The Khmer boy's journey of overcoming difficulties

In early September, when university lecture halls were bustling with new students, amid the bustling crowd of people enrolling at the Academy of Public Administration and Management in Da Nang City (APAG Da Nang), the image of a small, skinny Khmer boy, carrying a worn-out backpack, quietly walking into the campus moved many people.

That is Thach Trung Nghia - a new law student, majoring in inspection. His journey of more than 1,000 km from Tra Vinh (now Vinh Long) to Da Nang to enroll in school is not simply a trip, but also a story of determination, aspiration and a heart that has never given up to fate.

A small backpack and big dreams

Born into a family with special difficulties in Tra Cu district, Tra Vinh province (now Tra Cu commune, Vinh Long province), Nghia was orphaned, had no siblings, and had a congenital hearing and speech defect. It seemed that these misfortunes would extinguish his dream of studying, but in that Khmer student, the will was more steadfast than ever.

"To be able to go to school, last harvest season I took advantage of both studying and growing rice at home. Luckily, when I heard the news that I had passed the university entrance exam, I had just finished harvesting. I sold all the rice to get money to pay for school. If I didn't have enough money, I would work part-time but I definitely wouldn't drop out of school," Nghia shared with shining eyes.

Her luggage for the journey was only a small backpack, a few sets of clothes, and a small amount of money saved from the rice crop, but her heart carried a big dream. That was to study to become a useful person, to work in the right field, and most importantly, to prove that circumstances cannot bind human aspirations.

Thach Trung Nghia on his high school graduation day. PHOTO: PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR

Journey of over 1,000 km - first memories of student life

From his hometown to Da Nang , Nghia’s trip lasted dozens of hours. He had a backpack on his shoulder, a small amount of money in his pocket, and a mixture of worry and excitement in his heart. Nghia confided that he was not afraid of the distance or hardship, but was only afraid of one thing: not having the means to continue studying.

Luckily, when I came to APAG Da Nang, I was warmly welcomed by teachers, friends and seniors. "The seniors and new students of K25 were very nice to me, no one discriminated against my appearance or disability. On the contrary, everyone helped and encouraged me, making me feel warm. That will be a beautiful memory of my first days entering a new learning environment," Nghia confided.

For many other students, the journey to university is just an annual procedure, but for Nghia, it is a special milestone in his life. It opens a new door, where he can continue writing the unfinished dream of his childhood without his parents' arms.

Thach Trung Nghia and friends. PHOTO: PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR

When asked about his greatest motivation, Nghia was moved: "I have to study because my parents, even though they have passed away, are still watching over me. I believe that in heaven, my parents will smile when they see me trying. Thinking about that, I don't allow myself to give up."

At an age when many young people are still protected by their parents, Nghia has had to bear both material and spiritual deprivation. But it is these losses that have shaped him into a different character: knowing how to stand firm, knowing how to walk on his own two feet, and more importantly knowing how to live for a deep belief that his parents have never left him.

"I see that I am different from my peers, so I have to continue to strive. I study to understand, to know more, and to not let my parents down," she said, her eyes shining with determination.

Khmer boy's dream

Not fantasizing about far-fetched things, Nghia's dream is simple but practical: to work in the field he has chosen, to contribute his small part to society. "I hope to have a stable job in the legal field in the future, so that I can help life and society, even if it's just a small part," Nghia shared.

It is not only a personal wish, but also the aspiration of a child of an ethnic minority, wanting to contribute, wanting to prove that in the poor countryside there are still seeds of determination to rise and shine. The message that Nghia wants to send to his peers is also simple but full of moving power: "No matter what the circumstances, how difficult it is, try to overcome it. Only when we overcome it, can we find our dreams, find ourselves and live a useful life."

The story of Thach Trung Nghia touches people's hearts with its sincerity, determination and desire to rise up. Because in the flow of today's society, when many young people sometimes easily give up in the face of difficulties, Nghia's example is a valuable reminder: living beautifully is not something far away, but begins with effort, resilience and the desire to live a useful life every day.

The journey of that new Khmer student is still long, there are many challenges ahead, but with faith, determination, a heart that knows how to dream and love, Nghia will certainly continue to write meaningful pages of life. And his story will continue to sow seeds of inspiration for many others - those who need a fire to walk through the darkness and find the light.

Thach Trung Nghia - an orphaned, disabled Khmer boy, with a small backpack on his shoulder and a journey of more than 1,000 km to Da Nang to enroll in school is a shining example of the spirit of "overcoming oneself to live beautifully". In him, we encounter a simple but profound lesson: no circumstance is strong enough to stop our dreams if we dare to believe and dare to go forward.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hanh-trinh-vuot-kho-cua-chang-trai-khmer-185251016142644458.htm