The will of an orphaned freshman

(Baonghean) - In the past few days, hearing the news that Tran Thi Phuong, a 12A5 student at Le Hong Phong High School (Hung Nguyen) was admitted to the Faculty of Literature and Pedagogy, Vinh University with 24 points, group C made the whole hamlet 8, Hung Long commune happy. Many people came to celebrate, admiring her determination, because Phuong has no relatives; her grandparents and parents have both passed away, Phuong and her sister live together, overcoming difficult circumstances.

We went to Hamlet 8, Hung Long Commune on a hot day, her house was at the end of a deep alley. The neighbor shouted: "At this time, Phuong probably hasn't come home from work yet, my dear." We asked: "Does Phuong go to work far from here?" The neighbor said: "It depends, she works as a construction worker so some days she works far, some days she works close, but she comes home every noon..." The neighbor named Huong sat down on the old steps in front of the house and shared: "I have been very close friends with Phuong's grandparents since she was little. Why is their family situation so difficult?" Then she teared up: "People who have the conditions to study are not sure if they will pass the university entrance exam. And when they pass, their parents organize a party and invite friends to eat candy and drink water, but Phuong... Will she be able to go through 4 years of university and take care of her younger siblings?...".

Every day, Phuong follows the aunts and uncles in the commune to work as a construction worker to earn money to go to school.

Phuong did not have a sweet childhood like many of her peers. She lost her grandparents early, then her mother when she was 12 years old, and her father 2 years ago. The pain piled on top of the pain, too heavy for her thin shoulders, causing many people in the village to feel sorry for her. But Hung Long is still a poor land, everyone is worried about food, clothing, and money, so they do not have time to encourage Phuong and her sisters regularly. Phuong has to work hard in life, lacking the warmth of love from her grandparents and parents. Many times she longs to lean on her mother's shoulder to share the joys of studying, to be praised and loved by her mother like when she was alive, but it is just a desire that can never be regained.

More sad and lonely since the day his mother passed away, Phuong's father was sad, had suicidal thoughts and became bad. He was always drunk, cursing and beating Phuong and her sister for no reason, Phuong took the beatings for her many times. Especially at the beginning of the new school year, he got drunk and forced Phuong to drop out of school, sometimes even throwing away her books, the books Phuong bought with the money she earned from catching crabs and snails... Phuong could only swallow her tears. When he ran out of alcohol, he hugged her and cried, comforting her, "from now on, I won't drink alcohol, I won't beat you anymore..." However, in his drunken state, he was not sober enough to realize the pain in his children's hearts, the beatings were rained down on the poor children... 2 years ago, he left Phuong and her sister forever after an accident.

We waited for Phuong to come home when it was noon. In Phuong's small house, there were no valuables except for a cupboard and a desk. "The cupboard and desk were both donated by the school, sister..." Holding Phuong's hands, we noticed the calluses. Despite hardship and deprivation, Phuong threw herself into work, but she never once neglected her studies. She studied while cooking, while working in the fields, and whenever she had free time, she studied. It was from those hardships that Phuong had strength, faith and will. She was always an excellent student at the school throughout all three levels. In particular, in grade 11, Phuong won second prize in the province's Geography subject. “Feeling sorry for my situation, teacher Nguyen Thi Bich Giao, my homeroom teacher at the high school, always helped me with books, advised the school to waive all fees during the school year, and called on everyone in the school and children far from home to support me. I have a savings book of 22 million VND, thanks to the school's support...”, Phuong emotionally shared.

The thing that Phuong worries about the most right now is her younger brother. Because when she gets into university, Phuong often goes to Vinh city to study, how will he live? Who will take care of him when his sister is away from home? Phuong tearfully said: "Hungry and miserable, I don't mind, I will try to study and find a part-time job...". But the thing that Phuong worries about the most is that when her sister goes to school, how will she manage at home alone...

Saying goodbye to Phuong sisters, we only wish that she always stays healthy, has a strong will to live, and has faith to continue to overcome the difficulties that lie ahead. We send this short article to our readers with the hope that there will be benefactors, individuals, and organizations to help Phuong sisters overcome difficulties and rise up in life./.

An Ngoc