22 years old, entering 6th grade: The journey to rewrite the childhood of a lottery ticket seller

(Dan Tri) - Nhu Quynh did not have the opportunity to go to school during her childhood, she had to sell lottery tickets and collect scrap metal to make a living, so her decision to go to 6th grade at the age of 22 is very special for the female student.

Giving up the burden of making a living, at the age of 22, he "revived" his dream of learning.

Born and raised in poverty, with her parents dying early, Huynh Thi Nhu Quynh’s childhood (living in Tan Tao ward, Ho Chi Minh City) was spent selling lottery tickets with her grandmother at Thi Nghe market. There were days when there was not enough food to eat, so studying became a luxury.

Her grandmother had asked for Quynh to attend evening classes at a school near their home, but not long after, she fell seriously ill. In 2017, when her grandmother passed away, Quynh's dream of going to school was also left unfulfilled.

Since then, the little girl had to struggle in the big city, doing all kinds of jobs to make a living: sometimes working in restaurants, cafes, washing dishes for hire, and even working as a product marketer in supermarkets.

“There was a time when I thought I would stick with the sales job forever, but as time passed, my dream of studying would forever remain at the age of 12,” Quynh recalls.

However, the desire to go to school never slept in Quynh. The girl still had a special love for books, still liked to read newspapers, and ponder over the essays in her textbooks.

Every time she picks up a pen to write, Quynh realizes her lack of knowledge of grammar, periods, and commas.

“I want to learn to write better, to understand more about the topics I am interested in. Going to school is also a way for me to fill in the gaps in my knowledge,” Quynh confided.

In early August this year, Quynh mustered up all her courage to enter the Vocational Education Center - Continuing Education District 6, to submit her application for admission to grade 6. The moment she received the admission notice, Quynh could not believe it was true.

The first day wearing the uniform, sitting in class, the feeling was not shyness but joy.

“I feel like I'm reliving the childhood days I once wished for,” Quynh smiled.

Nhu Quynh in class at the District 6 Vocational Education and Continuing Education Center – where she restarted her learning journey at the age of 22 (Photo: NVCC).

In the class, there are not only 12-year-old students, but also many people of different ages, from 1978 to 2012. That makes Quynh more confident: "Everyone has their own reasons for going to school, and all share the same will: to study. Therefore, no one looks at each other with curious eyes, on the contrary, they encourage each other to progress together."

Contrary to her initial worries, Quynh said that acquiring knowledge was not difficult. In fact, her “life experiences” helped her understand the lessons and relate them to real life more easily. She shared that she learned faster and more deeply because she had life experiences, and was excited about every class.

"Money comes and goes, knowledge stays"

Currently, Nhu Quynh still maintains her product marketing job from 7am to 3pm every day, then rushes to class at 5:50pm, studying until 9:30pm before returning home. Despite her busy schedule, Quynh has never complained of being tired.

“Because work is what I like, and studying is what I crave even more. The two complement each other, I feel happy and not tired,” she confided.

There was another deeper reason behind the decision to go to school: it was her grandmother’s wish when she was still alive. Her grandmother always wanted Quynh to go to school and get a good education. Therefore, when she sat in class, she was both fulfilling her own dream and continuing her grandmother’s wish.

In real life, Quynh is a young, strong girl full of determination in pursuing her studies (Photo: NVCC).

The marketing job has trained the 22-year-old in communication, persuasion and problem-solving skills. But she understands that only degrees and knowledge are the keys to going further.

Even though she just started from grade 6, Quynh already has a clear goal: to enter university before the age of 30.

“I know it’s a long road, but I don’t want to stop. I’m young, I have time. I can’t keep selling until I’m no longer strong enough. Going to school will open up new options for the future,” she said.

For Nhu Quynh, books are not simply knowledge, but a door that opens a whole new worldview . The 22-year-old girl believes that money comes and goes, but the things she learns will stay forever.

In her eyes, each book is a new journey, bringing profound experiences that real life may not have. That treasure of knowledge is the most valuable and sustainable capital that she desires to accumulate for the future.

Money comes and goes, but what you learn will stay forever. Each book is like a new journey, giving you experiences that you may not have in real life. That is the most valuable capital.

Huynh Thi Nhu Quynh (22 years old, HCMC) 6th grade student, Vocational Education Center - Continuing Education District 6

Nhu Quynh believes that each page of a book and each class hour will be a step closer to her dream of becoming a good and confident person in the future.

Ms. Dang Ngoc Thu, Director of the Center for Vocational Education - Continuing Education of District 6, said that the center welcomes Nhu Quynh's learning spirit.

“During her studies, Quynh was very serious and had a desire to improve. Even though she was working and studying at the same time, she still attended class regularly, learned quickly and proactively sought out more information. This is a good example for many other students to follow,” she affirmed.

According to Ms. Thu, at the center there are also many older students who return to school to continue their dream of learning. Therefore, the teachers always support and create the most favorable conditions to assist the students.

Phuong Thao - Hoang Hoang

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/22-tuoi-vao-lop-6-hanh-trinh-viet-lai-tuoi-tho-cua-co-gai-ban-ve-so-20250927114045480.htm