Dinh Ngoc Diep explains why she is pursuing a master's degree at the age of 42

Hanoi [Vietnam], April 24: Amidst the busy pace of work and family, Dinh Ngoc Diep chose to return to university as a way to refresh herself. Not prioritizing academic achievements or graduation deadlines, the actress views learning as a journey to cultivate knowledge, balance life, and inspire a lifelong learning spirit.
Return to the classroom to gain a deeper understanding of the profession and life.
Amidst the busy pace of work, family, and film projects, actress Dinh Ngoc Diep 's decision to return to university to pursue a master's degree in Cultural Studies at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Ho Chi Minh City has piqued the curiosity of many. Speaking to Thanh Nien newspaper , the actress shared that her choice stemmed from a very clear principle: "If you lack something, learn it; if you're weak, improve it."
"When you accept the idea of ​​reading more slowly to understand more deeply, accept rewriting an idea multiple times until it becomes clear, and more importantly, accept the feeling of not knowing enough as a normal state, you will naturally no longer be satisfied with your past experiences, but will begin to question the very foundation of your understanding," shared the actress from Detective Kien .
According to Dinh Ngoc Diep , every issue in life is more or less related to culture. The actress, born in the 1980s, said that after only a few months of studying, she saw a change in her perspective and way of thinking. When she shifted from an emotional viewpoint to an approach based on scientific reasoning, seemingly familiar issues in life and creativity began to reveal different layers of meaning. Culture, in this case, is no longer an abstract concept, but becomes a tool of perception, a lens through which to rearrange the world and reposition oneself within that world.
Dinh Ngoc Diep shared that thanks to attending acting classes, she reads scripts with a different mindset, no longer focusing on the plot or surface emotions, but expanding to deciphering the characters' motivations, narrative structure, and surrounding cultural context. According to her, a film crew is like a microcosm of society, where each individual carries their own identity shaped by their living environment and cultural traditions. Understanding this, the actress finds it easier to empathize with her colleagues, reduces frustrations, and views issues rationally and effectively instead of emotionally. From there, she avoids hasty conclusions and is not easily persuaded, but patiently explores layers of meaning and different frames of reference to arrive at a more grounded understanding-a continuous process of adjusting her perspective on the objective world.
Having graduated from the Journalism and Communication department and completed a second degree in International Relations at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Ho Chi Minh City, Dinh Ngoc Diep still felt a sense of disorientation after more than 10 years away from the classroom. The actress admitted that her years of work and practical experience made it difficult to absorb in-depth academic knowledge. At times, the 8X actress felt overwhelmed and doubted her ability to keep up with the curriculum, having to reread specialized textbooks many times to fully understand them. However, it was this process that helped her realize she was on the right track.
The graduate school environment also taught Dinh Ngoc Diep many lessons about the dedication of the academic world. The image of lecturers in their 70s still diligently teaching, researching, and writing books, or students from many provinces traveling hundreds of kilometers to pursue knowledge, became a strong source of inspiration for the actress. She realized that knowledge is the core value, more enduring than any material possession or social position.
"Being able to write thousands of words and read dozens of pages of books and professional documents every day has become a serious training experience that I had never gone through before. The feeling of 'I know nothing' actually makes me crave learning more. I wish I had more time to read and do more assignments. While before, learning was sometimes just a formality, now it's a genuine need to keep me from falling behind the changes in society and the world. Learning has helped me a lot, not only in my relationships with those around me and my family, but also in supporting my husband and my filmmaking work," she confided.
Her husband encouraged and supported Dinh Ngoc Diep to return to university.
For Dinh Ngoc Diep, learning is not simply about accumulating knowledge, but also about nurturing inner strength. According to her, filmmaking is a sector of the cultural industry, so approaching it from a cultural perspective can give each film greater depth and lasting value.
The actress candidly stated, "From a cultural perspective, filmmakers can focus less on commercial aspects and more on the lasting value and depth of the work. Although that's just a wish, I believe the key to that path is education. I hope that after graduating, I will be able to work better in my profession."
According to Dinh Ngoc Diep, every day spent in the lecture hall is a gift to her. Therefore, she doesn't place much importance on graduating on time or achieving high grades at the end of the course. According to Victor Vu's wife, the challenge of studying at this age is the pressure of balancing work, family, and dedicating time to research.
The actress confided: "Every evening in the lecture hall means I can't be with my family for dinner. But Victor is very encouraging. That encouragement has become my motivation to study harder. He drives me to and from school, sometimes the three of us pick him up together. Every time he picks me up, I excitedly tell him about the knowledge I've just learned. For me, studying is also about keeping up with the rapid development of the younger generation. And for my two children, I hope that when they see their father constantly working and their mother studying, they will understand the value of learning as a lifelong endeavor, no matter where, when, or in what form they study."
Dinh Ngoc Diep said she would always remember her teacher's words: "What makes the 'appearance of a seeker of knowledge' valuable is not how much they know, but how they live with learning: quietly, disciplined, unpretentious, but consistent. An unassuming demeanor, yet enduring enough to accompany them through the changes of their profession and life - and more importantly, to help them constantly reinvent themselves."
From her own experience, she hopes that the story of returning to the classroom will not stop at an isolated choice, but can also inspire others, showing that when someone is serious about learning, personal growth not only occurs but also spreads as a cultural effect in their relationships with those around them. For Dinh Ngoc Diep, the deepest value of this journey lies in humility; the more she learns, the more she realizes her limitations, and from there, opens up more space to continue learning.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper