64-year-old candidate overcomes inferiority complex to go back to school from 6th grade

Seven years ago in Ho Chi Minh City , Ms. Trinh Kim Chi, then 57 years old, hesitantly submitted her application to study in 6th grade at the District 7 Continuing Education Center.

Ms. Chi, now 64 years old, a 12th grade student at the Vocational Education - Continuing Education Center of District 7, is the oldest candidate in the high school graduation exam in Ho Chi Minh City this year. The exam took place from June 27 to 29.

Going to school at an age when many people are already retired and enjoying their children and grandchildren, Ms. Chi said the reason stems from her difficult childhood. Her family was poor, and she was the eldest of five siblings, so after 8th grade, she had to give up her dream of becoming a doctor to stay home and help her parents with the business.

"When I first dropped out of school and helped my mother sell things on the street in the Zoo, I saw my friends going out and going to school while I had to sell things on the street, I burst into tears because I felt sorry for myself," Ms. Chi recalled.

After getting married, she was also caught up in life, taking care of her children, so she had to put aside her desire to continue studying. When the family's economy was stable, her children were successful in their studies and had settled down, Ms. Chi was still self-conscious because she had not finished 12th grade and had limited knowledge.

Ms. Chi in a class reviewing for the high school graduation exam, June 15. Photo: Le Nguyen

In 2016, Ms. Chi was determined to go to school. At first, she was hesitant, afraid that her neighbors would laugh at her, so she applied to a continuing education center far from home. But the center refused because she was too old. Not giving up, Ms. Kim Chi returned to District 7 to apply. Although she had studied up to 8th grade, she only had documents and transcripts up to 5th grade, so she had to repeat the 6th grade.

"I was disappointed when the first center rejected me, so when this school accepted me, I was so happy I wanted to cry. At that time, I told the teacher who received my application that it didn't matter if I was in 6th grade or any grade," Ms. Chi shared.

Ms. Chi's decision received the support of her husband and children. However, she often felt sad when she heard neighbors say, "You're too old to study, it's embarrassing for children." Therefore, when she first started school, she went to and from school on time and did not interact with the young people in her class.

Later, she became more open and tried to get to know her grandchildren. Whenever the teacher was too fast to write down, she would ask her classmates to look at their notebooks. Whenever she had difficulty reading words due to her poor eyesight, she would ask them to look at them. In return, she would share and re-explain the lesson to those who did not understand, and even invite her classmates to study in groups at home.

Ms. Chi admits that because she is old, it takes her a long time to memorize knowledge. If young people only need one hour, it takes her twice or three times as long. So every day after finishing her housework, she sits down at her desk to study.

"There were days when I couldn't sit down until 10pm, so I had to study until 1 or 2am. If I study, it has to be worth it. I don't want to study at an average level, just enough to go to class," the 64-year-old candidate said.

To remember knowledge, after class, she draws mind maps to review, whether it is social or natural subjects. With her eagerness to learn, throughout her 7 years of studying, Ms. Chi has always been an excellent student of the center. In grade 9 and grade 12, she also won second and third prizes in Geography at the city's excellent student competition for the continuing education system.

Admitting that she is strong in social subjects and weak in Math, Physics, and Chemistry, Ms. Chi registered for the natural science exam in the upcoming high school graduation exam.

"I want to challenge myself, surpass myself even though I know the results may not be high," she said. During the days of intensive exam preparation, she closed her room door, focused on studying, and kept the desk light on until 1 or 2 a.m.

Ms. Chi spends 5-6 hours every day studying at home. Photo: Le Nguyen

Ms. Ho Thi Phuoc Tho, Director of the Center for Vocational Education - Continuing Education in District 7, met Ms. Chi right when she returned to work at the school. Ms. Tho said she thought Ms. Chi was a teacher who came to observe the class because she was old, wearing a white shirt, trousers, and holding a briefcase on her hip very seriously.

"What impressed me was that when I met teachers on the street, when speaking in class or texting to ask questions, Ms. Chi always politely said yes and no, bowed her head and clasped her hands in greeting," Ms. Tho shared.

According to the center director, despite her age, Ms. Chi has never asked for any concessions or exceptions. She studies seriously, does all her homework, and even proactively studies the lessons in advance.

When she registered for the Natural Science exam, the teachers at the center repeatedly advised her to reduce the frequency of studying the remaining subjects, just focusing on Math, Literature, English and the Natural Science exam. However, Ms. Chi refused, saying that if she studied, she had to study every subject well, not to give up another subject just because she had to take this exam.

"There were days at 2 or 3 in the morning, she texted her teacher to ask how to solve a math problem. If she wanted to go to school, she had to study well and get high scores. Sometimes when she got low scores on exams, she was visibly sad," Ms. Tho said.

Ms. Tho shared that what she admired about Ms. Chi was her spirit of learning to understand and help others, without seeking anything else. Thanks to her example of striving to study, the classroom discipline changed, and "difficult" students were placed next to Ms. Chi to ask for her advice and guidance.

Ms. Chi said that if her exam results are good, she will register to study Primary Education at Ho Chi Minh City University of Education or Saigon University.

"My wish is to open a small charity class for the disadvantaged children around my house. Having dropped out of school because of my family's financial difficulties, I understand the children's feelings of sadness and deprivation," she said.

Le Nguyen

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