Orphaned from a young age, never learned to speak and lost his mother, Nguyen Trong Cuong overcame his inferiority complex many times, grew up in the arms of his frail grandmother to study. Now Cuong is a student majoring in electricity at Bac Ninh Industrial College.
Nguyen Trong Cuong cleans the altar and lights incense for his mother before going to school - Photo: HA QUAN
Only knowing his mother through the picture on the altar, hearing less than two sentences about his father, his grandfather also passed away, Nguyen Trong Cuong, from Bang hamlet, Mao Dien, Thuan Thanh, Bac Ninh, grew up in the love and embrace of his grandmother who is now over 70 years old.
Even the old and weak grandmother 'doesn't know who her father is'
Grandmother and grandchild depend on each other to live, eating vegetables when there are vegetables, eating porridge when there are porridge.
"I asked her but she said she didn't know my father. My mother died in a traffic accident. I only know her name but don't remember her face," Nguyen Trong Cuong confided.
In a dilapidated kitchen with a fibro-cement roof that still had traces of newly plastered reinforcement from the previous day's storm, Nguyen Trong Cuong hurriedly ate a bowl of rice and vegetables "without a driver" to catch the bus to school.
The grandmother and grandchild's meals usually consisted of vegetables from the house, plus an egg or a piece of meat. When there was a funeral or a happy occasion in the neighborhood, the neighbors would bring Cuong's family sticky rice and a plate of meat.
Knowing the situation, Mao Dien Commune People's Committee supported money to build a charity house in Cuong's maternal grandparents' banana garden. Since then, the grandmother and grandchild no longer have to wake up anxiously to get basins and pots to catch rainwater or fear the tiled roof will collapse.
Not knowing since when, Mrs. Tam's eyes gradually dimmed, her pupils paled. Looking at Cuong or anyone else speaking, she could only guess their gestures.
To earn money to raise her grandchildren, early in the morning Mrs. Tam picks vegetables, washes them, and sells them at the market. She earns about 20,000 VND a day.
"The family really didn't have enough to eat, only vegetables, each month the government gave a little. Some of my relatives said if we can't even feed ourselves, why should we feed him? I felt sorry for him, so I borrowed money from everyone, each year we know what to do," Mrs. Tam said.
To make his grandmother less sad, Nguyen Trong Cuong often tells her stories when he goes out - Photo: TRAN LAM
Back to school just because of a question
The question is: What can I do to support her?
Wanting to quit school to earn money after passing the high school exam, Cuong followed an acquaintance to work at a company for a few days. But thinking about the future, he had to find a way to have money to support his grandmother long-term and not be unstable, so Cuong went back to school.
When he got his high school results, he felt inferior because of his circumstances and wanted to work as a factory worker and not go to school anymore. But thinking about the fact that a factory worker's salary was only a few million dong, and if he had knowledge and skills, he would earn more money, Cuong was determined to go to college.
Whenever he felt tired, wanted to give up, and didn't want to go to school, he reminded himself to remember his grandmother's kindness in raising him and educating him. When he encountered difficult math problems or new knowledge, Cuong wrote them down in his notebook and asked his teacher to explain them again in class.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Le Quyen - chemistry teacher at Thuan Thanh High School No. 3, Bac Ninh - shared that during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the whole class was studying online, she did not see Nguyen Trong Cuong in class. Upon asking, this teacher learned that Cuong was an orphan and lived with his elderly grandmother. She asked for a phone from an acquaintance so Cuong could study online.
After that, Ms. Quyen and homeroom teacher Nguyen Thi Luyen reported to the school board to call on teachers, students and some outside organizations to support and help. Since then, Cuong has been exempted from contributions, received more books, clothes, and given priority to scholarships for poor students who have overcome difficulties.
"At the beginning of 10th grade, Cuong was very self-conscious, shy, slow to learn, and almost didn't play with any friends. Then I shared, encouraged, and taught him to gradually integrate with his friends. From then on, he focused, worked hard, studied hard, and was responsible," she said.
Once after school, she spent an hour analyzing the situation and giving Cuong guidance: "I told her that she had also overcome difficult circumstances, from economic issues to people's awareness of not wanting their daughters to go to school. I told her that she had to break through, that only through education could she have a future, and that if she had any problems in life, she should tell me," she shared.
Your father sent you to school because he sympathized with your orphan situation.
On the day of admission to Bac Ninh Industrial College, Cuong was accompanied by his uncle in the commune because he felt sorry for Cuong because he had no parents. The uncle in Cuong's story is Mr. Nguyen Duy Tien - the father of Cuong's best friend.
Mr. Tien said that because he felt sorry for Cuong who was alone, he wanted to take Cuong to school instead of his deceased parents, so that Cuong could see love like everyone else.
Cuong's little study corner at home - Photo: TRAN LAM
He also tried to talk to the principal about Cuong's life. He could not hold back his tears and could only ask the teachers to care and support him so that he could continue his studies. Mr. Tien encouraged Cuong to learn a trade, and later when he had money, who knows, if he studied well, someone would give him a scholarship.
"On the day I entered school, I borrowed about 5.8 million VND from a relative, and I would pay it back after I started working. I thought that if I went to school, I would be in debt and wouldn't be able to pay it back, but my uncle told me to go to school, and that after I borrowed from the State, my child would go to work and pay it back. I hope to receive support from the School Support Program so that I can go to school with peace of mind," Nguyen Trong Cuong confided.
The school and Tuoi Tre newspaper will support Cuong.
Speaking to Tuoi Tre Online , Mr. Vu Quang Khue - principal of Bac Ninh Industrial College - said that in response to Cuong's situation, the school prioritized a policy of exempting tuition fees, supporting protective uniforms, and giving initial support (received once) upon enrollment.
"If you study well, show effort and strive to excel in your studies, the school will give you priority when considering scholarships from foreign partners. Later, the school will introduce suitable jobs with good income, close to family," said Mr. Khue.
In addition, the school also assigned the Youth Union to care for, support, and encourage Cuong to be confident, study hard, practice, and integrate with his friends. The point of view is that no student has to drop out of school due to financial difficulties.
Nguyen Trong Cuong studies electricity at Bac Ninh Industrial College - Photo: TRAN LAM
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", "If 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 a large number of readers of 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 sponsoring scholarships, readers can support learning equipment, accommodation, jobs... for new students.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nguoi-chung-xa-di-cung-chau-nhap-hoc-vi-thuong-chau-mo-coi-cha-me-20241025090717206.htm
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