Sowing letters and faith in the wilderness

After more than a decade of "living in the countryside", what makes teacher Nguyen Vu proud is the sparkling eyes, full of faith in the future of his students.

On the winding red dirt road leading to Atieng Primary School, Tay Giang Commune, Da Nang City, a thin man with tanned skin walked familiarly through steep slopes, with clouds hovering around the cliffs. For ten years, teacher Nguyen Vu has been walking on that road, as a journey not only to get to class but also to get closer to the dreams of children sprouting in the difficult highlands.

Concerns about the future of children in remote areas

Born in 1987, from Thang Binh district, Quang Nam province (now Thang Binh commune, Da Nang city), teacher Nguyen Vu has worked in the education sector for more than 15 years. People remember him not for the length of his career, but for the 10 years of "staying in the village" without rest in Tay Giang land. This place has rugged terrain, people's lives are still full of deprivation and most of his students are children of ethnic minorities such as Co Tu, Ta Oi, Ve, H're...

Mr. Nguyen Vu. (Photo provided by character)

Although not born into a family of teachers, Nguyen Vu's love for the podium was ignited early in his childhood, thanks to the image of a high school teacher with a calm demeanor and eyes always filled with love. "He taught very attractively and often encouraged students to pursue their dreams. It was that dedication that silently planted the seeds of a teaching career in me," Mr. Vu recalled.

The real turning point for Mr. Vu was during a volunteer trip to the highlands when he was a student. The image of children sitting on the ground, their clear eyes following every word of the volunteers made the student's heart ache. He asked himself: "What can I do to help them change their future?" That question was like a guiding thread, drawing him to the career of spreading knowledge.

Many people have wondered why Mr. Vu left the opportunity to teach in the plains to go to Tay Giang - a remote mountainous area, hundreds of kilometers from the center, with bumpy roads, floods in the rainy season, and scorching heat in the dry season? But for him, "knowledge is only truly meaningful when shared where it is needed most."

So the young teacher set off. In the early years, Tay Giang welcomed Mr. Vu with makeshift facilities: wooden classrooms, public housing with leaky corrugated iron roofs, no electricity, no phone signal, and lack of clean water. Frugal meals with wild vegetables, pickled bamboo shoots, and stream fish became familiar.

In addition to the difficulties in facilities, language and cultural barriers are also significant challenges. Many ethnic minority students are not fluent in the common language, making the process of acquiring knowledge take more time and effort. Differences in local customs and practices require teachers to learn to adapt and respect in order to build good relationships with students as well as the community.

"One day, it was raining heavily, the road was slippery, I fell down in the middle of the road. But thinking of the students waiting for me, I forced myself to stand up and continue walking" - Mr. Vu said.

The strongest "weapon"

Most of Tay Giang students are ethnic minorities, living in villages far from school. Some walk for hours to get to class. Many go to school barefoot, never owning a pair of shoes.

Teacher Nguyen Vu said there was a student he would always remember. "He was the eldest of six siblings, and his parents were constantly sick. Yet he came to class every day, never missing a day. I asked him why he was so persistent, and he just said: "I want to study so that I won't have to suffer like my parents." That simple answer made me choke up."

Mr. Vu and his colleagues mobilized to buy this student a pair of shoes, some new clothes and books. The student's joy when receiving the gift made Mr. Vu feel that all his hard work was worth it.

That story is not an isolated one. To Mr. Vu, each student is a special seedling and the teacher’s duty is to care for and support those seedlings to grow, regardless of harsh conditions.

In addition to teaching, Mr. Vu also pays special attention to physical training for students - something that seems like a luxury in the highlands. As a former core physical education teacher in Quang Nam province, he actively builds creative lessons that are suitable for real-life conditions. In 2020, he had an initiative that was recognized as effective at the provincial level, helping to improve students' performance and enthusiasm for the subject.

"Primary school students are very active, if the teaching method is dry, it will easily make them bored. I always find ways to incorporate folk games and fun exercises into the lessons so that the students can both exercise and learn skills" - Mr. Vu revealed.

Teacher Nguyen Vu is always devoted to his students. (Photo provided by the character)

Mr. Vu also teaches free swimming lessons to students in local schools, coaches a mini-elementary soccer team, and helps children have a healthy playground. These efforts help students in the highlands not only become healthier and more confident, but also more attached to their school.

When the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, the mountainous areas were not spared. Students were out of school for long periods, learning equipment was lacking, and internet connection was weak, making teaching even more difficult. Undaunted, Mr. Vu joined the program "1 million initiatives - Efforts to overcome difficulties", looking for flexible teaching solutions during the pandemic. He took advantage of social networks, sent lessons via Zalo, and distributed homework to students at home. Sometimes, he even walked to each family to remind them to study and stay connected.

Mr. Vu's initiative was not only recognized in the program "75,000 initiatives to overcome difficulties and develop" but also became a driving force to spread the spirit of creativity and overcoming difficulties among teachers in mountainous areas. "Being a teacher is not only about imparting knowledge but also about instilling confidence. When students believe in you, they will bravely continue, no matter how difficult the road is" - he confided.

According to Mr. Vu, patience and love for the profession are the most powerful "weapons" of teachers. In the context of life constantly changing, he still believes that the core of education is love and understanding. "If you consider students as your own children, they will not hesitate to open their hearts and receive knowledge" - he believes.

Many creative efforts

Mr. Nguyen Vu was an Emulation Fighter of Quang Nam province in 2020; was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Minister of Education and Training in 2020; was recognized by the Quang Nam Provincial Federation of Labor for his outstanding achievements in participating in the program "75,000 initiatives to overcome difficulties and develop" in 2021 and the program "One million initiatives - efforts to overcome difficulties, creativity, determination to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic" in 2023.

Mr. Vu was a key physical education teacher in Quang Nam province in the past; a mini soccer coach for primary schools recommended by the Department of Education and Training of Tay Giang district (formerly). He also taught free swimming lessons to students of Atieng Primary School and Xa Lang Primary School...

Source: https://nld.com.vn/nguoi-thay-kinh-yeu-gioi-chu-va-niem-tin-giua-dai-ngan-196250720222314344.htm