'I try to get into Ho Chi Minh City University of Agriculture and Forestry, like a fragrant flower for my father in heaven'

When her child passed the university entrance exam, Mrs. Duong Thi Nhan was both happy and sad, because her daily meals were not enough to pay for her child's tuition. To reduce living expenses, Mrs. Nhan planted some more vegetables to improve family meals - Photo: DUY NGOC

The night my father left forever....

One day in mid-September, we visited the house of new student Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong in Quarter 1, Bao An Ward (Phan Rang - Thap Cham City). The house had long lacked warmth and the caring hands of a man, making it empty and simple.

Hesitantly sitting to read the announcement of admission to the Business Administration major, Ho Chi Minh City University of Agriculture and Forestry ( Ninh Thuan branch), looking up with sad eyes, staring out at the drizzling rain, Phuong confided: "I vaguely remember that night, even though I was quite young, I had just entered first grade (in 2012), my father came home from work and the whole family sat together around the dinner table chatting happily, my father also encouraged my brother and I to try hard in our studies.

A few hours after father's instructions, at around 11pm, mother entered the room and saw father lying still. She called out to him but he did not respond. She was so frightened that she called the neighbors to come in and see what was going on, only then did she know that father had passed away forever.

"At that time, my mother could only hold my brother and I in her arms and sob, and I was too young to fully understand that loss... Since my father passed away, my mother had to work hard to support my brother and me in our studies" - Phuong said, choking up.

Phuong cried when talking about her family situation - Photo: DUY NGOC

Mother does many jobs, children also work hard to make a living

"Every day my mother works for others and earns 150,000 - 200,000 VND, and on rainy days she earns 100,000 VND. Seeing my mother's hardship, in 11th grade I also followed my friends to work as a wedding waiter for a restaurant. In 5 hours I earn 150,000 VND to help my mother with daily expenses and buy school supplies" - Phuong said.

The day she received the university admission notice for her favorite major, Phuong tried even harder. Every week, Phuong also ran 2-3 shows serving wedding parties, earning a few hundred thousand to put in the piggy bank to prepare for entering university.

"Although the money from the seasonal job was not much, it was still a stepping stone for me to enter university. I was determined to study so that my father could rest assured that his daughter was now an adult and could take care of herself," Phuong confided.

Study to the end, like a fragrant flower offered to the father in heaven

To earn money to continue studying at university, since grade 11 Phuong has worked as a waitress at weddings in restaurants - Photo: DUY NGOC

"What I am determined to learn today is like a gift, a fragrant flower for my father in heaven. Losing my father, I have lost many things in my life" - Phuong cried.

Phuong's family has two brothers. Due to difficult family circumstances, after finishing 12th grade, Phuong's older brother volunteered to join the military to give up his place in school for his younger brother.

Phuong said because her family situation was so difficult, she had a dream and a desire to study well to go to university to access higher knowledge, so that after graduating she could take care of herself and have the conditions to take care of her mother.

"When I got into Ho Chi Minh City University of Agriculture and Forestry (Ninh Thuan branch), everyone in the family was happy. After a brief moment of joy, my mother became pensive and said she was too poor and could not earn enough money to pay me more than 12 million VND in tuition each year, not to mention the family's living expenses..." - Phuong sadly recalled.

Ms. Duong Thi Nhan (Phuong's mother) confided: "After my husband passed away, I had to be both a father and a mother. Every day, I did whatever I was hired to do to earn a few tens of thousands of dong to buy fish and vegetables for my two children. For the past two years, fortunately, a relative introduced me to a job at a packaging facility, where they also provided lunch."

Sitting in deep thought for a long time, Ms. Nhan sadly said: Phuong's wish was to go to Da Lat or Ho Chi Minh City to have better conditions to study, but seeing that her family did not have enough money to cover the expenses in these two places, Phuong decided to stay in her hometown to study, to both help her mother and not have to worry about the high daily living expenses.

Ms. Nhan tearfully said: "Seeing other people's children wanting to go to university but having difficulty achieving it, while my child with high scores is lacking so much, as a mother like me, I feel so helpless and heartbroken before my child's wishes...".

I am your homeroom teacher and I am very proud of you.

Teacher Tran Thi Binh, Ngoc Phuong's homeroom teacher, commented: "Phuong is one of the students with difficult circumstances. Last school year, thanks to the local near-poor household certificate, she was able to study. Although her family is poor, Phuong is very studious and knows how to overcome difficulties to rise up.

Phuong is always active, enthusiastic about collective movements, cheerful, sociable, loved by teachers and friends. In grade 12, she also achieved excellent student results.

Phuong passed the university entrance exam, I, as her homeroom teacher, am very proud. I hope she will be strong, overcome difficulties and study hard to have a better future" - Ms. Binh shared.

We invite you to join us in School Support.

Tuoi Tre newspaper's 2024 School Support Program launched on August 8, expected to award 1,100 scholarships with a total cost of more than 20 billion VND (15 million VND for new students with difficulties, 20 special scholarships worth 50 million VND/scholarship for 4 years of study and learning equipment, gifts...).

With the motto "No young person can go to university due to poverty", "If new students encounter difficulties, there is Tuoi Tre " - as a commitment to support new students in the past 20 years of Tuoi Tre .

The program received contributions and support from the "Accompanying Farmers" Fund - Binh Dien Fertilizer Joint Stock Company, Vinacam Education Promotion Fund - Vinacam Group Joint Stock Company and the "Quang Tri Affection" Club, Phu Yen; "Supporting Students to School" Club of Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam - Da Nang, Tien Giang - Ben Tre and Tien Giang, Ben Tre Entrepreneurs Club in Ho Chi Minh City, Dai-ichi Life Vietnam Company, Mr. Duong Thai Son and friends with businesses and a large number of readers of Tuoi Tre newspaper...

In addition, Vinacam Group Joint Stock Company also sponsored 50 laptops for new students with special difficulties and lack of learning equipment worth about 600 million VND, Nestlé Vietnam Company Limited sponsored 1,500 backpacks worth about 250 million VND.

The Vietnam-USA Society English Language System sponsored 50 free foreign language scholarships worth 625 million VND. Through the State Bank, Bac A Commercial Joint Stock Bank sponsored 1,500 books on financial education, guiding financial management skills for new students...

Businesses and readers can support scholarships for new students by transferring to Tuoi Tre newspaper account:

113000006100 Industrial and Commercial Bank ( VietinBank ), Branch 3, Ho Chi Minh City.

Content: Support "Support to school" for new students or specify the province/city that you want to support.

Readers and businesses abroad can transfer money to Tuoi Tre newspaper:

USD account 007.137.0195.845 Ho Chi Minh City Foreign Trade Bank;

EUR account 007.114.0373.054 Foreign Trade Bank, Ho Chi Minh City

with Swift code BFTVVNVX007.

Content: Support "Support to school" for new students or specify the province/city that you want to support.

In addition to sponsoring scholarships, readers can support learning equipment, accommodation, jobs... for new students.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/minh-rang-vao-dh-nong-lam-tp-hcm-nhu-hoa-thom-tang-cha-tren-troi-20241021135512747.htm