Growing up on a hungry stomach.
In recent years, in Huong Hiep commune, where editor Ho Thi Thoi was born and raised, the fact that a Van Kieu girl passed the university entrance exam is no longer unusual. However, nearly 18 years ago, it was a different story. Back then, the news of Thoi's university admission caused a sensation throughout the village.
Thoi recounted: “That day, on the way back from the commune's People's Committee office, my younger brother was crying while driving. He tearfully handed me the university acceptance letter. Before that, on the day I left for the exam, he lent me his old 'brick' phone and told me to bring it along for emergencies. At that time, I could only press the answer button; I didn't know how to make a phone call.”
The story of happy days from the past brought Thoi back to her childhood. As a child, she never imagined she would one day become a journalist. Born into a large family, Thoi's childhood was filled with worries about food and clothing. Some weeks, cassava was the only thing in her family's cooking pot. Unable to continue going to school on an empty stomach, Thoi's siblings dropped out one by one to help their parents work in the fields to support the family. Even so, Thoi's education remained fraught with difficulties.
“Because I lacked the money for school fees, there was a time I had to miss school and stay home to herd buffalo for a whole week. Afraid of upsetting my mother, I hid my books under my shirt and carried them with me to study. Thanks to the teacher who came to ‘resolve the issue,’ I was able to return to class,” Thoi recounted.
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| Editor Ho Thi Thoi (far right) chats and listens to meaningful stories from exemplary individuals in the highlands - Photo: QH |
After that incident, Thoi nearly dropped out of school several more times. In the context of poverty, most parents in Thoi's hometown thought: "We should prioritize our sons' education. Investing in our daughters' education is definitely a loss, because sooner or later they'll get married anyway."
Therefore, when Thoi managed to convince his parents to let him attend the Provincial Ethnic Boarding School to learn to read and write, and then had the opportunity to take the university entrance exam in Hue, everyone was surprised. Although they supported their son, even his hardworking mother couldn't believe Thoi could pass the university entrance exam. Nevertheless, she knocked on every door, gathering enough money—1 million dong—for her son to go. When she heard the news that her son had been accepted into his dream university, Thoi's mother cried like a child.
After graduating from Hue University of Education, Ho Thi Thoi applied for a contract teaching position near her home. One day, she unexpectedly received an invitation to audition at the former Quang Tri Radio and Television Station. Having long admired journalists, Thoi traveled south to experience it. She never imagined that this trip would open a door leading her into the field of journalism.
Persistently keeping the passion for the profession alive.
Located nearly 20km away from Ho Thi Thoi's home, along a mountain pass, the story of reporter Kan Suong's journey into journalism takes on a different hue. To reach where she is today, this Pa Ko girl had to overcome many "mountains" within herself.
Even now, Sương is still secretly grateful to life and her family. Because, although she wasn't born into wealth, she was rich in love. Both working in the medical field, her parents understood the importance of education. Therefore, despite the meager salaries of medical professionals at the time, her parents still managed to provide for all five of their children to attend university. Through her father's warm, soothing voice, Sương's childhood was intertwined with stories about the beautiful traditions of the Pa Kô people.
Those stories soon sowed the seeds in Suong's heart, planting the dream of becoming a journalist. However, when she shared her dream with others, she received little support. Everyone believed that journalism had very high demands, was hard work, and even dangerous. Ignoring the discouragement, the Pa Ko girl remained determined to pass the entrance exam to the Faculty of Literature, Hue University of Science, to get closer to her dream.
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| Journalist Kăn Sương (far left) during a reporting trip in the highlands of Quảng Trị - Photo: QH |
Leaving university in 2004, Kô Kăn Sương eagerly entered the field of journalism. After only five months of probation at the former Quảng Trị Newspaper, she earned a place on the list of outstanding contributors. Just as her passion for the profession was ignited, a call from her hometown echoed, bringing her back to the forest region to work as an office clerk. The job was easy, stable, and enviable… but every evening, the question, “Did I make the wrong choice?” lingered in her mind.
To ease her longing for the profession, she "kept the flame alive" by diligently collaborating. Sương herself never imagined that the "flame" she quietly nurtured would one day illuminate her current path. "In 2009, after starting my own family, I returned to the lowlands and was fortunate enough to come back and immerse myself in the vibrant flow of journalism," reporter Kô Kăn Sương recounts.
If I could go back in time, I would still choose journalism as my profession.
Whether by chance or choice, journalists Kô Kăn Sương and Hồ Thị Thới share a deep love for journalism. That love helped them overcome the challenges of their early days. Even now, Ms. Sương still remembers the carefree steps of her first days of work. She loved to travel, and traveled a lot, but the number of articles published was small. Lacking experience and skills, she would write and then delete. When she was satisfied, she would borrow a computer to type up her articles.
"Many times, I was typing while trembling with fear of damaging someone's computer. I anxiously typed the article, then anxiously waited for the editorial team's response. Every time I saw the article appear on the page, my heart raced," Suong recounted.
Like journalist Kô Kăn Sương, Hồ Thị Thới still remembers her naivety and awkwardness in the early days of her career. Not knowing how to apply makeup, there were days when she practiced applying lipstick and powder, then removing it until her face was flushed red. Knowing the demanding nature of the job, Thới sought someone to help her learn to read and write the Bru-Vân Kiều language. Many days, returning to her hot, stuffy rented room, she was exhausted from the pressure. However, those moments passed quickly because she received care and support from many friends and colleagues.
To date, reporter Kô Kăn Sương has been working in journalism for 22 years, while Hồ Thị Thới has been doing so for nearly 12 years. Compared to their early days in the profession, they are now at their peak. With much effort, Kô Kăn Sương has won dozens of journalism awards from the central to local levels. She was honored with a commendation from the Prime Minister and was elected as the Head of the Association of Literature and Arts of Ethnic Minorities in Quảng Trị Province. Following in her footsteps, Hồ Thị Thới has also left a distinct mark in the profession. Her image and voice now resonate throughout remote villages, appearing in many high-quality journalistic works.
Journalism has never been considered an easy job. It's even more challenging for female journalists from ethnic minority groups. More than anyone else, journalists Kăn Sương and Hồ Thị Thới understand and deeply feel this. Yet, they have never regretted their choice. They are both happy to know that their journalistic works and stories have spread and continue to inspire many young Vân Kiều and Pa Kô people, giving them the motivation to overcome mountains and reach their dreams.
Quang Hiep
Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/xa-hoi/202606/vuot-qua-ngon-nuitrong-long-b1b2275/
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