Open your own door before the high school graduation exam

Dreaming of becoming a doctor but worried about not being able to afford the tuition, a female student in Buon Don (Dak Lak province) quietly changed her wishes before the 2025 high school graduation exam to open the door for her life amidst countless difficulties.

At the small table, the female student focused on reviewing her lessons to prepare for the exam - Photo: MINH PHUONG

At the end of June, close to the 2025 high school graduation exam, Nguyen Pham Huyen Linh (class 12A1, Cao Nguyen Practice High School) was still diligently studying with an old desk lamp. The female student was determined to pass the university entrance exam, win a scholarship to conquer knowledge, and was determined to change her current poor life.

Secretly change wishes before high school graduation exam

Linh’s family is one of the poorest in Buon Don. Her father has a heart condition and has just had surgery, so he cannot do heavy work. The burden of making a living falls on her mother, a woman who has suffered from spinal disease for many years.

Loving his children, the father applied to be a security guard at a bank, the mother worked from 1am to dusk to support Linh and her sister's education.

In high school, Linh rented a room in Buon Ma Thuot City and worked part-time to help her family. Her teachers sympathized with her situation and silently supported her for three years with books, tuition, and living expenses.

As an excellent student for many years, Linh also actively participates in school and provincial activities.

"Linh is the most difficult student in the class but always has clear goals. She actively participates in competitions for excellent students, scientific research, and startups and achieves high results. So for any scholarship, my teachers and I always think of Linh. We just hope she doesn't have to worry about anything other than studying," said Ms. Truong Thi Tuyet, the homeroom teacher.

In addition to studying and working part-time, Linh is highly appreciated for her volunteer activities - Photo: MINH PHUONG

The dream of becoming a doctor to treat the poor was once Linh's biggest motivation to study. But then she realized that her family could not afford the cost of medical training. Listening to Linh's story, Ms. Tuyet suggested that she switch to teaching, where Linh could pursue her passion and still receive free tuition.

After many sleepless nights, Linh quietly adjusted her wishes. She didn't tell anyone, until the teachers checked her documents and found out that Linh had secretly changed her dream.

Ms. Pham Thi Bich Dao, Linh's mother, said that although her family's circumstances were difficult, Linh was very diligent in studying and always dreamed of sitting in a lecture hall and going to work to change her life.

"Although my family is poor, I always support my children to study well. I was surprised when my children changed their wishes, but it was their decision, I respect it," said Ms. Dao.

Want to help people who are less fortunate than you

Not only is Huyen Linh a good student, she is also a prominent face in Union activities and volunteer movements.

"Linh is a club leader at school, an active member of many volunteer groups, and regularly receives certificates of merit from the Provincial Youth Union," said Ms. Pham Thi Huyen Trang, deputy secretary of the school's Youth Union.

In her spare time, Linh and her friends raise funds to help orphans, disabled children and those in more difficult circumstances than themselves.

"Every day I open my eyes, I still have the opportunity to study and strive for the future. Later, I want to come back to help places like that," Linh said.

Linh and her friends have processed and planned to put K'nia seeds - a mountain forest product - on supermarket shelves - Photo: MINH PHUONG

Last school year, Linh and her group of friends participated in the "Students with Startup Ideas" contest with products from K'nia seeds, winning third place at the national level. Part of the money from the project was used to support students in remote areas.

"We are focusing on the upcoming exam. After that, we will continue to develop the project and spread more values," Linh shared.

Behind the achievements and certificates, Linh just hopes that her mother will have less hardship, have money to treat her father's illness, take care of her younger sister so she can go to school and live a full life with the ideal of kindness, knowing how to give, and constantly striving.

Writing in her diary, Linh told herself: "The road ahead may still be full of thorns, but I believe that as long as I don't give up and move a little closer to the sun every day, I will make it. Poverty is just the beginning, and determination is the destination."

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MINH PHUONG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tu-mo-canh-cua-doi-minh-truoc-ky-thi-tot-nghiep-thpt-20250624215013442.htm