Bao Anh’s Journey To National Taiwan University And Cathay United Bank
Introduction
How Pham Bao Anh turned her I-Shou University life into a launchpad toward NTU post-graduate and Cathay United Bank’s First International Talent Internship.
At 18, Bao Anh stepped off the plane in Taiwan with a heart full of hope and a mind buzzing with ambitions. The campus of I-Shou University soon became her second home. Late nights beating the deadlines, small victories in class, and the ups and downs of life slowly taught her what it meant to persevere. Managing both schoolwork and extracurricular activities was exhausting. Yet each obstacle showed her how to collaborate with others, solve problems on the fly, and keep moving forward even when everything piled up.
Don’t let chances slip by and leave you wondering “what if”. Step boldly, and one day, you’ll look back at the path and smile.
In 2022 – 2023, Bao Anh stepped into the role of Vietnamese Student Representative. She quickly realised the weight of responsibility, from helping classmates find their footing to organising events that brought a sense of home to students far from Vietnam. The joy in helping fellow students and bridging two cultures has brought her to serve on the Board Committee of the Vietnamese Student Association in Taiwan (VSATW).
At the same time, her consistent academic performance earned her several scholarships, including the I-Shou University International Student Scholarship for 2 school years and Shanghai Commercial & Savings Bank Scholarship in 2023. These awards were the affirmation that her late nights were paying off.
A Fortuitous Bond With Cathay United Bank
Bao Anh’s first encounter with Cathay United Bank came in her freshman year, through a class project. She picked Cathay Financial Holding, never imagining that a simple research assignment would spark an interest that would shape her next four years. Over the years, she followed the bank’s scholarships and programs for Vietnamese and East Asian students. When Cathay announced its first International Talent Internship Program in her senior year, Bao Anh didn’t hesitate. She was eager to prove to herself that she could step into the big league.
The application process was challenging. Bao Anh submitted her CV, participated in multiple interviews, and prepared a financial report on Vietnam in Chinese, her third language, which was not her strength. The final interview involved presenting to nine or ten managers, including the director. Bao Anh recalled the pounding of her heart, the swirl of nerves and excitement, and the surreal feeling of sharing her ideas with such a panel.
After all the obstacles, careful preparation and hard work have led her to success. Applying to 40–50 programs before, Bao Anh knew the taste of rejection all too well, which made the moment she received the acceptance email all the more overwhelming. A wave of relief and pride washed over her, and in that instant, she realised that every setback had quietly guided her to this very moment.
During the internship, Bao Anh worked in the International Credit Risk Management Department, focusing on Industry Research and ESG. She contributed to reports, joined professional meetings, and helped organise an ESG forum, which gave her a glimpse of how finance can drive meaningful change.
Preparation & Mindset Is The Way To Success
As she steps into her Master’s at NTU, Bao Anh carries lessons from I-Shou and Cathay United Bank, with the same determination and courage. Maintaining a strong GPA, engaging in extracurricular activities, and building practical experience have prepared her for many opportunities.
Conclusion
Wrapping up, to our I-Shou students, she left you with her “secret recipe”: embrace challenges, remain persistent, and prepare with intention. Every assignment, every club activity, every scholarship application is a building block toward something bigger. And the connections you make, whether by chance or intention, can shape your life in ways you never imagined.
Bao Anh also stressed that paying attention to the criteria of scholarships and internships from an early stage can help shape our studies and activities with intention. Opportunities are like trains – you have to be on the platform when they arrive. Each sacrifice and risk you dared to take was a step toward being prepared. Don’t let chances slip by and leave you wondering “what if”. Step boldly, and one day, you’ll look back at the path and smile.
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