Valedictorian overcomes adversity

TP - When she was only 2 weeks old, Le Thi Linh Tam (born 2006) was abandoned by her mother at the Children's Hospital, Vinh city, Nghe An. She was then transferred to the Nghe An Social Work Center for care.

TP - When she was only 2 weeks old, Le Thi Linh Tam (born 2006) was abandoned by her mother at the Children's Hospital, Vinh city, Nghe An. She was then transferred to the Nghe An Social Work Center for care.

At Nghe An Social Work Center, thanks to the love of everyone, especially her adoptive father (former director of the Center), Linh Tam gradually grew up. Overcoming adversity, Tam studied hard, became the valedictorian of Ho Chi Minh City University of Management and Technology and was selected by Tien Phong newspaper to receive the 2024 Valedictorian Stepping Scholarship.

Valedictorian overcomes adversity photo 1

Linh Tam and her adoptive father Le Trung Thuc on high school graduation day.

Linh Tam said that when she was in primary school, she was often teased by her friends. At that time, she felt sad. But when she grew up and understood her situation better, Linh Tam turned those teasings into motivation to push her to try harder in her studies.

The result of Linh Tam's tireless efforts and improvement is that she has always been a good and excellent student for 12 years. Notably, in the 2024 high school graduation exam, Linh Tam excellently became the valedictorian of Ho Chi Minh City University of Management and Technology, majoring in Multimedia Communications with 25 points, combination C00.

Leaving the Nghe An Social Work Center to step into the splendid city, Linh Tam brought with her a burning passion and enthusiasm of youth. “Saigon gave me a sense of familiarity and comfort from the first days I arrived. The environment here is not only dynamic and modern but also very open and friendly. I feel welcomed and easily integrated,” Linh Tam confided.

After settling into school, Le Thi Linh Tam began looking for a part-time job to support her new life and reduce the burden on her adoptive father. After many experiences with different jobs, Tam has now found a stable job as a restaurant server from 4pm to 9pm. After work, Tam returns to her boarding house, cooks, and studies to prepare for school the next day.

“I have to quickly find a job so that my father can rest assured after long sleepless nights thinking about paying for my food and tuition,” Linh Tam said, adding that with this scholarship, she will devote all her energy to studying and continuing to develop her educational path.