But his journey to U of T, and to the Varsity Blues, began long before he ever stepped into Goldring Centre. 

Nguyen is now a double major in criminology & sociolegal studies (CrimSL) and sociology, a path he chose not because it was expected, but because it wasn't. 

"I have enjoyed reading since I was young and my favourite classes in junior high and high school were social studies and history," he said. "Originally, I was interested in medicine or dentistry because my entire family is involved in healthcare, so I was inadvertently pushed towards that. But I set my mind on something related to the social sciences in Grade 11 since I really enjoyed my AP English and history classes. I think I also wanted to do something a bit different compared to the rest of my family." 

Even after earning admission to U of T, the path wasn't straightforward. 

"Another obstacle I faced was being waitlisted," he said. "I ended up admitted to UTM rather than UTSG, which meant I had to commute two to three hours every day from downtown Toronto to Mississauga." 

Balancing full-time studies, independence and a work study job during that first year forced him to grow fast. 

"I think my first year at UTM pushed me out of my comfort zone pretty quickly," he said. "I had to learn how to balance everything and maintain a high enough GPA so I could transfer to UTSG and enter the CrimSL program, which is fairly competitive."

After successfully navigating his first-year and shifting into the CrimSL program, Nguyen looked to supplement his studies with part-time employment on campus. He found the Varsity Blues position on U of T's CLNX portal while searching for roles that fit his creative strengths. 

"I was searching for jobs that fit my skillset of graphic design and social media work. The Varsity Blues job was beyond perfect. It allowed me to combine my artistic and media interests with my athletic interests." 

Even though the listing he first saw was for the swim team, a natural fit for him after swimming competitively for ten years, he ultimately stepped into the men's volleyball environment, where any initial uncertainty quickly disappeared. 

"From the start I felt welcomed into the Varsity Blues family," he said. "It was a little weird to be put onto a varsity team and given a fair amount of freedom to document their training and journey, but the coaching staff and players were super welcoming and made the awkward feelings go away quickly." 

The support from senior staff and other student workers helped him settle in even more. 

"I felt like my opinion was valued and a lot of trust was placed in me," he said. "I wanted to improve so I could make the social media pages look as good as possible. I knew U of T is an extremely prestigious institution and I wanted the men's volleyball page to reflect that."

Nguyen said one of his most meaningful early memories wasn't a single game or content project, it was the people he met. 

"One of my favourite early memories was meeting members of the media team who became really good friends that I still stay in touch with. Aru [Das], Barry [McCluskey], Brennen [Suni] — they've given me a lot of good feedback and inspire me to be more creative. Being part of that behind-the-scenes family made easing into the role a lot less stressful." 

These friendships made gamedays something to look forward to. It opened opportunities beyond just game days and practices, providing a chance to even achieve what might have at first seemed like an impossible bucket list experience 

This moment came at last year's Varsity Blues Awards Gala, when he was asked to suit up as True Blue. 

"Being a mascot has always been a bucket list item for myself," he said. "I felt honored when I was asked to put on the legendary suit of U of T's iconic mascot. It shows just how fun working with the Varsity Blues team can be. You can go beyond the listed job description and trying new things makes work feel exciting and never dull."

He smiles recalling additional highlights, adding the women's volleyball team to his portfolio this season and contributing graphics at the 2024–25 U SPORTS Swimming Championships. 

For Nguyen, the most meaningful part of the job is seeing how his creativity touches others. 

"Hearing coaches tell me that parents have been reaching out to compliment the social media posts always makes my day. Knowing that parents can stay connected to their kids who might live in another province or country is fulfilling, especially since I know how hard it can be to be away from family." 

But it's the student-athletes' reactions that resonates most. 

"I love hearing athletes tell me how much they enjoy the content too. I respect how hard they work, so I always put a lot of care into what I do to make sure the whole world knows that too."

Beyond the world of U of T athletics, Nguyen has also had the chance to navigate other impactful moments during his studies so far. Academically, one moment stands above the rest. 

"In August 2025, I got to go to Oxford, England for a criminology course," he said. "Being immersed in another country and culture was incredible. A highlight was going to two Arsenal games — unforgettable experiences. That trip helped me be more certain in the career path I've chosen." 

Nguyen's campus involvement is extensive: U of T Masters Swim Team, UC intramurals, graphic design roles with Hart House and U of T Esports, photography, social media, and work as a student ambassador with Summer Abroad. 

"Working with the Varsity Blues has allowed me to be more confident in my skillset," he said. "It's helped me branch out and help other student organizations on campus too. Altogether, I use my extracurriculars as something to look forward to. They're the light at the end of the tunnel that motivates me to get my school commitments done." 

Nguyen encourages prospective U of T students to follow their passions, not their pressures. 

"Choose something you have genuine interest in," he said. "It makes the long hours easier. But don't worry about grades too much. It's more fun to enjoy the process." 

And for anyone considering joining Varsity Blues: 

"I would highly suggest applying if you have any interest in athletics, social media or visual media. You get to add your own touch to the U of T brand. It's really gratifying and you can build so many skills along the way."