Rising through the kindness of the community

(Baonghean) - That girl grew up in a family of four generations. Every day, many members of that family had to go begging everywhere, but with extraordinary will and determination, she used her small body to fight fate and overcome her circumstances... Currently, she is a doctor at a large hospital in Ho Chi Minh City and is studying for a master's degree.

That is Nguyen Thi Hien (born in 1986) in Kim Thanh commune (Yen Thanh). When she was just born, her family was in trouble, Hien had to live in the open air, when her mother forced her to wander everywhere begging for food on her back. When she learned to walk, she continued to follow her parents and siblings on that journey to make a living. It was not until she was 7 years old that her immature subconscious felt the bitterness, so she refused to beg anymore, and demanded to go to school.

While going to school, Hien had to chop firewood to sell at the market.

During primary school, Hien was an excellent student every year. When she was in secondary school, her family's life was extremely difficult because her parents were always sick and she could not go begging. Hien had to run around everywhere to pay for her parents' medical bills. One day she went to school, the other day she went with her sister to the forest to chop wood to sell at the market, and then worked as a hired hand in planting and harvesting rice. At that time, she intended to drop out of school, but the school, friends and villagers encouraged her to donate money and rice, so she continued to go to school. That year, she was awarded a scholarship of 300,000 VND/year for three years of high school by the district's scholarship fund for poor students who overcame difficulties. For three years, she was an excellent student and a good student at the district and provincial levels.

Entering high school, once again it seemed that Hien could not continue to go to school because her youngest sibling had also started middle school. But the desire to study to advance helped her stand firm. In addition to collecting firewood to sell at the market, planting and harvesting for hire, she also received 6 sao of rice fields to work on. Yen Thanh 3 High School is more than 10km of mountain road from home, there were days when her bike broke down and she had to leave her bike and run 6-7km to school, but with her will and determination to study well to escape poverty, she did not miss a single class. Teacher Nguyen Huu Thanh, head teacher of class 11A at Yen Thanh 3 High School at that time, said about Hien: "Despite such difficult circumstances, for 3 years of school, Hien always achieved the title of excellent student and twice won high prizes in the provincial excellent student competition in Biology. Hien is truly a student with extraordinary determination".

Although she was studious and good at studying, she shouldered all the burdens of her family, so the risk of having to drop out of school was always present. However, thanks to the discovery of the press, the kind hands of the community supported her at the right time: Her family had a tiled house, buffaloes and cows to raise and plow the fields, Hien no longer had the burden of her family. To show gratitude for the kindness of the community, Nguyen Thi Hien tried hard and passed the entrance exam to Thai Nguyen University of Medicine. Teacher Lo Thi Hong Le, head teacher of class K38B of Thai Nguyen University of Medicine, said: “Nguyen Thi Hien is not only an excellent student, but also an enthusiastic and energetic class cadre. In all 5 years of study, her average score was over 8.5 points. We really wanted her to stay at the school, but because of her family circumstances and bigger dreams, she did not stay. We are very sorry.”

Nguyen Thi Hien on the day she received her university diploma.

After graduating from school, Hien went to Ho Chi Minh City alone to find a job with many difficulties and hardships. But in the end, luck smiled on the determined and resilient girl. A large hospital in Ho Chi Minh City accepted her. While working, Hien also studied for a master's degree in medicine. Nguyen Binh, a colleague of Hien, shared: "Hien has only worked at this hospital for nearly 2 years, but she is a good and dedicated doctor, admired and loved by patients, patients' families and colleagues. I believe Hien will go far in the medical field."

Asked why he studied medicine? Hien confided: “My parents, grandparents and sister were all sick, so my family had to beg for food. When I was young, I saw the whole village suffering from a fever epidemic. Now, when I think back, it was so terrible. Many people died from that epidemic! Therefore, I always wished to go to medical university. Now I have finished university and have a stable job, but the dream of becoming a good doctor to treat people is still burning in me. I vow to study hard to show gratitude to everyone and life.”

In mid-October 2014, Nguyen Thi Hien got married to a guy from the same hometown, a construction engineer working in the Central region. The wedding was a rare event in the Kim Thanh mountain area. After the wedding, many people still came to congratulate the young couple.

Happiness and love will come to those who are strong-willed and determined to overcome difficulties to rise up in life. This saying is so true for Hien. We secretly admire and wish her to always be happy and become a good doctor who has the heart to cure and save people.

Tram Anh

Hop Thanh, Yen Thanh