(HBO) – Born to a poor family with his father suffering severe schizophrenia, Bui Manh Dung, a student from Muong ethnic minority group, has overcome the adversity to score the highest in Block B of the Hoa Binh Boarding School for Ethnic Minority Students in the recent high school graduation exam for 2023.
Bui Manh Dung takes care of his father who suffers
severe schizophrenia
Adversity
Bui Manh Dung is from far-flung Gia Phu village, Gia Mo commune of Tan Lac
district. His family lives in a downgrading house. In recent years, his
father’s schizophrenia has become worse, needing a great care. His grandfather
has to help with caring for him. His mother is the breadwinner of the family.
Entering the provincial Boarding School for Ethnic Minority Students was a must
for Dung to be able to continue his schooling thanks to the tuition exemption.
Each month, he receives a scholarship of 300,000 VND (12.66 USD). He often
spends parts of the amount on breakfast and necessities, and gives the rest to
his mother.
However, calamity lingered on the poor family. In 2022, when he was a 11th
grader, his mother was diagnosed with liver cancer. As the only child of his
family, he intended to leave school to take care of his parents. However, his
teachers and classmates gave him a helping hand and encouraged him not to stop
his schooling.
After his mother passed away, he was depressed. But amid the gloomiest
situation, he told himself to try harder to make life better and support his
sick father and his 85-year-old grandfather. He has received assistance from
relatives.
Overcoming difficulties
In the empty, bedless house, the most valuable thing is Dung’s certificates of
commendation recognising his outstanding academic performance in three years at
his high school.
In Grade 12, he won the second prize in the provincial Chemistry contest. In
the high-school graduation exam, he scored the highest points in Block B (which
comprises maths, physics and chemistry) among all students of his school with
26.35 points.
Dung said that studying at the boarding school has made him more self-reliant.
"For me, having meals and accommodation is a wonderful thing which enables me
to do my best in studying,” said Dung.
Dung said that he always tries to keep focus during classes and take additional
time at night for studying. He took no extra classes but went to the school
library and learn from the Internet. Whenever he met difficult problems, he
sought support from teachers. In the time before the graduation exam, he often
studied until 1am. Whenever he visited his home, seeing the poor meals of his
father and grandfather, he was motivated to study for a brighter future.
Supports from the community around him was also a motivation for him to rise.
A member of school for gifted students in maths, Dung still scored 8.25 points
in the literature test. He said he feels this year’s question on balancing
feelings in life is meaningful. No one wants to live a stormy life, but life is
as it always be, the important thing is how people face it.
Bui Tuan Dung, the teacher in charge of Dung’s class, said that Dung is an
energetic student who always wins over adversity, a good example for others to
follow.
Pursuing dreams
Due to his family’s poverty, it was hard for Dung to choose a university to
register for. He prioritised universities that offer tuition exemption like the
Military University of Technology. But he failed to overcome the health check.
However, he believed that another door will open for him, as he believes in
himself. He decided to choose AI faculty of the Vietnam National
University-Hanoi. Although the way ahead is tough, he plans to work as a tutor
to earn money for his studying.
Knowing about Dung’s situation, many people have given him a helping hand.
"I am grateful to all the kind-hearted people who have supported me. With the
money I receive, I will spend on studying. I hope that other students in the
situation similar to mine will also receive support. Later in my life, I will
try to help others as only by getting through something, you can understand
what other people are being through.”
Wiping his father's hands with a rag made from old clothes, Dung hesitated to
speak out his dream, but deep in his heart he wished for a small house, a room
to bring his father in, so he will be no longer chained to keep him inside. The
story of the thin student with extraordinary energy and filial piety has
touched the hearts of many kind-hearted people./.
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