'Housewarming' welcomes two special 'students' in university dormitory

On the afternoon of December 16, the dormitory of the University of Education (University of Danang) was bustling with students and many staff and lecturers. After nearly a month of preparation, the University of Education of Danang opened a fully equipped room to welcome two special "students".

Mr. Hong and his granddaughter in the arms of teachers and friends in the new room on the afternoon of December 16 - Photo: BD

Dropping her hat on the tiled floor, 87-year-old Huynh Thi Hong, who left her hometown in Tien Phuoc (Quang Nam) to go to Da Nang to help her blind granddaughter go to university, took each step to carefully look at the room where the two of them were arranged.

Ceremony to welcome two special "students"

"I am a country boy, my speech is not perfect but from the bottom of my heart I can only say thank you everyone.

"I would like to thank the teachers for their concern," said Mrs. Hong, trembling.

The room on the ground floor, in the neatest and most fully equipped row originally reserved for international students in the dormitory of Da Nang University of Education, is now reserved exclusively for Mr. Hong and his niece Pham Nguyen Thanh Lam (a first-year student in the psychology - education department) to stay until the end of their university years.

Entering the neat room, Mr. Hong could not hide his emotion. About 50 students, Lam's classmates, had also gathered in the dormitory to share the joy.

Mr. Huynh Bong, in charge of the student affairs office, said that to welcome Hong and Lam, the school mobilized people to clean the room neatly and equipped it with new mattresses and pillows.

The grandmother and grandchild's room has a refrigerator, washing machine, and kitchen - Photo: BD

Since early afternoon, many students had gathered at the dormitory. The students also split up to go to the old room where Hong and Lam lived to move their belongings and take the grandmother and grandchild to their new place.

"When the story of Mrs. Hong and her grandchild was spread on Tuoi Tre Online newspaper, even though all accommodations had been arranged, the principal of Da Nang University of Education still requested arrangements to welcome the grandmother and grandchild.

This is not only an inspirational story about the spirit of perseverance to overcome obstacles to study, but also the sharing and companionship to nurture dreams from teachers, friends, and leaders of Da Nang University of Education" - Mr. Bong said.

Nurture the thirst for learning

The emotional and affectionate welcome of the 87-year-old grandmother and her visually impaired granddaughter at Da Nang University of Education on the afternoon of December 16 continued the touching stories about the spirit of encouraging learning and supporting those in special circumstances.

Mr. Hong was picked up from his old rented room to his new residence on the afternoon of December 16 - Photo: BD

Ms. Huynh Thi Hong lives in the poor countryside of Tien Phuoc, Quang Nam. Ms. Pham Nguyen Thanh Lam, her niece, has been blind since the 8th grade and has had a long journey to overcome her fate.

In the recent national high school exam, Lam passed the psychology and education department and began her 4-year university life.

Because of his blindness, Lam needed someone to help him with his studies. Because his family was short of people and his parents were busy with farming, Mr. Hong volunteered to leave his hometown to go to the city to raise his grandchild.

Since Lam started school, the grandmother and grandchild have chosen to stay on the second floor of a simple boarding house near the school. Every morning, Grandma Hong wakes up to prepare food and then holds her grandchild’s hand to walk through the crowded streets to take her to class.

Lam's classmate prepares an electric stove for the grandmother and granddaughter to cook in their new room - Photo: BD

The image of Mr. Hong, poor but devoted and full of boundless love, always waiting for his granddaughter after school at the gate of Da Nang University of Education made many people unable to hold back their emotions.

The story was published by Tuoi Tre Online and quickly spread. The leaders of Da Nang University of Education decided to "specially" provide a separate room, allowing the grandmother and grandchild to cook right in the dormitory to create the best living conditions.

On the afternoon of December 16, Lam and her grandmother stood in the tight embrace and hugs of her friends. "Congratulations, it's like coming home to a new home", "Congratulations on your housewarming, my dear" - the wishes and hugs of her friends made student Pham Nguyen Thanh Lam unable to contain her emotions.

Lam cried. Grandma sitting next to her also couldn't hold back her tears.

What was more touching was that not only was she given a fully furnished private room, but a classmate of Lam's volunteered to stay with her to help her throughout her four years of college.

"I wouldn't dare dream of a room like this. There's no need to worry about flooding here. The room is also right next to the school, so if it rains, I can take my child without worrying about getting wet. I only need to walk a few steps to get to the grocery store.

From the bottom of my heart, I am grateful to the teachers, friends, and those who helped my grandmother and I" - Mrs. Hong was moved.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tan-gia-don-hai-sinh-vien-dac-biet-trong-ky-tuc-xa-truong-dai-hoc-20241216170717539.htm