Tiny student mistaken for elementary school child: Orphaned mother, goes to school on grandmother's vegetable cart

Divorced parents, the death of his mother, a small stature compared to his peers... all these challenges were not enough to deter the "tiny" student Nguyen Cong Bach (Chau Phong commune, Que Vo town, Bac Ninh province ) from pursuing his dream of attending university.

At the opening ceremony of the 2024-2025 academic year at the National Academy of Public Administration, Nguyen Cong Bach was dwarfed by more than 3,300 new students. This first-year economics student from the Faculty of Economic Management is only 1.34m tall and weighs 27.5kg.

Tiny freshman Nguyen Cong Bach at the opening ceremony of the 2024-2025 academic year at the National Academy of Public Administration. Photo: Thanh Hung.

Bach recounted that when he was a child, people only thought he had rickets. Later, Bach went for a check-up and was diagnosed with pituitary insufficiency, a growth hormone deficiency.

But physical disadvantages weren't the only difficulties for Bach. The 2006-born freshman came from a particularly difficult background, having divorced his parents when he was three years old. After that, Bach lived with his mother and maternal grandparents in Bac Ninh, where the family's livelihood depended solely on farming and the vegetables and fruits his mother sold at the market.

But life's cruelties didn't stop there for Bach. When he was in 11th grade, his mother was involved in a traffic accident that resulted in her drowning and passing away. From then on, Bach could only rely on his maternal grandparents. "My grandparents still grow seasonal vegetables and fruit trees to earn money to support my education. With my mother gone, they have to ask my aunt to go to the market," Bach recounted.

All of that didn't break the little boy down. "I used to feel very sad, but the more I felt that way, the more I told myself I had to persevere, I had to go to school to change my future. I never thought about giving up," Bach confided.

The new student is only 1.34m tall and weighs 27.5kg. Song Bach says he doesn't feel insecure. Photo: Thanh Hung.

In the 2024 admissions season, Bach scored 24.5 points in the A07 subject group (Mathematics, History, Geography); specifically, 8 in Mathematics, 8 in History, and 8.5 in Geography. Adding priority points, Bach had a total of 24.63 points and was admitted to the Economics major (cut-off score 24.6) at the National Academy of Public Administration.

"I chose the National Academy of Public Administration because, after researching it, I felt the environment suited me. I simply thought that graduating with an economics degree would lead to more job opportunities," Bach shared.

The male student said that when he first arrived at the university and during his first few days of classes, many people were surprised by his tiny stature. "Many teachers and classmates even mistook me for a primary school student who had come to the university with his older siblings," Bach recounted.

However, Bach is not at all self-conscious. "I feel normal, probably because I've been used to this since I was little. I'm only small in appearance, but my knowledge and intelligence are equal to everyone else's. I can still do everything like normal people," Bach said.

What made the male student very happy was that in the university environment, he received enthusiastic help from his teachers and classmates in everything. "From daily activities to getting food, anything I couldn't do, my classmates helped me with," Bach smiled.

The male student is determined to attend university to acquire a solid foundation of knowledge, so that after graduation he can secure a good job, rather than just studying for the sake of it. Photo: Thanh Hung.

Bach said that in high school, he was only among the average students in his class. But in university, he will be determined to study hard and hopes to win a scholarship.

"I told myself I had to study hard to gain solid knowledge and get a good job later, so I could provide for myself and my family," Bach said, defining the next four years as studying for a "university degree" to enter the workforce, not just "going to college."

"If my classmates can do it in academic subjects, I can do it too. My small stature might make physical education classes difficult, but I believe that with effort, I can overcome it."

Photo: Thanh Hung.

Bach said that appearance isn't a concern for him; what worries him most is the money needed to cover his tuition and living expenses. He also tries to cut back on spending as much as possible.

Currently, Bach has registered for a dormitory at the Academy, costing approximately 250,000 VND per month. He estimates his food and living expenses to be around 1.8 million VND per month. His family is currently providing him with sufficient financial support, but Bach is unsure if he can sustain this in the long term. He has also considered getting a part-time job. "If I can find a job, I'd like to work part-time to help ease the financial burden on my grandparents," the student confided.

Bach hopes that, with his family classified as a poor household, the school will waive his tuition fees so he can focus on his studies.

This academic year, the National Academy of Public Administration has decided to establish a support fund for students facing particularly difficult circumstances. A representative from the Academy stated that Nguyen Cong Bach, as well as other students in similar situations, are eligible to receive support from the university.

All assistance should be sent to:

1. Send directly to: Nguyen Cong Bach

Address: Chau Phong Commune, Que Vo Town, Bac Ninh Province. Phone number: 0962714241; Account number: 0349849118 Military Bank (MB Bank).

2. Donate via VietNamNet Newspaper: Please specify donation code MS 2024.299 (Nguyen Cong Bach)

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Account number: 0011002643148

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Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/sinh-vien-bi-nham-la-hoc-sinh-tieu-hoc-mo-coi-me-di-hoc-bang-ganh-rau-cua-ba-2334531.html