The dream of a poor student in a coastal fishing village

At the beginning of the new school year, teachers from Dien Ngoc Secondary School came to Thai Thi Ha's house to encourage her to try harder in her studies. Photo: Nguyen Hai

On the eve of the new year, together with teachers from Dien Ngoc Secondary School, we visited Ha's family. The place where the mother and daughter live, called a house but in fact it is just a small kitchen, with an area of ​​less than 10 m2.², just enough to put a bed, a wood stove and the remaining space is enough for a dining table which is also a table for Ha to study. Because the house was built a long time ago, the walls are cracked and the floor is low, so every time it rains heavily or floods, water flows into the house, flooding like the outside. In that rickety house, there is nothing valuable except the bicycle that was just given to her by benefactors to go to school. The other thing is the wheelbarrow that Ha and her mother use every day to push dirt for hire to earn a living.

Certificate of Third Prize in Provincial Excellent Student in Civic Education of Thai Thi Ha. Photo: Nguyen Hai

Mrs. Thai Thi Thinh - Ha's mother said: Due to poor health and the fact that there are only two of us at home, I do not go to work far away. To make a living, every day, I do whatever job anyone hires me to do as long as I have money to cover my living expenses and pay for Ha's education.

Despite her poor family background, Ha's academic achievements were remarkable. From primary school to all four years of secondary school, Ha was always one of the school's excellent and outstanding students. In grade 8, Ha was awarded the title of district's excellent student in Literature and Civic Education; in grade 9, she was selected to join the district team and won third prize in the provincial excellent student in Civic Education.

Ha and her mother accompany each other in life and study. Although she is still young and still in school, Ha is a great spiritual support for her mother. Photo: Nguyen Hai

Ms. Bui Thi Tam - Ha's homeroom teacher for class 9A said: Although she is young, Ha is full of determination, overcomes difficulties and loves to study. Once, she was teased by her friends, she felt sorry for herself and sat alone in class crying. Knowing what happened, the teacher came to encourage her to try hard to study so that her friends would not look down on her. Since then, she has studied better and better. Ha determined her goal is to study to escape poverty, help her mother... Although her family is poor and life is sometimes difficult, Ha has never thought of dropping out of school.

Every day, in addition to studying at school, Ha often takes advantage of her free time to work extra, tutoring and teaching children in the neighborhood. This summer, knowing that going to 10th grade will cost more, Ha took advantage of the time to go to fish processing factories or peel shrimp to work extra, earning a few hundred thousand each day to help her mother and prepare money to buy books...

Due to her extremely difficult circumstances, Ha was loved by her teachers and they often encouraged and helped her. In addition to the tuition-free policy, the teachers did not charge for extra classes. When there was a reward fund for poor but studious students, the teachers always gave Ha priority; they even gave her money to buy books and encouraged her to compete in district and provincial competitions for excellent students.

Talking with Mr. Phan Huu Tuc - Principal of Dien Ngoc Secondary School, we learned that Ha's situation is quite lonely, her family only has 2 mother and child, both grandparents have passed away, and one uncle has a mental illness and has left the country.

Thai Thi Ha said: I have passed the exam and am currently studying in class 10A5, a class specializing in Math - Literature - English, Nguyen Xuan On High School, Dien Chau. She confided that she likes all three subjects and her dream is to continue going to school, try to study well so as not to let down her mother and teachers and later become a teacher and return to her hometown to teach children.

Please send all help to Thai Thi Ha, class 10A5, Nguyen Xuan On High School, Dien Chau, Nghe An.

Or Mrs. Thai Thi Thinh (Yen Quang hamlet, Dien Ngoc commune, Dien Chau, Nghe An)