Keeping promise to father, being an excellent student in the province, passing the entrance exam to Foreign Trade University in Ho Chi Minh City

Minh Phuong strives to study because she wants to take care of her mother and younger brother - Photo: MINH CHIEN

We arrived at the small house deep in the alley of freshman Le Nhat Minh Phuong and her two children in the late afternoon to learn about the scholarship recipient for the "Tiep suc den truong" scholarship, while Phuong and her mother were busy watering the vegetables in the garden.

I passed the entrance exam to a top university, but my father passed away.

Five years ago, the father of female student Le Nhat Minh Phuong - Phuoc Thinh quarter (Phu Thu town, Tay Hoa district, Phu Yen province) - passed away after a long battle with cancer.

During the time of treating her father, all the family’s assets, money, and property gradually “disappeared”. Currently, Phuong’s mother still owes 40 million VND, and it is not known when she will be able to pay it off. The house where the three of them are living is also supported by the union along with loans from banks, acquaintances, etc.

Wiping away tears, Phuong recounted that during his last days, despite being tortured by illness, his father still tried to hold back and appear okay in front of his daughter.

“My father and I both like physics, and he wants me to do well in this subject. When I said I wanted to take the entrance exam to the Foreign Trade University in Ho Chi Minh City, he was very happy and said he would support me with all his might. I promised him, and since my junior high school years, I was determined to try my best to pass the entrance exam to this school. Now I have done it, but my father is no longer here…”, Phuong choked up.

Keeping her promise to her father, Phuong entered the university she loved - Photo: MINH CHIEN

Mother babysits, works as a construction worker, and weeds rice… but still can't make ends meet.

“When we learned that Phuong had passed the university entrance exam, almost everyone in the neighborhood congratulated her. I burned incense for my husband and told him that his wish when he was alive had been fulfilled by his daughter. When my uncles and aunts heard the news, they sent her some money for school, and I also borrowed some money from a few places,” said Le Thi Lai (44 years old, Phuong’s mother).

A few rows of vegetables and a few chickens in the garden are the most significant assets of Phuong and her children. Since her husband passed away, Mrs. Lai has been in debt, and her monthly babysitting salary of 3 million VND is nothing compared to the living expenses of 3 people.

She confided that in addition to taking care of hired children, she also works as a hired rice transplanter, construction worker, and cares for sick elderly people. In general, this mother does whatever job she is hired to earn a little extra money to cover her living expenses and pay for her two children's education.

Phuong and her mother often go out at night to catch frogs and toads to sell to earn a little extra money to make ends meet – Photo: MINH CHIEN

Poor female student but bright path of study

Le Nhat Minh Phuong: Catching frogs and selling them one by one, passing the entrance exam to Foreign Trade University in Ho Chi Minh City – Performed by: MINH CHIEN – NHA CHAN – MAI HUYEN – TON VU

To ease the burden on her mother, Phuong started working part-time since the summer of 10th grade. Although the job of serving at restaurants in town did not pay much, it still gave Phuong a small amount to buy school supplies.

Seeing Phuong and her mother's difficult family situation, this female student did not surrender to fate but was always determined and had a desire to rise up. Teachers and friends always supported and encouraged her.

“During the 3 years I was in high school, the teachers were very caring and helpful, especially my homeroom teacher. Many teachers knew about my family’s circumstances so they taught extra classes or tutored without receiving any pay. I am truly grateful and appreciative of the love that my teachers gave me,” Phuong confided.

The latest result is that Phuong has passed the top high school entrance exam, Foreign Trade University, Ho Chi Minh City, with a high school entrance exam score of 27.05 points, block A01.

But before that, Phuong was an excellent student with excellent achievements in physics in Phu Yen province. The house was too small to hang her certificates, so Phuong kept all the dozens of certificates of merit for her excellent academic achievements in a separate bag as a valuable asset.

During her 3 years of high school at Le Hong Phong High School, Phuong was a gifted student and every year she achieved excellent results, being in the top 2 of her class.

Phuong said her greatest happiness is having her mother. Although her mother is not in good health, poor, and in debt, she is always a solid support for Phuong and her sisters.

“When I go to school, the one who will suffer the most is my mother, because she has to work hard to take care of me and her younger brother who is now in 7th grade. I hope my mother will always be healthy. As for me, when I get to Ho Chi Minh City, settle down and start school, I will immediately find some extra work to help my mother ease some of her worries,” Phuong confided.

Phuong understands that entering university is just the first step in the journey to realize her dream of a bright future. “I think the poorer and more challenging it is, the harder you have to overcome it, the stronger you have to be to keep moving forward,” Phuong said with determination.

Tuoitre.vn

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/giu-loi-hua-voi-cha-lam-hoc-sinh-gioi-tinh-dau-vao-truong-dai-hoc-ngoai-thuong-tp-hcm-20240819155937561.htm