Rise from the will to live

(Baonghean) -Studying at the same school and participating in the club for people with disabilities, Nguyen Trung Thanh (Faculty of Literature) and Nguyen Van Linh (class 53 K1 - Faculty of Information Technology - Vinh University) both understand that: to overcome difficulties, we must rely on each other to stand up and rise up in life.

When you go to Vinh University and ask about the disabled student Nguyen Trung Thanh, everyone knows. Not only is Thanh a good student, but in Thanh, people also see a strong will and aspiration to rise up in life. In 1991, born with a disability, it seemed that Thanh's life would have no hope, but at the age of 7, this disabled boy began to take his first faltering steps in life.

Thanh often told his parents: "Please let me go to school! I like going to school." At first, his parents thought Thanh was joking, but seeing him fumbling with his books every day, watching his friends of the same age happily go to class, Thanh's mother had to ask for him to go to first grade. Although he had difficulty walking, his arms were always shaking, and his neck had to be tilted to speak clearly, for 12 years, Thanh was an excellent student.

In 10th grade, he also won the Encouragement Prize in the Nghe An Youth Informatics Competition in 2007. In 2010, he passed the entrance exam to the Literature Department of Vinh University and began his journey to realize his dream of becoming a teacher. With tireless efforts, Thanh achieved the title of excellent student for 3 consecutive years and received the Lighting Up School scholarship.

In particular, although studying Literature, Thanh's computer skills are not much lower than those of his classmates in the Mathematics - Information Technology department. Currently, Thanh is managing the network and website of the school and the Goongentertainment Center. In addition, Thanh also designs, creates graphics, edits content and images, and gives new ideas to the technical department to improve other websites of Vinh University.

Talking about his future plans, Thanh confided: “In the near future, I plan to create a website for the Nghe An Vocational Training Center for the Disabled and War Invalids. I and some friends who are good at IT will create the framework, buy the copyright, update the content... so that everyone can access the website to read the necessary information.”

Like Thanh, the determined student Nguyen Van Linh, class 53K1, Faculty of Information Technology, also suffered from a congenital disability since childhood. His limbs were atrophied, he could not speak, he had difficulty walking, and his face was haggard, but from grade 1 to grade 12, Linh was an excellent student every year and received a scholarship from Tuoi Tre Newspaper.

In 2012, Linh passed the entrance exam to the Faculty of Information Technology - Vinh University with a score of 21 in 3 subjects. Linh excelled in C++ programming, Photoshop, advertising design... Despite being disabled, Thanh and Linh both have things in common: being good at studying, passionate about information technology, having a strong desire to live and contribute.

Disabled friends Thanh and Linh

Thanh and Linh shared their joys and sorrows on the school forums: "How to help disabled people get rid of their inferiority complex, the most important thing is to help them regain their confidence. Let's use our disabilities as motivation to rise up in life. Not only help ourselves, but we, the unfortunate people in life, unite and form a club for those who are suffering."

Unexpectedly, the confidences of the two friends on the forum were supported by many other students inside and outside the school. Many of them even wanted Thanh to establish a club for the disabled.

Thanh and Linh, along with a number of other disabled students, raised the issue with the President of the Student Union and the Youth Union of Vinh University, after which the club was supported to be born. So, in just over 2 years, the Vinh University Disabled People's Club was born on the day of Vietnamese Disabled People (April 18). More than 100 members, under the leadership of Nguyen Trung Thanh, have contributed and done many practical things in life. From responding to Earth Hour, giving gifts to disabled children at the Children's Hospital, cleaning the environment at Vinh City cemetery to organizing games, sharing, helping deaf and mute children at the Nghe An Province Disabled Vocational Training Center no longer feel inferior and self-conscious about life...

After stressful hours of studying in the classroom, the two friends go to destitute places, looking for other unfortunate lives to share and help them integrate into life. Thanh said: "We understand each other like brothers and sisters. Linh has given me the will to live, giving me more strength to do many practical and meaningful things for society. I am happy because of this friendship, simply because our friendship grows from the hearts of sincere people with silent sacrifices and dedication to each other."

Dinh Tien Giang (Xuan Yen - Nghi Xuan - Ha Tinh)