In addition to her university study hours, Uyen now spends 2-5 hours a day delivering food online - Photo: TU TRUNG
Recipient of the 2024 special scholarship from Tuoi Tre Newspaper
Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Uyen is a 21-year-old young person who became a new student at Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry last year.
Both parents are blind. Uyen went to school but was so poor that she had to drop out and work as a delivery girl to make a living.
Since middle school, Uyen often sat by the window of her middle school, silently looking at the gate of Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry many times and wondering if one day she could study at that school.
But after the short-lived dreams comes the reality of making a living. The female student did not dare to dream that she would become a student even once.
After dropping out of school for three years to help her parents, Uyen decided to go back to school despite knowing that there would be many difficulties. The day she was accepted into university was also the day she started a new journey. She knew that there would be countless challenges ahead.
"I also understood that the journey would be difficult, and the worry about tuition fees even haunted my dreams. But thanks to the timely support from the Tuoi Tre Newspaper's 2024 School Support Program, I had the opportunity."
The scholarship from benefactors through Tuoi Tre sent to Uyen in 2024 is worth 50 million VND and according to regulations is awarded to students for each year of university.
Can't find money to pay for second semester tuition
Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Uyen's story of determination and desire to go to school moved readers. Video made in the program Support to School 2024 - Made by: TU TRUNG - NHA CHAN - DIEM HUONG
However, when the deadline for paying the second semester tuition fee came, her family still could not manage it in time. In the difficult time, Uyen proactively texted a Tuoi Tre reporter with the wish to 'receive in advance' the remaining scholarship, and at the same time wrote a request for tuition extension to the Board of Directors of Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry.
After a busy day of studying and making a living by delivering food, it was after 8pm that Uyen was able to meet the reporter to submit her application to Tuoi Tre newspaper and the school. At that moment, we understood that Uyen needed more motivation to continue her university journey. Therefore, we helped Uyen send the application to the leaders of Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry.
And with his love for students, Dr. Phan Hong Hai, principal of Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry, helped Uyen get free tuition for the first year.
It was a miracle that Uyen never thought she would receive..
"The care and support from Tuoi Tre newspaper and the principal at that time was not only love but also a source of endless motivation to remind me that I must always study hard and do well. Therefore, I tried to achieve good cumulative scores after many times I thought I had stopped," Uyen shared in the letter.
Thank you letter to the principal and the decision to waive tuition fees for the third time
Recently, Tuoi Tre newspaper received news of Nhu Uyen's first year study results. Although her family's situation during her first year was very difficult, with only Uyen as the only light, Uyen's study results last school year were excellent.
We returned to meet Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Uyen. Still with a tough exterior, confident and hopeful eyes, the girl full of determination to overcome difficulties still works strongly and patiently.
Uyen worked all kinds of jobs to support her parents. The harder she worked, the more she longed for her dream of going to school. She also realized that only education could help her escape poverty.
In the rented room, Mr. Phung - Uyen's father - is gritting his teeth to endure the pain of his spinal spurs, groping in the dark to make a living by selling goods and cotton swabs. Currently, Uyen's father still goes out to sell goods in the morning, comes back at noon to continue playing the guitar at bars, and plays guitar at other bars in the evening.
Tuoi Tre served as a bridge to send the principal a handwritten thank you letter and a grade report written by Uyen herself.
"I used to think that university was too much for me. But you helped me believe that only studying can change my life."
Those are the sincere lines in the handwritten letter of Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Uyen - a marketing student, class 20 - sent to Dr. Phan Hong Hai, principal.
Sharing with Tuoi Tre , Dr. Phan Hong Hai said he was very moved by Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Uyen's story.
"In Uyen's application for tuition exemption last year, I read not only the words but also a burning desire to go to the lecture hall, to study, to live a different life. After considering her situation and discussing with the school board, we decided to exempt her from all tuition fees for the first year of school.
At that time, I simply thought that if the fire inside you is big enough, then teachers like us should be the ones to add fuel to make that fire burn brighter," Mr. Hai shared.
According to school regulations, the condition for students to continue receiving this level of support is not to owe any subjects and to achieve a good or better academic performance in the previous semester to continue to be considered for tuition exemption for the next semester.
"And today I am really happy to receive another letter from Uyen. Despite her difficult family situation, her academic results last school year were excellent with an average score of 8.0. Uyen has become an inspiration for many students in difficult circumstances to rise up.
Therefore, the school decided to continue to exempt 100% of the tuition fee for the first semester of the new school year for Uyen so that she can study well with peace of mind," Mr. Hai shared.
Dr. Phan Hong Hai
In the Tuoi Tre Newspaper's 2025 Support to School Scholarship Season, Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry decided to add two special scholarships worth 50 million VND/scholarship/4 years to support the school's new students in difficulty through the program. In fact, there are many young people like Uyen. They do not ask for pity, just an outstretched arm, a timely companion. And that is exactly what the Support to School Scholarship has been doing very well over the years.
Shop assistant, shipper
Uyen has been working for 5 years, from working at a coffee shop, milk tea shop to a technology delivery person. Faced with the reality that life is still full of hardships, in addition to studying at university, Uyen still has to struggle to calculate every hour to find extra work.
Every day she spends two to five hours delivering food online, earning extra income to help her parents. From the days when she thought she wanted to give up, Uyen has tried to overcome all obstacles to pursue her studies.
Her biggest wish is to finish her studies so she can take better care of her parents.
In the letter, Uyen emotionally wrote: "During the past school year, I encountered many difficulties in studying and worried about paying for rent, electricity and water to help my parents. There were times when I thought that studying at university was too much for me.
But thinking about my teacher's trust and the hope that only studying can change my life, I didn't allow myself to give up."
Please register or introduce new students in difficulty at the link: https://bit.ly/tiepsucdentruong2025 according to the information form prescribed by the organizing committee.
The Organizing Committee will coordinate with local authorities to verify information, select applications according to the program's standards and conditions, and conduct online interviews in some special cases.
Deadline for receiving online applications: September 10, 2025.
Each 2025 Support to School scholarship will give strength and confidence to new students in difficult circumstances - Graphics: N.KHANH
To contribute to the program, businesses and philanthropists please transfer to Tuoi Tre newspaper account:
113000006100 Industrial and Commercial Bank ( VietinBank ), Branch 3, Ho Chi Minh City.
Content: Support "Support to school" for new students or specify the province/city that you want to support.
Readers and businesses abroad can transfer money to Tuoi Tre newspaper:
USD account 007.137.0195.845 Ho Chi Minh City Foreign Trade Bank;
EUR account 007.114.0373.054 Foreign Trade Bank, Ho Chi Minh City
with Swift code BFTVVNVX007.
Content: Support "Support to school" for new students or specify the province/city that you want to support.
Or readers can go directly to Tuoi Tre newspaper headquarters (60A Hoang Van Thu, Duc Nhuan ward, Ho Chi Minh City), Tuoi Tre newspaper representative offices nationwide.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tiep-suc-den-truong-lan-thu-3-cho-sinh-vien-co-cha-me-deu-khiem-thi-2025081623130936.htm
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