Female student from the land of 'golden joy' gives her mother a special gift

Miracle on the other side of Pu Chong Cha

"Gentle, confident and quite beautiful" are the words that friends and people around her give to Lu Thi Dam (born 2001) - a new student at Vinh University. Dam is 1/39 ethnic minority students from Nghe An province who achieved high scores in the National High School Exam and was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Minister and Chairman of the Ethnic Committee. With a score of 26.5 (group C), Dam has become the pride of Que land in particular and Nghe An in general.

Lu Thi Dam in Cam Muon commune (in Thai it means “golden joy”) - a land known for its hardship and poverty. Photo: Duc Anh

“My family lives in Na Cho village, Cam Muon commune, Que Phong district. My father was seriously ill and passed away when I was in 7th grade. My mother worked hard to raise me and my younger sister. She is currently working in the South to earn money to send back to both of us. My academic results are a special gift for my mother with lots of love,” Lu Thi Dam confided.

Her husband passed away early, leaving behind two young daughters. The burden of making a living fell on the shoulders of Lo Thi Hong (born in 1980), Dam's mother. She had to take her two children to live with her grandparents, spending all day working in the fields, forests, mountains and streams to earn a living.

The family's life often went from one day to the next, sometimes going hungry. Every time she saw the sweat on her mother's thin, dark face, little Lu Thi Dam cried silently because she felt sorry for her mother's hardship and deprivation. Dam was determined to study hard and well to make her mother happy.

Dam also spends time taking care of and guiding her younger sister in her studies, helping her mother feel secure with this regular job.

Determined to overcome challenges

After finishing junior high school, Lu Thi Dam decided to take the entrance exam to the province's No. 2 Ethnic Minority High School. "Actually, at that time, I didn't want to be far away from my mother, sister and grandparents, but if I studied at the district school, my mother would have more hardships and worries. Therefore, I took the entrance exam to a boarding school, having to live far from home, but in return, I didn't have to worry about tuition fees, which helped my mother ease some of the burden," Dam shared.

In the National High School Exam, Lu Thi Dam (second from right) registered for the C block exam and scored 26.5 points, receiving a commendation from the Minister and Chairman of the Ethnic Committee. She considers this a gift for her mother. Photo: Duc Anh

During the 3 years of studying, Dam always asserted himself with confidence and overcoming difficulties, through high scores in literature and math.

In the National High School Exam, Lu Thi Dam registered for the C block and scored 26.5 points (Literature 8.25; History 9; Geography 9.25), among the top students of the Ethnic Minority High School No. 2, and was awarded by the Minister and Chairman of the Ethnic Committee. However, when applying for admission, Dam applied to the Faculty of Economics - Vinh University.

Lu Thi Dam and her friends received Certificates of Merit from the Minister and Chairman of the Ethnic Committee. Photo: Duc Anh

Realizing that going to college would cost more, and that Dam's younger sister was already in 8th grade, Dam's mother had to go to the South to find a job and earn money to send back home for her children's education. Once again, the mother and daughter faced a bigger challenge.

Lu Thi Dam shared: “Waiting for my studies to stabilize, I will spend time looking for a part-time job to cover my studies and reduce expenses for my mother, because the time ahead will be very difficult. I will try to study well so that after graduating, I will have the opportunity to find a job in my major, have a stable income to repay my mother and grandparents, and support my younger sister...".

Being awarded by the Minister and Chairman of the Ethnic Committee will be a source of motivation for me to move forward."