Moroccan student's journey from knowing only the local words for 'hello' to becoming Viet…

After dropping out of medical school in France and isolating herself for seven months while struggling with depression, a Moroccan girl turned to Vietnam as a way out of her difficulties and went on to graduate as the top student in maritime navigation.

A photograph of 23-year-old Moroccan student Hiba Faradji beaming as she accepted a top graduate award at Vietnam Maritime University in August quickly went viral across social media.

However, behind this picture-perfect moment of triumph lies a deeply turbulent and emotionally taxing journey that nearly derailed her academic dreams.

Her story began at the age of 18, when Faradji left her coastal hometown of Tangier, Morocco. Armed with a prestigious medical scholarship, she relocated to France to begin her studies at the renowned Sorbonne University in Paris.

Unfortunately, her arrival coincided with the sudden, global outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The unprecedented health crisis immediately threw her academic plans into chaos. Her coursework became increasingly difficult to manage, and her living situation grew highly unstable.

Forced to repeatedly stay with acquaintances far from the university campus, Faradji simultaneously battled a series of personal setbacks. After enduring eight months of stress and isolation, the overwhelmed student made the difficult decision to abandon her medical studies entirely and return to Morocco, facing a highly uncertain future.

Deeply discouraged by the setback, Faradji isolated herself at home for nearly seven months. The once-outgoing student found herself battling depression, withdrawing completely from the outside world and plagued by a constant fear of being controlled by others.

As her mental health gradually stabilized, she resumed her search for international education programs. However, she quickly faced a new wave of obstacles, enduring repeated rejections from universities in both Spain and South Korea.

In late 2022, just as she was feeling entirely out of options, a lifeline emerged. Faradji stumbled upon an announcement for four full academic scholarships being offered by the Vietnam Maritime University.

Seeking a way out of her predicament, she applied for the university’s bachelor’s program in maritime navigation, encouraged by the full scholarship. Her family supported the decision, and a close friend of her mother even helped pay for her plane ticket.

"I had very little time to prepare or learn about Vietnam. I just thought Hai Phong might be similar to my hometown, a coastal city that was neither too big nor too remote," Faradji recalled.

Her first day in Vietnam was yet another memorable experience.

In February 2023, Faradji arrived at Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport just before the Lunar New Year, Vietnam's largest national holiday and the most important occasion for family reunion.

With passenger buses practically unavailable during the peak travel season, she had little choice but to spend VND2.5 million (US$97), half the total cash she was carrying along at that moment, on a direct taxi to Hai Phong.

She arrived to find her cold dormitory completely deserted, as local students had already left for their hometowns for the holiday, leaving her on the verge of tears and wishing she could fly straight back home.

As her parents called to check on her, Faradji pulled herself together and told herself she had to keep going.

Challenges continued

Although she had a strong command of English and French, Faradji found her coursework "quite difficult" because of the specialized terminology and calculations involved.

"Math has never been my strength, while Ship Stability is highly detailed and technical. It was so difficult that I could not cover the entire curriculum in just two semesters," she said.

To overcome difficulties, she spent considerable time studying independently at home to keep up.

She identified her biggest challenges as the psychological wounds she had carried from Paris, differences in daily life in a new environment, and being one of the few female students in a predominantly male department.

As a Muslim, Faradji strictly avoids pork. During her first three months in Hai Phong, before becoming accustomed to local cuisine, she subsisted largely on nuts and dried foods sent by her mother. Poor nutrition caused her to lose 4 kg and suffer from prolonged insomnia.

Language was another obstacle. Initially, she knew only one Vietnamese phrase: "xin chao," meaning "hello." After five months of basic Vietnamese lessons, combined with observing and imitating the people around her, she gradually became more confident.

A turning point came when Faradji joined an English club, where she befriended a student named Thuy, who invited her to stay with her family. This gave Faradji an opportunity to practice speaking Vietnamese in everyday situations. She eventually became familiar even with distinctive expressions and speech patterns used by people in Hai Phong.

Once she settled into her studies, Faradji began supporting herself by taking part-time jobs and renting her own apartment. Inexperienced in renting, she signed a lease for an apartment costing VND5 million a month, despite earning only VND7 million.

"When my classmates found out, they asked why I had not reached out for help," Faradji recalled. During storms and heavy rain, her friends would invite her to stay at their homes, giving her the warmth and comfort of a family.

Having once been withdrawn and reserved, Faradji gradually opened up. She enthusiastically took part in youth and student activities and enjoyed gathering with friends after class for hotpot, barbecue or a cup of chrysanthemum tea at a street-side stall.

"I fell in love with bun dau mam tom [a Vietnamese dish comprising of fried tofu and fermented shrimp paste] served with squid cakes [a specialty of Hai Phong] from the very first time I tried it."

"The warmth and willingness of Vietnamese friends to help, along with life in Hai Phong, have made me much more optimistic," Faradji said.

After three years, Faradji’s perseverance paid off when she graduated as the top student in maritime navigation, achieving a GPA of 3.65 out of 4.

On its Facebook page, Vietnam Maritime University’s Institute of High-Quality Training described the achievement as the result of her sustained effort, quick thinking, resilience and willingness to embrace challenges.

Faradji is now completing visa extension procedures so she can pursue a master’s degree in a maritime-related field in Vietnam.

"Hai Phong has a strong and growing maritime sector. I believe there are good opportunities for me to develop my career here, and I want to stay for the long term," she said.