Overcoming endless pain, Tran Thi Quynh Chau still studied very well and became a new student.
Quynh Chau takes care of her grandmother every day from food to clothing - Photo: TRAN HOAI
Suffering from illness, Tran Thi Quynh Chau's grandmother still advised her to continue trying hard on the path of studying.
Pain surges like waves crashing without shore
When her mother passed away, Chau was only three years old and did not realize the loss that had happened to her. She only heard her uncle say that after her mother passed away, her father, frustrated with the family, left home.
Thuong Chau, the uncle who brought Chau home to live with his grandmother, at that time he was still healthy so he did many jobs from carrying loads to farming to support the family.
Life without mother and father by Chau's side were sad years, but fortunately, her uncle and grandmother did not forget their little grandchild.
But fate once again tested the resilience of a child.
In 2019, Chau was in 6th grade when Nguyen Thi Sanh (82 years old, Chau's grandmother) unfortunately suffered from multiple cerebral infarctions, accompanied by degenerative disc disease and heart failure, and since then she has been bedridden.
The uncle went from being healthy to having epilepsy so he just stayed at home and didn't do anything outside.
Chau has an older sister who entered university in 2020. She went to school far away, her grandmother was sick and bedridden, her uncle had epilepsy, and the child Chau suddenly became the main breadwinner of the family. She had to study, work, and take care of her sick grandmother.
Quynh Chau has worked in many different jobs, from sales to serving at pubs and coffee shops. Many jobs only paid 10,000 - 12,000 VND/hour, but Chau has not been afraid of difficulties and has worked hard for the past 6 years.
“There were days when I had to study, work, and take care of my grandmother, so I only slept 3-4 hours. Even though I stayed up late and woke up early, I worked hard for her and my aunt. Maybe now I'm used to it, so I don't find it hard anymore" - Chau confided.
During her long stay in the hospital, the borrowed money ran out and her debts piled up, so the family brought Mrs. Sanh home. Her uncle and Chau took turns taking care of her.
“She is very weak, probably doesn’t have much time left,” said Mr. Tran Nhat Oai, Chau’s uncle. Chau’s uncle is 55 years old, currently mentally unstable, so he just stays at home to cook and take care of his mother.
Seeing her suffering after many years of fighting illness, Chau became more worried because her health was gradually deteriorating, she had to endure pain all over her body every day, her mind was sometimes awake and sometimes unconscious, sometimes she didn't even remember who Chau was.
Not working, Chau's uncle just stays at home with the chickens - Photo: TRAN HOAI
Lighting the torch for one's own life: Excellent student for 12 consecutive years
Miraculously, in such hardship and deprivation, Chau was an excellent student for 12 consecutive years.
With her own determination, Quynh Chau hopes her future life will be better - Photo: TRAN HOAI
Chau is best at literature, has won many prizes in exams and received scholarships from the school's scholarship fund. This girl is also a role model as she has been a class officer for many years, and is always active in both studying and competitive activities.
The joy was even greater when Quynh Chau became a new student of Business Administration at Nha Trang University. But along with that came worries about tuition fees, textbooks, living expenses in the city… However, Chau still believed that she would try to overcome this harsh situation.
At the beginning of school, Chau found a part-time job. Perhaps she was used to studying and working at the same time, so the new job in the city was not difficult for this little girl.
Despite being busy, Chau still often returns to her hometown about 40km from Nha Trang on weekends to visit her grandmother and uncle.
“My grandmother and aunt have to depend on each other to survive at home. I am very worried, but for the sake of my future, I have to study hard so that my grandmother and aunt can have a better life in the future,” Chau confided.
Seeing her uncle struggling to take care of her sick grandmother, Chau could not hold back her tears. In her grandmother's arms, Chau whispered that she would try to study hard, because only by studying could she have a bright future and live up to her family's expectations.
With the current situation, Quynh Chau thinks that her grandmother's time is running out. In the corner of her wet eyes, Chau's eyes seem to exude hope that she will have to try her best on the upcoming journey. "I pray that my study path will go smoothly so that when I graduate, I can find a job and have money to take care of my grandmother and uncle's medicine" - Chau wishes.
Entering university, Chau only knew that he would have to work harder in his studies – Photo: TRAN HOAI
Quynh Chau - like a pearl of willpower
Ms. Ho Thi Hiep - Chau's homeroom teacher in grade 12 - said that Chau is an example of perseverance. Despite her difficult family circumstances and troubled childhood, Chau always tries to excel in her studies and life.
"I hope you will always be strong and try hard on the path you have chosen so as not to disappoint the expectations of your grandmother and family," said Ms. Hiep.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Hue - head of Binh Thanh village - said that Quynh Chau's family is one of the poorest in the locality. Chau herself is an orphan and her father has disappeared.
“In 2020, with the help of philanthropists, the Ninh Binh Women's Union supported Chau's family with a charity house with the desire to help her rise up in life. Hopefully, with her own determination, Chau will try to study well and succeed in the future" - Ms. Hue shared.
Supporting 60 new students to go to school
Today (October 24), Tuoi Tre newspaper coordinated with the Provincial Youth Unions of Khanh Hoa , Ninh Thuan and Binh Dinh to award scholarships to 60 disadvantaged new students from these three provinces.
The total cost of the program is over 900 million VND, sponsored by Khanh Hoa Salanganes Nest State-owned Company Limited, Khanh Hoa Lottery Company Limited, Khanh Viet Corporation, Sanest Khanh Hoa Beverage Joint Stock Company and Tuoi Tre newspaper readers. Each scholarship is worth 15 million VND.
Vinacam Scholarship Fund (Vinacam Group Joint Stock Company) supports three laptops for new students with special difficulties who lack learning equipment.
The Vietnam - USA Society English System awarded 10 English scholarships for IELTS preparation courses to new students in Khanh Hoa province.
In addition, Nestlé Vietnam Co., Ltd. sponsored backpack gifts and Bac A Commercial Joint Stock Bank, through the State Bank, sponsored 60 books on financial education, instructing financial management skills for new students.
Invite you to join the School Support Program
Tuoi Tre Newspaper's 2024 School Support Program launched on August 8, expected to award 1,100 scholarships with a total cost of more than 20 billion VND (15 million VND for new students with difficulties, 20 special scholarships worth 50 million VND/scholarship throughout 4 years of study and learning equipment, gifts...).
With the motto "No young person can go to school because of poverty", "New students encounter difficulties, there is Tuoi Tre " - as a commitment to support new students in the past 20 years of Tuoi Tre .
The program received contributions and support from the "Accompanying Farmers" Fund - Binh Dien Fertilizer Joint Stock Company, Vinacam Education Promotion Fund - Vinacam Group Joint Stock Company and the "Nghia Tinh Quang Tri" and Phu Yen Clubs; "Supporting Students to School" Clubs of Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam - Da Nang, Tien Giang - Ben Tre and Tien Giang and Ben Tre Entrepreneurs Clubs in Ho Chi Minh City, Dai-ichi Life Vietnam Company, Mr. Duong Thai Son and friends with businesses and many readers. Tuoi Tre newspaper …
In addition, Vinacam Group Joint Stock Company also sponsored 50 laptops for new students with special difficulties and lack of learning equipment worth about 600 million VND, Nestlé Vietnam Company Limited sponsored 1,500 backpacks worth about 250 million VND.
The Vietnam-USA Society English Language System sponsored 50 free foreign language scholarships worth 625 million VND. Through the State Bank, Bac A Commercial Joint Stock Bank sponsored 1,500 books on financial education, instructing financial management skills for new students...
Businesses and readers can support scholarships for new students by transferring to Tuoi Tre newspaper account:
113000006100 VietinBank, Branch 3, Ho Chi Minh City.
Content: Support "Support to school" for new students or specify the province/city that you want to support.
Readers and businesses abroad can transfer money to Tuoi Tre newspaper:
USD account 007.137.0195.845 Ho Chi Minh City Foreign Trade Bank;
EUR account 007.114.0373.054 Foreign Trade Bank, Ho Chi Minh City
with Swift code BFTVVNVX007.
Content: Support "Support to school" for new students or specify the province/city that you want to support.
In addition to funding scholarships, readers can support learning equipment, accommodation, jobs, etc. for new students.
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