The moment nearly 100 valedictorians shed tears.

TPO - Nearly 100 top-scoring students who overcame difficulties shed tears of joy at the "Supporting Top Students 2025" awards ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City, as their arduous academic journeys were recognized and their dreams were given wings.

The "Supporting Top Students 2025" ceremony, held on the morning of January 8th, was not only an occasion to honor outstanding academic achievements but also witnessed tears of joy shed by students after a long journey of overcoming difficulties. The program, organized by Tien Phong Newspaper in collaboration with the Vietnam Young Talent Fund of the Central Youth Union, took place simultaneously in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi .

Many young people fell silent, bowing their heads and wiping away tears as they listened to their friends share stories of their own challenging journeys.

Some grew up in impoverished circumstances, others lost loved ones early in life, and they strive every day to study hard so as not to disappoint those who have placed their trust in them.

Several of the honored individuals broke down in tears as they recalled the loss of their parents and the hardships of working while studying to pursue their dream of attending university. Their tears were not only expressions of past pain but also tears of happiness, pride, and the hope of continuing their education.

Nguyen Vo Nhat Thien, a student majoring in Early Childhood Education at Phu Yen University, couldn't hide her emotions when mentioning her deceased parents. At just 5 years old, Thien suffered the pain of losing her father. When she was 10, her mother fell seriously ill. The two relied on each other, selling water spinach every morning, carefully saving every penny for medicine and to support her education. However, cruel fate didn't allow her more time with her mother. On her 12th birthday, Thien's beloved mother quietly passed away, leaving her alone to face life. From then on, Thien learned to be independent, strong, and move forward amidst hardship and loneliness. With extraordinary willpower and determination, she continuously strived in her studies, nurturing her dream of attending university. This dream was earned through tears and the resilience of a young girl who matured prematurely amidst loss.

Listening to Thien's story, many students shed tears. They felt a sense of similarity in their circumstances and understood the difficulties of living without the presence of parents.

Also at the program, Pham Quyet Thang (Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology) impressed with the strength of a young Party member. Born into a family of teachers, the breakdown of his parents' marriage and debt after the pandemic pushed Thang onto the path of early independence. From the 9th grade, Thang independently researched and worked on science projects. The young man has a habit of keeping a diary to transform his sorrows into concrete goals. "When you seriously do something, the pressure is positive, helping you live more responsibly. My current goal is to win a scholarship to study abroad so that I can return and contribute to the country," Thang affirmed.

The story of this determined student provides much-needed motivation for his peers.

According to journalist Phung Cong Suong, Editor-in-Chief of Tien Phong newspaper, this year marks the 10th anniversary of the "Supporting Top Students" program and is also the year that many provinces in the South Central and Central regions of Vietnam experienced severe storms and floods.

In the spirit of supporting areas severely affected by natural disasters, the program prioritizes selecting 70 top-performing students from flood-affected regions, providing them with the support they need to ensure their education is not interrupted by the natural disaster.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/khoanh-khac-gan-100-thu-khoa-roi-nuoc-mat-post1811236.tpo