Born without feet, almost buried at birth
Teacher Dao Thanh Huong is 48 years old this year, and has worked for 28 years at Da Loc Secondary School, Da Loc Commune, Hau Loc District, Thanh Hoa. Although he has been involved in the career of "growing people" for nearly 30 years, every time he recalls his journey to the profession, teacher Huong cannot help but feel emotional.
"Looking back on the past, I realize that what I have is the result of my relentless efforts and overcoming difficulties," Mr. Huong confided.
Mr. Huong has been a teacher for 28 years (Photo: Thanh Tung).
Mr. Huong was born into a family with a father who was a soldier who fought on the battlefield in Quang Binh province, and a mother who was a teacher. Due to the effects of Agent Orange, Mr. Huong was born without two feet and a left hand, and had a weak body.
"At that time, everyone who saw me was scared. Many people even advised my family to bury me to avoid bad luck in the future, but my mother kept me to raise. She was the one who suffered the most. She waited 5 years to have a child, but when I was born, I was not healthy like other children. She was very shocked," said Mr. Huong.
Under the care and love of his mother, although he had no feet, at 18 months, little boy Huong could walk, was intelligent and active.
Since birth, Mr. Huong has been disabled in both feet (Photo: Thanh Tung).
When he grew up, Mr. Huong was sent to school by his mother and always achieved high results. Recalling his school days, Mr. Huong said: "My hometown used to be long stretches of white sand, and during my school years, I had to walk to school. There were days when the sun was so hot that my feet burned and bled."
Overcoming the difficult years at the village school, Mr. Huong passed the entrance exam to high school. His house was more than 10km away from school, and there was no one to pick him up and drop him off. The young boy had to learn to ride a bicycle without feet.
Calluses on Mr. Huong's feet (Photo: Thanh Tung).
"It took me 3 months, through many falls, scratches, and bleeding, to learn how to ride a bike. During high school, I experienced a lot of criticism and ridicule from my friends. At times like that, I was very sad and had low self-esteem," Mr. Huong recalled.
Overcoming all mental barriers, student Dao Thanh Huong always strived and continuously achieved the title of excellent student throughout 3 years of high school. "I realized that if I still had low self-esteem, it would only make me more miserable, so I had to try harder. And then I got more attention from everyone, had more motivation, and was more confident in life," said teacher Huong.
Write an application to the Director of the Department of Education and Training to study pedagogy
Talking about the reason for choosing the teaching profession, Mr. Huong said that since entering high school, he had a dream of becoming a teacher to teach students in the village.
"Before, my hometown was very poor, many children could not go to school. I was luckier than my friends, I could go to school, so when I saw my friends like that, I felt very sad. When I was in high school, I always dreamed of becoming a teacher one day," Mr. Huong shared.
Overcoming all difficulties and hardships, Mr. Huong has fulfilled his dream of becoming a teacher (Photo: Thanh Tung).
After finishing high school, Mr. Huong passed the entrance exam to the Faculty of Literature and Pedagogy of Hong Duc University. Just when his future seemed bright, another incident struck. Due to his poor health, the young man was not accepted by the admissions board.
"All my dreams and plans suddenly disappeared, I was extremely desperate. At that time, I thought that if I didn't become a teacher, I still had to go to school. Not giving up, I decided to write a letter to the director of the Department of Education and Training and the teachers of the school to ask to go to school," said Mr. Huong.
After reading the young student's letter, the teachers and the Director of the Department of Education and Training agreed to let him study 2 years of general education at the school. Surprisingly, during the 2 years of study, Mr. Huong achieved high results and achievements.
"I once wrote a letter to the Director of the Department of Education and Training asking to study pedagogy" (Photo: Thanh Tung).
After completing two years of general education, student Dao Thanh Huong continued to study his major. With his innate talent, he graduated with honors from the Faculty of Literature and Pedagogy.
In 1996, he graduated, but due to health reasons, Thanh Hoa province leaders created conditions for him to return to his hometown of Da Loc commune, Hau Loc district to work as a teacher.
Fairytale love and special wedding
Returning to his present life, Mr. Huong said that after many years with many happy and sad memories, he now lives happily with his virtuous wife and 3 children.
Talking about his wife, Mr. Huong said she is a wonderful woman, their love story is as beautiful as a fairy tale.
Every day, Mr. Huong still cycles to school to teach (Photo: Thanh Tung).
Mr. Huong said that during his time working at the school, he met a teacher working at the same school named Tran Thi Huong. When the two decided to get married, they met with strong opposition from her family.
"I am a disabled person, and my wife is a beautiful, gentle girl with a stable job and is pursued by many people. If she marries me, she will suffer many disadvantages. Therefore, my grandparents do not agree and strongly oppose. There was even a time when they did not allow us to meet each other," Mr. Huong confided.
During his work, Mr. Huong was loved by his colleagues and students (Photo: Thanh Tung).
In 2004, despite all obstacles, dissuasion and gossip, the two held their wedding ceremony. What was special was that the wedding ceremony was held at the school and the communal cultural house, without the presence and joy of parents and relatives.
"It was a special wedding, I will never forget it in my life. A wedding without gold or gifts. There were only wishes and witnesses from the villagers, teachers, and commune officials. Seeing us become husband and wife, everyone was very supportive," Mr. Huong shared.
By the end of 2005, Mr. Huong's wife gave birth to their first son. The baby was born healthy and unaffected by the father's illness. Witnessing the happiness of their children, Mr. Huong's parents finally accepted their love.
"My wife is the greatest gift God has given me. Because of love, my wife sacrificed everything to be with me. Without this marriage, I don't know where my life would go," said Mr. Huong.
Da Loc Secondary School, where Mr. Huong works (Photo: Thanh Tung).
Ms. Nguyen Thi Van, Vice Principal of Da Loc Secondary School, Hau Loc District, shared that Mr. Dao Thanh Huong is one of the teachers with good professional qualifications, exemplary in teaching, loved by teachers, friends and students.
"Mr. Huong's efforts are truly admirable. His efforts have inspired many generations of students to strive to succeed in life. Despite his physical disability, Mr. Huong has overcome his fate and barriers to become a good teacher, making many contributions to the education sector.
During his work, Mr. Huong received many achievements, was awarded a certificate of merit by the labor federation, and achieved the title of emulation fighter. In 2023, Mr. Huong was awarded a certificate of merit by the Ministry of Education and Training for his determination to rise up and overcome difficulties in education work," said Ms. Van.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/nghi-luc-cua-thay-giao-khong-co-ban-chan-suyt-bi-chon-khi-moi-sinh-20241120083729625.htm
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