A young volunteer heart

(Baonghean) - As the only student among the three representatives of Nghe An province's youth to be honored at the 3rd National Congress of Advanced Youth Following Uncle Ho's Teachings in 2014, Truong Thi Minh Tam, a student of class D1A, Nursing University - Vinh Medical University, not only has an impressive academic record, but is also an active and enthusiastic union cadre with volunteer activities for the community.

Truong Thi Minh Tam during practice at the Oriental Medicine Hospital.

Tam chose to study Medicine with the dream of becoming a doctor to treat people, first of all her beloved father. She shared that her father is a soldier, often has to work far away in mountainous and border areas, is not in good health, often suffers from blood pressure, bone and joint diseases... so she only wishes to take care of him herself when he gets old. Then, since entering the lecture hall of Vinh Medical University, from the practice of examining and directly interacting with patients, Tam has learned more about life situations, many pitiful and unfortunate fates that need help. Her love for the profession and her passion for work have grown more and more in the medical student.

During the 4 years of being a student, Tam did not only focus on lectures in the classroom. Practice is a mandatory requirement for medical students, and for Tam, it is also a good condition to improve professional knowledge. Therefore, in addition to compulsory classes, whenever she has free time, she volunteers to go to the hospital to practice and support patient care. Tam shared, "The job of medical interns is to take care of, advise on diet, rest, how to use medicine, practice injections and infusions for patients. Sometimes, they also help patients move around, massage to help them relax... Those jobs also helped me gradually accumulate knowledge and professional experience, preparing for graduation." After school hours, in the evening, Tam is absorbed in professional reference materials. It is this determination to study and practice on her own that has brought her the achievement of "outstanding student of the school" for several consecutive years.

The simple concept of life, “living in this world requires a heart” seems to be a strong motivation that urges the medical student to volunteer activities. Right from her first years of university, Tam has always enthusiastically participated in volunteer programs at Quynh Lap Central Dermatology and Leprosy Hospital, the provincial Nursing Center for War Invalids, etc. For Tam, each summer is a “campaign season”. The imprint of volunteering still remains with beautiful memories of her active student life. “What I remember most is the time the team volunteered at Quynh Lap Central Dermatology and Leprosy Hospital (Quynh Luu). Those were the days of living together, being close to, and providing medicine to the wounded, sick, and soldiers. Not only applying the specialized knowledge learned in school, we also took care of the wounded and sick soldiers with love and responsibility. There were different fates and difficult situations, there were lonely elderly people, people with mental illness... who needed help and sharing. After the volunteer period lasting more than 1 month, on the day of saying goodbye to the center, many patients shared their emotional stories, some even gave poems to the students. Their stories further fostered in me a love and sharing with everyone. That was the first meaningful professional lesson for the future medical profession that I will always remember.”

Truong Thi Minh Tam is always active in volunteer activities for the community.

After more than 4 years of volunteering, it is now an indispensable part of the life of this dynamic medical student. Tam came to volunteering with a very simple concept, that she is lucky to have medical expertise, and needs to contribute even small things as long as they help ease the difficulties of patients in distress. The meaningful enrichment activities and practical contributions to the community of student Truong Thi Minh Tam have been recognized with certificates of merit: "5 Good Students" for the 2011-2012 school year awarded by the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Student Association; Certificate of Merit awarded by Nghe An Provincial Youth Union for outstanding achievements in the Voluntary Blood Donation movement in 2013; title "Youth following Uncle Ho's teachings" of Nghe An province in 2013; The Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union awarded him a Certificate of Merit for his outstanding achievements in humanitarian activities in the period of 2008 - 2013, and a Certificate of Merit for his outstanding achievements in the "Supporting the 2013 Exam Season" campaign. And recently, Tam was honored to receive the title of "Advanced Youth Following Uncle Ho's Teachings Nationwide" for the third time in 2014. In his study corner, Tam always solemnly hangs a portrait of President Ho Chi Minh as a reminder to always strive to study and practice according to Uncle Ho's noble virtues, and his teaching "a good doctor is like a loving mother" is always the "compass" for him in work and life.

Dinh Nguyet