The touching moment of a recent medical graduate who used to sell corn milk to make ends meet.

Watch the clip of Cao Van Vinh's moving speech:

Video source: ctump.edu.vn

"So what if my parents don't have much money?"

In mid-July, Cao Van Vinh (from Ben Tre , class president of the 44th cohort of Medical School students) officially graduated with a distinction in his medical degree from Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy.

At the graduation ceremony, Cao Van Vinh represented the new medical graduates and delivered a speech to many students and parents.

“ This moment is when we all remember those first hesitant steps into university – a crucial milestone in our lives. We all realize that university is a training ground for reaching adulthood, so there is no room for complacency; we must be serious and strive from the very beginning.”

"There were many difficulties and challenges, but it was thanks to those difficulties that we grew every day. Today, the most important thing we have in our hands is not just a university degree, but also ethics, attitude, knowledge, skills, and experience – elements that help us become good citizens and excellent doctors," Cao Van Vinh expressed .

Can Tho.jpg — Cao Van Vinh: Thank you, parents, for your silent sacrifices so that we could fully concentrate on our studies. (Photo: Provided by the interviewee)

Vinh emotionally mentioned his parents: " Thank you, Mom and Dad, for your silent sacrifices so that we could wholeheartedly focus on our studies and have the opportunity to write new chapters on our university journey despite the difficulties and obstacles. I am always proud to have you always behind me, encouraging, sharing, and helping ."

There were moments when Vinh couldn't hold back his tears: "My parents trudged through muddy streets, but I got to study in the city. Their clothes were stained, but the blouse I wore had to be beautiful and clean. My parents used what we jokingly call 'old-fashioned' phones to contact me, but the phone I used was the nicest one they could afford..."

"So what if my parents are uneducated? So what if they don't have much money? Or the way people talk about my parents—that they're country bumpkins, not very tactful—those things don't matter to me. My parents are still extraordinary in my eyes."

Can Tho 2.jpg — Cao Van Vinh with his parents and relatives on the day he received his excellent graduation certificate. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

At this point, Vinh choked up and stopped speaking. Only after a round of applause from the entire hall could he continue his words of gratitude to his parents and teachers.

" Parents, please rest assured, we have grown up and are ready to embark on new journeys towards the future. We will strive to ensure you have no worries ."

Earning a living while studying to become a doctor.

Cao Van Vinh is the eldest son in a family of two brothers. He comes from the coastal town of Thanh Phu (Ben Tre). His parents grow rice, raise shrimp, and fish near the shore, but they still struggle to make ends meet.

Their house was in the middle of a rice field, and the road Vinh used to take to school was full of mud during the rainy season. When he was in elementary school, every morning his father had to carry him across the muddy stretches of road to school.

During middle and high school, the dry season was less difficult, but in the rainy season, every day Vinh had to travel 3km of muddy road to get to where he could park his bicycle.

From this point, Vinh had to cycle or take a bus for another 7km to reach Le Hoai Don High School. In his memory, Vinh still vividly remembers the days he slipped and fell, having to wear mud-stained clothes to class.

Due to his family's difficult circumstances, Vinh helped his parents with many chores outside of school hours, but he never considered dropping out. For him, only through education could he hope to escape poverty and repay his parents.

Vinh achieved many good academic results, and in 2018 he was admitted to the General Medicine program at Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy.

“When I found out I got into university, I didn’t know whether to be happy or sad. Happy because I got into my favorite major, but worried about where I would get the money to pay the tuition,” Vinh recalled, sharing that he had considered deferring his studies to work because his family was facing financial difficulties.

Knowing Vinh's circumstances, the teachers at Le Hoai Don High School connected with benefactors to secure a scholarship for him. Fortunately, Vinh received tuition support for the past six years of his studies.

Can Tho 6.jpg — For the past year, Vinh and his group of friends have continued their volunteer work, helping those less fortunate than themselves. (Photo: Provided by the interviewee)

During his time studying in Can Tho City, Vinh worked part-time at a coffee shop, making and selling corn milk and juices to earn money to cover his living expenses. Some days, after school, he would cook corn milk until 1 or 2 in the morning.

"Luckily, my classmates at school supported me a lot during that time. Every day I sold 20-30 bottles of corn milk and juice," Vinh recounted.

In his fourth year of university, Vinh applied for a management position at a bubble tea shop to earn extra income. He also participated in many extracurricular activities at school, such as writing articles for the media and designing posters.

Despite working extra hours, Vinh maintained high grades and was praised for his enthusiasm and eagerness to learn. Notably, for the past year, Vinh and his group of friends have regularly engaged in charitable activities, helping those in need.

Vinh's biggest aspiration after graduation is to stay and work at the university.

An emotional acceptance speech by an 87-year-old man who was admitted to a master's program at Can Tho University.

"I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for the 'kindness' shown to me, an elderly student who was fortunate enough to pass the entrance exam..." - Mr. Nguyen Tan Thanh, 87 years old, a new postgraduate student, shared at the postgraduate opening ceremony of Can Tho University.