Ordinary girls with extraordinary determination

Young teacher "carries letters up the mountain"

At the age of 23, Dam Thi Thanh Nga, a teacher at Ta Cha Lang school, Sung Tra Kindergarten (Tuyen Quang province, formerly Ha Giang ), chose for herself a difficult path: leaving the city and going to the highlands to teach in the middle of the remote mountains and forests.

Although the school still has many difficulties, Thanh Nga always tries her best for her students.

PHOTO: NVCC

Three years ago, during a trip to Ha Giang, Nga was captivated by the scenery and people here. The image of Mong children shivering in the cold, wearing thin clothes, barefoot but still smiling innocently to greet passersby was imprinted in her mind. "That moment made me think that after graduating, I would definitely return here to teach and contribute," Nga shared.

So, after graduating from Thai Nguyen College of Education, Nga convinced her parents to let her work at a school in a mountainous area. In July 2025, when she first set foot in the school, the young teacher was surprised by the peeling paint on the classroom walls, cracks and leaks in some places; and the lack of school supplies. But that very situation made Nga love her students even more. "Although it was difficult, the children were very obedient, polite and eager to learn, which made me want to try harder," Nga said.

The first days of teaching were a series of challenges for Nga. In addition to the long distance and lack of accommodation, Nga also had to face the language barrier, because 100% of her students were Mong. "The children did not understand Kinh language, and I was a new teacher with little experience and did not know Mong language. Sometimes the teacher and students could only use gestures to understand each other," Nga said.

The young teacher said that every day she wakes up at dawn, preparing lunch to bring with her because the school is quite far away and there are no restaurants. Even though class doesn’t start until 7am, Nga and her colleagues still arrive early to open the door to welcome students, because many of them have to go to school by themselves because their parents go to the fields early in the morning.

There were times when Nga felt tired, sick due to the weather, or homesick, missed her friends and thought about finding a job closer to home. But just seeing the smiles and clear eyes of her students, all sadness disappeared. "It was the children who motivated me to stay," Nga said emotionally.

Since taking up the job, Nga has not had the opportunity to visit home. However, she has never regretted her choice. "For me, the most important thing for a young teacher when choosing to teach in such difficult places is probably passion, enthusiasm for the profession and love for children. When I see the children full, studying and learning to read and write, this is the biggest motivation for me to continue to contribute in this land," Nga expressed.

Fighting illness while pursuing passion for music

That is the story of Tran Nghien (real name Tran Thi Hong Ngoc, 24 years old, living in Ho Chi Minh City). In 2019, Nghien started her freelance artistic activities by composing and singing. In early 2024, Nghien discovered that she had breast cancer and had to have her left breast removed. The moment she found out she had the disease, Nghien said her first emotions were surprise and disappointment. But she did not let this disease decide her life. "I told myself that no matter how difficult it was, I would overcome it," Nghien said.

During her fight against cancer, Tran Nghien still pursued her passion for music.

PHOTO: NVCC

In the following days, Nghien continuously went in and out of the hospital for tests, surgery and chemotherapy. All work almost stopped, but Nghien did not let herself sink into fatigue. "The medicine made my hair fall out a lot. My hair is my greatest pride, so I was very sad. But then I thought that my hair could grow back, and my spirit must not be broken," Nghien confided.

During her treatment, art and theater became the fire that kept Nghien positive every day. "Before, I often procrastinated: I would compose tomorrow, perform another time. But when I faced the disease, I realized that life is very impermanent. If tomorrow I can no longer stand on stage, I will definitely regret it. So I don't want to stop," Nghien shared.

For Nghiên, music is the most precious spiritual medicine. Music helps Nghiên release emotions, see the world more gently and live more fully each day. And then in March 2025, Nghiên released the song matphuonghuong (Disorientation). This is a song Nghiên composed during her treatment. Currently, the song has reached more than 10 million views on TikTok, more than 500,000 listens on digital music platforms, and was in the top 6 of Spotify Viral Vietnam for 2 consecutive weeks. Not stopping at music, Nghiên also entered the film industry with a role in the movie Human Trafficking Camp. At the end of November, the young female artist is also preparing to release a new music product.

Looking back on her journey, Nghien wants to send a simple yet powerful message to those who are fighting adversity: "You only live once, and life will not be smooth. I don't want everyone to have to go through adversity to grow up, but if they do, see it as a challenge to overcome, not an obstacle that will bury your ambitions."

I want to be a security guard to nurture my dream of going to university.

The story of Nguyen Thi Thao Ly, a new student of the Chinese Language Department, Hue University of Foreign Languages, will also move us because of her journey of overcoming difficulties and rising from adversity. Born into an incomplete family, with both parents having their own lives, Ly grew up in the protective arms of her grandparents who are over 70 years old. From a young age, Ly felt the deprivation and understood that her future could only be changed by education and determination.

Thao Ly pursues her university dream with effort and determination.

PHOTO: NVCC

Right after the high school graduation exam, while her friends were taking a break, Ly cooked and sold milk tea to earn money for school. Each bottle of milk tea cost 10,000 VND, after 3 days, Ly sold 400 bottles. However, this job was hard but the profit was not much, so Ly decided to ask her grandparents' permission to go to Ho Chi Minh City to find a job.

Initially, she planned to work as a restaurant waitress, but thanks to the help of acquaintances, Ly was hired as a security guard at an apartment complex. For 2 months, she worked hard, working overtime through the night, sometimes so tired that she fell asleep right on the duty chair. "After 2 months, I received 9 million VND, this amount may not be much for many people, but for me it was sweat and tears, the tuition for my first steps into the university," Ly shared.

Despite the difficulties, Ly is still determined to pursue her dream of going to university , despite many people advising her to go abroad to work to earn money faster. "Since I was young, I believed that education is the most sustainable path. I don't want to spend my youth in a faraway place while my grandparents are getting older. I want to be close so I can take care of them and repay their kindness in raising me," Ly confided.

Currently, Ly's freshman life still has many financial worries, but the little girl always maintains an optimistic spirit, is sociable and constantly strives to learn. "I believe that no matter who you are, how low your starting point is, as long as you don't give up on your dreams, you can still rise up and change your life. We can't choose where we were born, but we can choose how we live and our own future," Ly expressed.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nhung-co-gai-binh-thuong-voi-nghi-luc-phi-thuong-185251019182257922.htm