She was a poor girl, but always independent and strong.
Understanding her family's circumstances, Kim Loan strived to study hard, achieve high grades, and always be well-behaved.
I was deeply moved when I read about some of the heartbreaking stories in the "Firefly Scholarship" competition, which has a very humane purpose. I suddenly remembered the situation of Kim Loan, my neighbor, who is from the most disadvantaged family in the neighborhood, yet still achieves remarkable academic results. Therefore, I wanted to share her story with everyone.
Loan's father washes cars at the end of my street, while her mother stays home as a housewife and peels onions for a restaurant. Loan, her parents, and she live in the ancestral temple with her grandmother. The ancestral altar takes up almost all the space, so the living area for four people is only a few square meters. Yet, there's still room for her grandmother (who is bedridden) and a neat study corner for Loan.
Their family was struggling financially; they didn't even have a motorbike. Loan preferred to walk to school, but her mother wouldn't allow it. Her mother argued that given their difficult circumstances and lack of resources, if they couldn't take her to school by motorbike, they should at least walk her. They promised to do their best to buy a motorbike someday so they could take their daughter to school in the more distant areas.
Understanding her circumstances, Loan has always been conscious of her studies since she was little. After meals, she helps her mother clean the kitchen and then immediately sits down at her study desk. Every time I visit her house, seeing how she studies and how focused she is on her homework makes me admire her even more. She's so thin, yet so strong. Sometimes, while studying, she hears her grandmother coughing and immediately applies ointment to her... She does this without needing extra tutoring, yet she has consistently been an excellent student for three years, from first to third grade. In fourth grade, she achieved the top student award in her class. Her parents and grandmother are overjoyed, and neighbors like me are also happy for her efforts.
However, to achieve such outstanding results in 4th grade, the help of Ms. Uyen, the homeroom teacher, cannot be overlooked. She tutored Loan completely free of charge. Loan regularly went to Ms. Uyen's house every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evening. Loan was already a good student, but with the extra tutoring, she rose to the top of the class.
One thing I really admire about Loan is that besides her studious spirit, she's also very confident. Loan doesn't show any shyness or inferiority complex because of her difficult circumstances; on the contrary, she uses it as motivation to strive harder every day. She still plays with her friends and doesn't compare herself to or envy what her friends have. She's young but has very positive and mature thoughts for her age. Her classmates know about her situation, and no one teases her; instead, they appreciate Loan even more. Some even lend her toys and help her with many things in class.
Hopefully, Loan will continue to cultivate such positive thoughts and behaviors in the future, so that she can study well and find a stable job someday.
According to VNE
