Thò Ý Cu (right) with her teacher. — VNA/VNS Photo Bích Huệ

NGHỆ AN — In the remote village of Na Niếng, nestled deep within the poverty-stricken Tri Lễ Commune in Nghệ An Province, the home of a determined young girl is now filled with joy and laughter.

Thò Ý Cu, a bright and ambitious Mông student, has overcome incredible odds, becoming the first from her ethnic group in the commune to be accepted into Hà Nội Medical University.

Her journey is a testament to perseverance, hope and the power of education in transforming lives.

For Ý Cu, the desire to heal and care for others began at home.

Both her parents suffer from chronic illness, so she learned the value of medical care from a young age.

Watching her parents battle sickness, she vowed to one day become a doctor – not just for her family, but for her entire community, many of whom lacked access to quality healthcare.

A historic achievement

Tri Lễ Commune is one of the poorest localities in Việt Nam, where most families rely on subsistence farming.

The people of Na Niếng Village have long admired Ý Cu's family. Despite their modest background, three of the four siblings have excelled academically, passing exams to attend prestigious boarding schools.

Ý Cu, the youngest of the family, has always shown a remarkable passion for learning. Unlike many of her peers who gravitated towards social sciences, she found joy in mathematics. Her earliest memories of school involve her father quizzing her on multiplication tables, a game they played when she was still in primary school.

Her talent for maths flourished as she advanced through school. At the district’s ethnic minority boarding school, her teachers recognised her potential and encouraged her further.

Ý Cu won district-level competitions in mathematics and even competed at the provincial level.

When she enrolled in Ethnic Minority Boarding School No. 2, she was awarded a commendation for her mathematical achievements.

However, despite her strong affinity for maths, Ý Cu’s heart was set on medicine. She dreamed of attending Hà Nội Medical University, where she could turn her aspirations of becoming a doctor into reality.

Challenges on the road

While her mathematics skills were exceptional, Ý Cu faced significant challenges in chemistry and biology, key subjects for medical school admission.

With the national high school graduation exams approaching, she knew she had to bridge the gap.

For three months, she slept only three to four hours each night, dedicating every waking moment to improving her weaker subjects.

She sought help from teachers and classmates and tirelessly studied on her own.

Her hard work paid off. When the final results came in, Ý Cu had scored 8 in mathematics, 8.75 in chemistry and 9 in biology, outstanding marks that secured her a place at Hà Nội Medical University’s General Medicine programme in central Thanh Hóa Province.

It was a historic achievement. She was the first female Mông student from her commune to be accepted into such a prestigious institution.

However, the joy of success was overshadowed by a harsh reality. With an annual tuition fee of VNĐ27 million (US$1,100) and living expenses on top, Ý Cu’s family simply couldn’t afford to send her to medical school.

Her father, worried about the financial strain, even asked if she could transfer to a more affordable university.

For over a week, the future seemed uncertain. Ý Cu feared that she would have to abandon her dream and stay home to support her family. The thought of giving up on her lifelong ambition weighed heavily on her.

But as news of her situation spread, helps began to arrive. Individuals and organisations, moved by her determination and story, stepped forward.

Donations totalling nearly VNĐ10 million ($400) were raised to ease her financial burden.

Then, in a stroke of fortune, the supporting future doctors scholarship fund, led by Dr Trần Doãn Lâm of Doãn Lâm beauty salon, offered her a lifeline.

Recognising her academic perseverance and her family’s dire situation, the fund awarded Ý Cu a full scholarship, covering 100 per cent of her tuition for all six years of medical school. In addition, she would receive a monthly stipend of VNĐ4 million ($163) for her living expenses.

A bright future

As the first in her family to attend medical school, Ý Cu’s success has inspired not just her family, but her entire village.

Lê Lan Thương, her homeroom teacher, describes her as diligent, humble and resilient.

Despite her family’s financial struggles, Ý Cu never let adversity stop her.

In addition to excelling in her studies, she participated in school activities and was recently honoured with membership in the Communist Party in recognition of her dedication and leadership.

For the people of Tri Lễ, a commune where over half of the population lives in poverty, Ý Cu’s achievement is a beacon of hope.

Lữ Văn Cương, chairman of the commune People’s Committee, said her story would inspire future generations. “Her success will encourage other students to strive for excellence," he said. "It’s a source of pride not only for her family but for the entire community.”

Today, the small house in Na Niếng Village is filled with a sense of optimism. Thanks to the generosity of strangers, and her own unwavering determination, Ý Cu’s dream of becoming a doctor is coming true.

“I am deeply grateful to everyone who has supported me,” she said. “I will do my best to learn and become a skilled doctor, so I can help those in need and give back to society.” — VNS