Proud to be HUFLITers #03 | Lecturer Ngo Thai Cat Tuong – A Journey of Gratitude and Continuity

A law class that “follows the trends” and a generation gap of “zero”

Becoming a Law lecturer at a very young age, Ms. Cat Tuong carries a particular mission: to overturn the belief that “Law is dry”.

In her class, students do not bury themselves in memorising rigid legal provisions. Instead, the latest “drama” involving KOLs and idols, or copyright disputes on social media, is deftly turned into real-world case studies. One look at the eager faces of students debating a “viral” topic tells her she has succeeded in lifting Law off the page and into the rhythm of contemporary life.

She goes further still, creating a safe space where students can test their critical thinking through moot courts. On that podium, the generation gap disappears entirely.

“To stay close to my students, I have to keep up with trends just as quickly as they do. Teaching Law is not dry at all, and a lecturer can be every bit as dynamic and ‘on trend’ as Gen Z!”

A mission to understand the uncertainties of being twenty

More than someone who imparts specialist knowledge, Ms. Cat Tuong chooses to be an “older sister” walking alongside her students. Having left her own student years not long ago, she understands deeply the pressure of examinations, the fear that goes by the name of “career”, and those nights of overthinking about the future that young people know so well.

There have been times when, after a demanding class, students came to her not to ask about coursework but to share small worries and the aimless confusion of their early twenties. Those moments made her realise that “teaching” is not only about giving knowledge.

“As a lecturer, I have come to see that I am not only someone who passes on knowledge, but also someone who accompanies and guides students with the mindset of a person who is ‘just a little further along’ – turning a stressful learning journey into a memorable experience at HUFLIT.”

When gratitude shapes a “companion”

From her first bewildered days as a student of the 2017 intake through to leading the HUFLIT Law Club, Ms. Cat Tuong’s journey is the clearest proof of how one generation hands over to the next.

Watching younger students mature day by day, boldly organising programmes and bonding within the Club like a “small home”, she sees her own youth reflected there. In her view, an ideal “companion” in a university setting is not merely someone who hands students an oar, but someone who takes their hand and awakens the inner strength for them to steer the boat of knowledge with confidence.

Looking back on the road travelled, if one phrase could describe it, it would be “a journey of growth and gratitude”. Growth, because she dared to step outside the mould to assert her own identity. And gratitude, because under the roof of HUFLIT she was nurtured by dedicated teachers.

That springboard became a powerful source of energy so that today the alumna of the 2017 intake continues to devote her youth to inspiring the next generation. It is also the fullest way to keep writing the story called “Proud to be HUFLITers” – people who are always confident, kind, professionally solid and endlessly committed.