Orphaned female student scored 29 points on graduation exam, dreams of becoming a Literature teacher

Orphaned of both parents, growing up in a poor fishing village in Da Nang, Pham Thi Hau still studies hard to nurture her dream of becoming a teacher. She just scored 29 points in the 2025 high school graduation exam.

In the middle of the hot July, we visited the coastal fishing village of Tam Xuan commune ( Da Nang city), where Pham Thi Hau (grade 12/11 student, Phan Boi Chau High School, Huong Tra ward) is living with her uncle - the person who has taken care of her for nearly ten years.

From the beginning of the fishing village, everyone knew Hau - an orphan at an early age but a good child, good at studying and very emotional.

Mr. Ngo Thanh Doan is proud of his niece's academic achievements. Photo: Ha Nam

Her life has gone through too many upheavals for a child. When she was in 5th grade, Hau lost her mother in an accident. Her father was seriously ill and could not work, so her uncle took her in to raise her. Not long after, in 2024, her father passed away. Two consecutive great losses weighed heavily on her small shoulders, but never made her fall.

“There were rainy nights when I just lay there crying alone. I longed for my parents to hug me, for a full meal like my friends... But then I told myself I had to try hard, to study really hard so my parents could rest in peace, to study so that later I could repay the kindness of my uncle's family for raising me...”, Hau choked up.

Not letting down her family, the young student excellently achieved 29 points in block C00: Literature 9.5; History 9.75; Geography 9.75 - the candidate with the second highest graduation exam score in the whole school and in the group of high scores in the city.

“My nephew has been thoughtful since he was young, studying and helping the family at the grocery store. I love him like my own son. Now that he has gotten a high score on the exam, I am so happy I can’t sleep,” said Ngo Thanh Doan, Hau’s uncle.

Dream of standing on the podium

Facing adversity, Hau does not feel inferior, but turns it all into motivation. More than anyone, Hau understands that only education can help him overcome difficulties. He sees studying as a way to show his gratitude and realize his simple dream: to become a Literature teacher.

After the dream of becoming a teacher.

“I have loved literature since I was a child. I see literature as a place to express my feelings, to write down things that cannot be expressed in words. I want to stand on the podium and inspire like my teachers did for me,” Hau shared.

Regarding his learning journey, Hau said that he built a clear schedule, combining studying in class, practicing at home and drawing mind maps to memorize effectively. For History, he considers it a "vivid film" about the nation, and Geography is a subject that "connects theory with reality". As for Literature - a subject that requires emotion and depth, he was enthusiastically guided by teacher Bui Thi Hoa (Literature teacher at Phan Boi Chau High School).

“She not only taught me knowledge, but also inspired my love for literature. In addition, I read more books and newspapers, practiced writing and learned how to express my truest emotions in each essay,” Hau shared.

Currently, Hau plans to apply for admission to the Faculty of Literature Pedagogy or Primary Pedagogy at the University of Education ( Hue University). For him, it is a place to nurture his dreams and a path to "cultivate people" - as a way for him to repay life.

Behind the old study table, where countless hours of diligent studying were recorded. Photo: Ha Nam

“In the near future, Hau will go to school far from home, and I am worried about whether he will be able to take care of everything - from food, accommodation, transportation to studying in a foreign land. As for the cost of studying, I will try to take care of him. I hope he will study well and become a useful person to society after graduating,” Doan confided.

Talking to VietNamNet reporter, Mr. Dinh Gia Thien - Principal of Phan Boi Chau High School was moved: "Hau is a very special student. He overcame his circumstances with extraordinary efforts. This result is a worthy reward for Hau's persistent and determined journey throughout the past time. This year, the school and benefactors have also supported him with many scholarships, hoping he will continue to move forward firmly."

Without the title of valedictorian, Pham Thi Hau is still the winner - because she has passed the most difficult exam: the exam of her life, with her own resilience, gratitude and a dream that never fades.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/nu-sinh-mo-coi-cha-me-dat-29-diem-thi-tot-nghiep-mo-uoc-thanh-co-giao-day-van-2423454.html