The World Scholar’s Cup (WSC) 2025 has officially come to a close, marking an inspiring journey filled with challenges, emotions, and remarkable achievements by our WASSers. Beyond participating in a prestigious international academic arena, students were immersed in a multidimensional learning environment, where interdisciplinary knowledge, critical thinking, and collaboration were creatively and meaningfully interconnected.
The journey to World Scholar’s Cup 2025 has truly become a memorable chapter, highlighting the outstanding growth and maturity of WASS students. From the demanding Regional Rounds, through the competitive Global Rounds, to the pinnacle Tournament of Champions (ToC) held at Yale University (USA) this past November, WASSers not only competed, but also connected, learned, and shone alongside peers from around the world.
Among more than 2,500 outstanding scholars from 67 countries at the ToC, WASS pride was further affirmed as three exceptional students – PHAN DONG CAT LINH, VU GIA LINH, and DO DUY THINH – brought home an impressive collection of medals and prestigious awards, confidently showcasing the academic excellence and global competence of WASSers on the international stage.
Let us take a closer look at the inspiring stories of courage, adaptability, and personal growth from our talented scholars.
Vu Gia Linh: Stepping courageously beyond the comfort zone
Sharing her motivation for joining the WSC, WASSer Vu Gia Linh said that encouragement from her family and friends gave her the confidence to step outside her comfort zone and take on a challenging academic arena.
For Gia Linh, WSC was not merely a competition but a journey of self-discovery and aspiration.
She shared: “Once the competition had started, I fumbled a few steps, but eventually, I learned to adapt to my own hardships. After all the practice tests, debate tournaments, and intense writing prompts, all those efforts were rewarded with a mix of pride, excitement, and a little nervousness – especially when my team officially qualified for the Tournament of Champions at Yale University, one of my dream schools.”
If I could share a message with WASSers who also hoped to participate in this competition, I would say: don’t hesitate, just give it a try. I would be thrilled to do the same next season of the WSC to conquer unfinished goals.”
Do Duy Thinh: Growing through a global academic environment
Seeing the Vietnamese national flag flying proudly in the grand hall was a deeply moving moment for WASSer Do Duy Thinh. He felt truly honored to represent the young generation of Vietnam on the international stage.
According to Thinh, the greatest value of WSC lies not only in the medals but in its multicultural environment and spirit of connection. He shared: “During the Cultural Exchange Night, I made new friends with students from Kenya, the United States, and Thailand. That sense of connection transformed WSC from a competition into a shared home.
Competing with outstanding students from around the world taught me a valuable lesson: competition is not about defeating others, but about surpassing my own limits.
Watching international peers confidently defend their viewpoints helped me realize that knowledge is limitless and that humility is the key to opening new doors. Every opponent is a teacher, and every debate is an opportunity for me to grow and improve myself.
Phan Dong Cat Linh: Forging resilience through challenge
The journey of WASSer Phan Dong Cat Linh is a clear testament to resilience and perseverance. Just 5 days before the Regional Round, an unexpected change in team composition forced her into a true “sprint” alongside entirely new teammates. She shared: “Despite the extremely limited time we had to prepare together as a new team, we still managed to achieve Second Place Overall. That moment helped me realize that effort and team spirit can make what seems impossible possible, and it was also the reason I promised myself to devote my full commitment to the following rounds.
After hundreds of mock Bowl practices and practice quizzes, I advanced to the Global Finals in Shenzhen, China. I was thrilled to return to Vietnam with a prestigious trophy engraved with the words “3RD PLACE OVERALL TEAM” on top, along with a golden ticket to the Tournament of Champions. Moreover, in the final stage, I was incredibly proud to be a member of the only Vietnamese team to bring home the prestigious trophy.
Standing on the campus of Yale University, I truly felt the completeness of the journey and how fortunate I was to learn alongside inspiring individuals from around the world. More valuable than the awards was the transformation within myself, from a “last-minute recruit” to someone who genuinely earned a place on the international stage. I realized that sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is say “yes” to an opportunity and allow that choice to change you forever.”
As this journey comes to a close, its true value lies not only in medals and trophies, but in the relentless efforts behind them, where students learn to face pressure, push beyond their limits, and bravely grow. These experiences become invaluable assets that accompany them on their academic paths and future global journeys. WASS believes that this achievement has become a source of inspiration for future generations of WASSers to shine confidently on international stages.
