Special "Certificate of Merit"

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It was a colorful printed piece of paper with a traditional floral border, bearing the name of the homeroom teacher at the bottom. But what made it special wasn't its appearance, but the heartfelt intention of the person who wrote it. This "Letter of Commendation" was dedicated to a 9-year-old student in Hoai Thuong commune, Thuan Thanh town, Bac Ninh province, and read: "Commendation to D.NA (name withheld), class 3A, for her many efforts in her studies. We love and are proud of her, and hope she continues to strive!"

D.NA was diagnosed with a brain tumor two years ago and underwent surgery on the very first day of school. The tumor has made studying very difficult and challenging for her. She frequently suffers from headaches, and her eyesight is deteriorating daily; she even experiences emotional instability, agitation, difficulty controlling her emotions, and a tendency to quarrel with her classmates. Her teacher always gives her special attention, from her seating position in class to designing lesson plans that are easiest for her to see; working with her parents to help her catch up and learn happily and naturally like other students. Every day at school, every time she picks up a pen, every effort to absorb knowledge is a great victory for her.

A letter of commendation from homeroom teacher Nguyen Thi Cu to her student.

Another school year has come to an end. On graduation day, she couldn't go to school to say goodbye to her teacher and classmates before summer break because of an accident that required five stitches in her leg. Her classmates were excited about their awards and certificates of merit; but "My daughter was sad, saying she didn't have a certificate this year to frame and hang on the wall with her siblings," said D.NA's mother. Looking at her daughter, D.NA's mother felt heartbroken, silently swallowing her tears and only hoping, "As long as she's healthy, I'll get a certificate of merit." Accompanying her like a mother at school, at the end of the school year, her homeroom teacher lovingly sent D.NA a "Letter of Merit" as a sincere encouragement and a warm comfort. It was also a special and meaningful "certificate of merit," a source of spiritual motivation for the unfortunate student D.NA.

The letter of commendation has been bothering me ever since. Life doesn't always reward every effort with accolades. The true value of learning and education isn't just about imparting knowledge and measuring results with grades; its deeper meaning lies in giving love, teaching how to live, and how to be a good person.

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/xa-hoi/202506/giay-khen-dac-biet-9710c2a/