The day right after he found out that he had scored 27.9/30 points at the 2023 High School Graduation Exam Bui Dinh Thang from Nguyen Thi Minh Khai high school in Ha Tinh learned that his mother had fallen into a deep coma due to a pre-existing cancer.
Dinh Thang with his homeroom teacher the day he received his high school diploma
His joy was marred by his mother falling into a deep coma. His family’s financial situation is difficult, which is why he intended to quit studying and instead find a job nearby to earn money to cover his mother’s hospital fees and take care of his younger siblings.
The story that Dinh Thang intended to drop out of studying due to poverty was immediately reported by the press. Only a few days later, the DTU Admissions Board decided to grant Thang a full scholarship (fully covering tuition for the whole course & all fees at the beginning of the year) to Thang.
When challenges of life are great motivation
Dinh Thang’s parents make a living by farming and bricklaying, making it very difficult to feed their three children. His high grade at the HSGE is testament to Thang’s relentless study efforts. In particular, he achieved the near-perfect score of 9.5/10 in history and geography.
“My mother was recently diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor requiring urgent surgery,” Thang explains. “When she was hospitalized for treatment, my family sold all our valuables and we borrowed more money from relatives to pay for our mother’s treatment, but we still didn’t have enough. Now, after the operation, my mother is very weak. My family’s income comes mainly from tillage and raising pigs, just enough for the five of us. Now that my mother is seriously ill, my father is running around in the hope of finding a way to cure my mother.”
Understanding the situation of Thang’s family and the extraordinary willpower of the studious little boy, the people of Thuong Tu where he lives along with the local authorities and benefactors contributed, partly to help his mother recover and partly in the hope that Thang would be able to continue with university studies as is his wish.
With the frequent help and inquiries from neighbors and the money they receive after each call for donations, Thang and his family are extremely touched and grateful.
“Me and my family’s biggest wish now is that my mother would get better soon and that my family would be able to pay for her long-term treatment,” Thang confides. “If I can continue my studies, I’ll try my best to get the opportunity to take better care of my parents and to repay those who helped my family overcome these difficulties.”
Full scholarship is great motivation to continue writing one’s dream
The full scholarship DTU gave to Dinh Thang is a really meaningful gift, as it was given to the right person at the most important time.
Dinh Thang will always work hard in his studies to build a career and help his family
“My admission for Tourism & Hospitality Management at DTU and my luck at receiving a full scholarship from the university is really a great joy for my family and me,” Dinh Thang explains. “The current difficulties combined with my mother’s illness sometimes make me think it won’t be easy to pursue my studies. Without any support, I’ll definitely have to stop all of my studies to support my family and earn money for my mother’s treatment. DTU’s scholarship therefore gives me more motivation to strive for my future career and more hope that I’ll be able to help my family with our difficulties.”
Like many students about the start university, Thang spent a lot of time researching DTU.
“I’m very confident of the quality of hospitality training at the university, as the facilities clearly received good investment, and from what I heard from higher-year students at DTU,” Dinh Thang explains. “Now I just want to go there to start my studies, and I’ll try my best to realize my future career plans, and help my family with the difficulties we’re going through right now.”
Thang’s upcoming journey may still turn out arduous, but many new opportunities will surely open up for this young man full of perseverance and willpower.
(Media Center)