From the battlefield to the lecture hall: A one-legged journey

ĐNO - In the last days of July, the weather in Da Nang suddenly became milder. The light rain at noon brought with it a bit of cool sea breeze, as if gently reminding us of the unforgettable years - the month of gratitude to those who sacrificed, those who returned with wounds on their bodies.

Mr. Tri next to the book page.

In a small alley near the University of Education – Danang University, which used to be the lecturers’ dormitory, we met Mr. Tran Van Tri – a special teacher. Called special, because his life is associated with the two words “war invalid”, but he has also quietly shone on the podium for the past several decades.

Don't let disability bury your will

Teacher Tri was born in 1948 in Tien Phuoc district, Quang Nam province (old) - a poor land but rich in revolutionary tradition. In 1966, at the age of 18, the young man put down his pen and ink, shouldered his backpack and joined the army. During the years of fierce fighting, he was wounded many times. And then, the battle in 1969 forever marked an unforgettable milestone in his life.

“Caught in a bomb in the forest. He lay in the middle of the forest for two days waiting for his comrades to rescue him. When he was brought back, his left leg was gangrenous,” he said, his voice as soft as a breath. That leg later had to be amputated. For many people, that would have been the end of their future. But for Mr. Tri, disability is not the end. On the contrary, it is the starting point of another journey: the journey to find knowledge.

Leaving the army, he started over again. Passing the entrance exam to the Faculty of Literature, Vinh Pedagogical University, he studied with a rare perseverance. “I thought that only studying would help me live without being disabled. I lost a leg, but I could not lose faith in myself,” he shared.

In 1980, after graduating from university, Mr. Tri was assigned to work at Quang Nam – Da Nang Pedagogical College, later the Pedagogical University – Da Nang University. With one foot and a heart full of enthusiasm, he began teaching – a profession of perseverance, of those who spread the passion.

For more than 30 years in the classroom, Mr. Tri has guided generations of students, taught literary works and poems, but above all, taught through his own life story - about perseverance, faith and gratitude for life.

Not only a teacher, Mr. Tri is also a husband and a father in a warm, simple family. Ms. Bui Thi Hoa - his wife, still remembers clearly the days in the lecture hall of Vinh Pedagogical University. At that time, she was an accountant of the school. "I loved the simplicity of Quang people, loved an example of strong character. Then I fell in love without realizing it," she laughed.

Overcoming the society’s sympathetic gaze towards a man with “only one leg”, Ms. Hoa chose to stick with Mr. Tri with all her heart. They built a simple home and raised three children. Two of them followed their father’s footsteps and became teachers. “Maybe because I see teaching as a profession with a lot of love,” he said, his eyes shining with pride.

Message to the young generation

At 77 years old, Mr. Tri is still lucid and still reads books every day. Although he has been retired for a long time and his health is not good, he still accepts invitations to talk to students whenever possible, especially on July 27th every year.

When asked what message he wanted to send to the young generation living in peace , he said softly but firmly: “You do not have to go through war like me. But that does not mean you do not have challenges. Each person will have their own battlefield – studying, working, living decently amidst the hustle and bustle of life. Live in a way that makes you proud of yourself. And never think that you cannot.”

That message sounded like a final lesson that the one-legged teacher left for generations of students – a lesson about will, determination and faith in life.

In the middle of a bustling city, Mr. Tri’s small house at the end of an alley is as simple as the man himself. There are no medals hanging everywhere, no long list of achievements. But in the eyes of many generations of students, Mr. Tran Van Tri is a monument – ​​a monument of perseverance.

And with July – the month of gratitude, stories like Mr. Tri's are not only to remember, but also to remind every young person today: Living in peace means having the responsibility to continue writing the beautiful pages that previous generations have opened.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/tu-chien-truong-den-giang-duong-hanh-trinh-mot-chan-3298039.html