Lacking parental love, working as a makeup model to make a living, excellent student in the province, new student at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology

On the campus of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology - Vietnam National University, freshman Le Kieu Han (19 years old) sat flipping through the pages of a book. She opened her phone and checked her part-time group to see if there was any new schedule.

Freshman Le Kieu Han always tries her best to study. She studies data science at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology - Vietnam National University - Photo: YEN TRINH

The freshman from Phu Yen had a sad childhood when her parents divorced. She lived with her grandparents since she was 6 years old. Now her grandparents are old and weak and cannot work.

Overcoming a mistake to pursue the field of data, artificial intelligence

On rainy afternoons in Ho Chi Minh City, Han really misses her small house in the countryside and her grandparents. The weather in the countryside is getting colder, and her grandfather has a lot of joint pain...

Le Kieu Han hopes to become a data analyst in the future - Photo: YEN TRINH

Last year, she studied finance and banking at a major university. Her family borrowed 20 million VND to pay for her tuition and cover her living expenses.

Exhausted with her tutoring and modeling work for makeup classes, and realizing that her major was not suitable, Han stopped after one semester. The decision took a lot of thought, but she was determined to have no regrets.

The debt still had to be paid. She spent her time working two part-time jobs. Three nights a week, she tutored math.

"I go to make-up model every day, sitting for about 5 hours while students do my make-up. Each time I get 150,000 VND. There are days when I go to two places, like Thu Duc City and District 12," she said.

Outside of class, freshman Le Kieu Han models for makeup classes. For 5 hours, she is paid 150,000 VND - Photo: YEN TRINH

She saved her wages on her bank card, not daring to buy or eat anything expensive. Last summer, she paid off her debt of 20 million VND, plus 5 million VND in interest.

Due to her busy schedule, the new student temporarily stopped tutoring. She usually doesn't eat breakfast. For lunch, she buys a 25,000 VND lunch box, and for dinner, she eats bread, rice paper rolls, or instant noodles, so that she can spend about 50,000 VND a day.

That was because she had "loosened" her purse strings, but when she first came to Ho Chi Minh City, there were days when she only spent 30,000 VND, the rest was spent on paying off debt... That was a mistake that caused her suffering, but she took responsibility for herself.

Le Kieu Han continues to use the backpack she bought last year to carry her books. It's a new school year but she hardly buys anything - Photo: YEN TRINH

The freshman chose data science . People often say it's a dry major, suitable for boys, and in fact the class only has a dozen girls, but Han thinks this major is increasingly necessary.

Han said: "I usually take the bus to school and work. On days when I work overtime and come home late, I save money to catch a motorbike taxi."

The ao dai you asked for, you wear it and leave it for me

Since Han went to school far away, the small house deep in the alley in Phu Thu neighborhood (Phu Thu town, Tay Hoa district, Phu Yen) which was not often filled with laughter has become even more quiet. Seeing guests coming, Han's grandparents leaned on their canes and struggled to walk down the steps.

New student Le Kieu Han's grandparents are worried about their granddaughter's future - Photo: MINH CHIEN

Ms. Huynh Thi Kim (75 years old, Han's grandmother) said that Han's mother has not contacted her for several years. "When Han's parents first divorced, the eldest daughter followed her father and the youngest followed her mother. But she cried so much that her father sent her to her maternal grandparents to raise her until now. I just feel sorry for the children, they still have a father and a mother but no one cares for them, they are no different from orphans," she said.

Lacking parental love, Han and her sisters' childhood life was not very fulfilling. They had to ask neighbors for all their clothes and books.

The old ao dai that Le Kieu Han's grandmother asked for the two sisters - Photo: MINH CHIEN

Han's ao dai was repaired by her grandmother. When Han's younger sister entered high school, she was able to wear the ao dai again. Many times when they went to school in the morning, the rice from the night before was cold, so the two sisters had to endure not eating.

"We used to raise a cow, but in 2022 I had a stroke so I sold it to pay for medical treatment. Now we have nothing left. I would rather be young and work as a hired hand to raise my grandchild. But my grandparents are sick all the time...", she said.

Mrs. Kim is worried, not knowing if her grandson will survive 4 years of university. "I feel so helpless that I can't give him anything, so I lie awake all night thinking about it and crying."

Le Kieu Han studies hard to get a good job, take care of her grandparents and later take care of her younger sister's university education - Photo: YEN TRINH

Sad but proud, she said: "Han is a very good student. My wooden cabinets are full of certificates. Since he was little, he has been self-studying and has not taken extra classes because he doesn't have money to pay.

She and her younger sister knew they didn't have parents, so they went home right after school. She was afraid people would ask where her parents were, and whenever they asked, she would feel so sorry that she cried.

Parents divorced, Le Kieu Han lived with her grandparents since she was 6 years old - Photo: YEN TRINH

Severely hard of hearing, Mr. Luong Van Tu (83 years old, Han's grandfather) still listened attentively to the conversation. He confided that the old couple would live as long as they could, just hoping that someone would help the children finish their studies and have something to do to make a living.

"Both of them work extra during the summer and use that money to go to school during the year. They are both good students. It would be a waste to drop out of school halfway through," said Mr. Tu.

Study well to change, raise loved ones

Talking about life in the countryside, the student's voice dropped. Her grandparents were the source of love for her and her sister. Her family was poor, and her cousin often helped with her high school tuition, so Han was always aware that she had to study well.

There was a time when Han's grandfather had to sell lottery tickets to make ends meet. The family only had two acres of rice fields. A few years ago, his grandparents struggled through the sun and rain, but now the farming had to be done by his uncles.

“After graduating, I will have money to take care of my sister's education and my grandparents. Where I live, children know little about information technology. If I have the opportunity, I will guide them,” Le Kieu Han confided.

My grandparents suffer from high blood pressure and old age, and had to be hospitalized. Han said she felt sorry for him because "he eats less now and is weaker."

"He often tells his children and grandchildren to try hard, to focus on studying in the city, and to take care of their health when working part-time. He doesn't know about technology and the house doesn't have WiFi, so I often call him at noon, because people in the countryside go to bed very early at night," Han said.

Le Kieu Han goes to school and works part-time by bus to save money - Photo: YEN TRINH

In high school, Han was an excellent student. She won third prize in the provincial physics competition in grade 11, and recently scored 904 points in the aptitude test . These factors helped her get into the Polytechnic University, block A1 in math, physics, and English.

Le Kieu Han's 12th grade academic results. During her three years of high school, she was an excellent student with an average grade point average of 9.0 - Photo: YEN TRINH

Han's younger sister is in 11th grade, and her family hopes that she will go to university, but difficulties are always weighing on her. "When I graduate and have money, I will take care of my sister's education and my grandparents. Where I live, children know little about information technology, if I have the opportunity, I will guide them," Han confided.

The little girl seemed to know exactly what she wanted. The new student shared: "Working part-time helps me earn a living, learn how to manage time and practice soft skills. I will participate in more extracurricular activities. I believe that when you try your best and persevere to overcome all obstacles, you can assert yourself, regardless of gender or circumstances."

The student is good, knows how to share and often chokes up.

The head teacher for three years of high school, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Loan, a teacher at Le Hong Phong High School (Phu Yen), commented that despite her difficult circumstances, Han was very diligent. She taught many generations of students, but for her, Han left the most impression. Han was a good student, studious, and very understanding of sharing difficulties with her classmates and schoolmates. "She is a rather open and cheerful girl, but also very emotional. When someone asks or talks about her family, she always gets choked up. I know she has just been admitted to Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and I am happy for her. I just hope she gets support and doesn't put her dream aside," she said.

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 in difficult circumstances, 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" Club of Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam - Da Nang, Tien Giang - Ben Tre and Tien Giang, Ben Tre Business Club in Ho Chi Minh City, Dai-ichi Life Vietnam Company, Mr. Duong Thai Son and friends with businesses and many readers of Tuoi Tre newspaper... In addition, Vinacam Group Joint Stock Company also sponsored 50 laptops for new students with special difficulties, lacking learning equipment worth about 600 million VND, Nestlé Vietnam Company Limited sponsored 1,500 backpacks worth about 250 million VND. The Vietnam - America Association English 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...

Enterprises and readers who can support scholarships for new students, please transfer to Tuoi Tre newspaper account : 113000006100, VietinBank, Branch 3, Ho Chi Minh City. Content: Support " Tiep suc den truong " for new students or specify the province/city that readers want to support. Readers and enterprises abroad can transfer to Tuoi Tre newspaper: USD account 007.137.0195.845, Foreign Trade Bank, Ho Chi Minh City; EUR account 007.114.0373.054, Foreign Trade Bank, Ho Chi Minh City with Swift code BFTVVNVX007. Content: Support " Tiep suc den truong " for new students or specify the province/city that readers want to support. In addition to sponsoring scholarships, readers can support learning equipment, accommodation, jobs... for new students.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/thieu-tinh-thuong-cha-me-lam-mau-trang-diem-kiem-song-la-hs-gioi-tinh-tan-sv-dh-bach-khoa-tp-hcm-20241105094959373.htm#content-7