The 22-year-old, Huỳnh Khương Nguyên, was completing her final year in English Language Education at a Vietnamese university when she began exploring conceptual metaphor theory through an analysis of lyrics by the American singer Taylor Swift, which she admired and used as a lens for understanding deeper cognitive and linguistic patterns in language.

Nguyên initially chose this topic because it aligned with both her academic interests and personal passion. Her research on how metaphors in songs help shape understanding of language earned recognition and was featured prominently in her Oxford application essay. She described how listening to Swift’s music helped her learn English and inspired a broader interest in cognitive linguistics.

The strength of Nguyên’s written research and personal statement was enough for Oxford to extend an offer without requiring the usual interview stage, a rare outcome for such competitive admissions. She now plans to continue her studies at Oxford, where she hopes to further delve into language and education.