Living alone in a small house for 5 years, Thien Huong is now a student at Quang Nam University.

Orphaned, Thien Huong has been living alone in the house left by her grandparents for 5 years. The fire in the kitchen is bright but cannot warm the house that has long been empty of relatives - Photo: LE TRUNG

With her determination to overcome difficulties and the love of her family and the community, she is now a freshman at Quang Nam University, pursuing her dream of becoming a teacher.

Grade 8 took care of mother with stroke, but mother also passed away

In the afternoon, in a dilapidated house in Phong Ngu block, Dien Thang Nam ward, Dien Ban town, Quang Nam, Thien Huong lit a fire to cook dinner.

The orphan girl seemed to have gotten used to being alone. "When I was alone, I felt lonely, but after a long time, I got used to it. Sometimes I miss the meal my mother cooks, eating with my parents in a warm house, but...", Huong choked up and stopped speaking, her eyes red.

When Huong was 5 years old, her father passed away after a long battle with cancer. When she was in 8th grade, her mother suffered a stroke and was bedridden.

Huong went to school one day, came home the next day to do housework, and took care of her bedridden mother. She cooked, washed, bathed, cleaned, and fed her mother. Months passed and her mother passed away from a serious illness.

"My mother also passed away after months of fighting illness, I became an orphan," Huong choked.

Orphaned at a young age, she did not fully realize the difficult road ahead.

"The first days alone in the house were very sad, I cried all the time. My friends had parents, they taught them, confided in them, and showed off their academic achievements. But when I had good academic achievements, I held the certificate of merit and stood in front of my parents' portraits on the altar, tears just flowed," Huong confided.

The girl had to fend for herself. Only those who had been in that situation could understand the sadness and bitterness of being an orphan. Huong’s livelihood came from the state’s social assistance, rice and food that her uncles and aunts took turns supporting her.

Mr. Ha Duc Diep (63 years old, Huong's uncle) said that after losing her mother, the girl became independent, living alone in the house her grandparents left behind, taking care of herself.

"We were afraid that she would be sad, so we told her to come live with us to have fun, but she said she would stay alone to take care of her parents' incense. She is very determined, she takes care of herself and studies by herself, and she is also a good student. Now that she has passed the university entrance exam, we are very happy," Mr. Diep confided. "I just hope that she studies well so that after graduating, she can have a stable job and take care of herself. For many years, seeing her living alone, we felt so sorry for her," Mr. Diep confided.

Thien Huong and her uncle Ha Duc Diep - Photo: LE TRUNG

Choosing pedagogy - the only way

"Orphaned father, eat rice with fish. Orphaned mother, sleep on leaves." Huong is an orphan of both parents. She understands that only education can help her have a brighter future, escape from endless poverty.

"Before she passed away, my mother told me to take care of myself when she was no longer around, and to study hard no matter how difficult it was," Huong recalled. Huong kept her promise to her mother and studied hard. For 12 consecutive years, she was a good student, with an average score of 8.6 in grade 12.

During her high school years, to make ends meet, Huong worked as a maid at a milk tea and snack shop in her free time. Then on weekends, she worked as a waitress at a wedding restaurant. Just like that, the orphan girl lived day by day with tireless efforts.

She received notice of admission to the Mathematics Education Department of Quang Nam University with subject group C14, total score 25.07, and has now enrolled.

Looking back at her difficult and orphaned circumstances, Huong registered to study pedagogy to save on tuition fees for four years at university. "I had no choice, studying pedagogy would save on tuition fees," Huong said.

Thien Huong has lived alone for 5 years - Photo: LE TRUNG

Seeing Huong's pitiful situation, alone in the world, in 2019, after her mother passed away, the Women's Union of Dien Thang Nam ward took on the responsibility of sponsoring and helping Huong with her studies.

Ms. Ha Nguyen Phuong Hoa - President of the Ward Women's Union - said that during the 8th and 9th grades, the union sponsored and supported Huong with 2 million VND each year from the union's fundraising from selling goods.

Then, during her high school years, the association proposed to the Dien Ban Town Women's Union to sponsor Huong with a budget of 5 million VND per year, so that Huong could have a source to cover her studies and daily living expenses.

"Despite her poor family circumstances, she tried very hard and made efforts to improve her life and study despite being an orphan. Now that she has passed the university entrance exam, we are very happy," Ms. Hoa confided.

According to her, the godmother program will end when Huong turns 18. The association will continue to mobilize and connect with donors to help and support Huong during her days in the university.

Ms. Ha Nguyen Phuong Hoa - President of the Women's Union of Dien Thang Nam Ward, who always cared for and helped Thien Huong during the days when her parents were absent - Photo: LE TRUNG

Huong said that before entering school, when she gets to the city, she will find herself a part-time job as a tutor or working at a restaurant or eatery to cover her days in the lecture hall.

"I feel lucky to have the women at the Women's Union sponsor me, encourage me, treat me like their own child, and support me financially over the years for my education. I am truly grateful to them. I will try harder, study hard, and become a good teacher in the future to make my parents feel at ease," Huong confided.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/vao-dai-hoc-sau-5-nam-lui-thui-trong-can-nha-vang-cha-me-20240912075048672.htm