which I really enjoy—it sometimes feels like being surrounded by a vast, peaceful forest. Thanks to the strong foundation I built in high school with the incredible support of my amazing teachers, I’ve been able to continue performing well and have achieved top results in my university exams so far. 

I may not have a large circle of friends, but the ones I do have are kind, supportive, and meaningful to me. (I've attached some photos below) 

Thank you again for all your support at NHS. It truly helped shape the path I’m on today and opened the door to a vibrant and enriching life. I’m very grateful. I hope that one day I’ll have the chance to return to Australia and visit you all. Looking forward to staying in touch.” 

We are incredibly proud of her achievements and look forward to welcoming her back to NHS for a visit in the future.