Dear Ms Karen and Lifestart Foundation,
My name is Nguyen Thi Quynh Nhi, a student at Phan Chau Trinh Secondary School, Dien An Commune, Dien Ban Town, Quang Nam Province.
Today, I am writing this letter to express my heartfelt gratitude to Ms Karen and Lifestart Foundation for granting me such a valuable educational scholarship. I would also like to take this opportunity to share a bit about myself, my family, my current life and my studies.
My father passed away, so my mother has been raising four children on her own. She takes on any job available to make ends meet. Despite our difficult circumstances, she always makes sure that we are able to attend school. Understanding how hard she works, my siblings and I always try our best in our studies every single day. My paternal grandparents also support us by sending rice, eggs and vegetables to help reduce the financial burden on my mother.
My eldest sister often helps take care of us when my mother is away. Since our father’s passing, she has become more mature than her peers. Having four children so close in age makes it even more financially challenging for my mother, especially now that we are progressing to higher grades in school and expenses for each of us are increasing. Next year, my eldest sister will start Year 12 and my older brother will begin Year 11. Thankfully, all of us support each other in our studies and none of us have poor academic performance, which helps ease my mother’s worries.
As for my studies, I am proud to say that my academic performance has been going well. I have achieved the title of excellent student each year and also participated in several competitions, earning some good results.
In Year 8, I was encouraged by my teachers to take part in the town-level Geography Excellent Student Competition and got the Consolation Prize. Geography is my favorite subject and I am a top student in my class in this subject. At the same time, I work hard to expand my knowledge and dedicate more time to the subjects that I am not good at, especially English. I know that combining various learning methods such as attending extra classes, joining group studies and learning online keeps me interested and helps me absorb knowledge more effectively. I have a passion for reading and find myself particularly drawn to the social sciences, especially subjects related to geographical space, and books that bring to life the heroic history of the Vietnamese people as well as the history of the world. Every time I listen to historical stories, I feel as though I am immersed in my own world where I can truly understand the hardships, the heroism and the bravery of our ancestors. I believe that everyone should learn about, understand and be grateful for the tremendous contributions made by people throughout history. The more I realize the value and beauty of history, the deeper my love for this subject grows. I am also passionate about Geography as it allows me to better understand the world beyond as well as gain a comprehensive understanding of what Vietnam encompasses, how humans interact with nature and how our country has developed thanks to scientific research. That is what makes Geography interesting and innovative. At school, I feel the learning environment is very positive – my classmates are supportive and united and our teachers are always dedicated and caring. I am an energetic and sociable person and enjoy the friendly and cheerful atmosphere there.
My school also organizes extracurricular activities, weekly assemblies and various competitions. These give each student a chance to express themselves. As someone who values teamwork and community spirit, I take part in sports, awareness campaigns on traffic safety and also write letters to soldiers stationed on distant islands. Studying at school is not sufficient and I realize that I need to acquire additional knowledge, especially in subjects like Math and English, which are essential for the upcoming high school entrance exam. Therefore, I have decided to devote more time and effort to these subjects. Although I am currently facing financial difficulties, my teachers have done their best to support me by reducing the tuition fees. I am truly grateful for their kindness and assistance.
Aside from studying at school and helping my mother at home, I often spend my free time reading books borrowed from the library and attending free online courses such as Math lessons from various teachers on platforms like Youtube and Tiktok to expand my knowledge and practice exercises from basic to advanced levels. When I do not understand something, I will ask my older siblings for help. This semester, I have set many goals for myself. My top priority is to maintain my excellent academic performance and further develop both my knowledge and character. I hope to strengthen my perseverance and keep striving for my dreams. I also plan to continue to participate in Geography Excellence Competitions to showcase my knowledge and passion for this subject.
I spend my free time with my family and always share with them the challenges I face in daily life so that they can give me advice and encouragement.
In the future, I hope to be able to provide a better life for my family and myself. I will never forget the day I first stepped through the gates of Lifestart Foundation. I felt unfamiliar initially, but over time, I have come to see it as a place that nurtures my dreams and inspires me to keep moving forward.
When I saw my mother smile upon hearing that I had received the scholarship, a Tet gift and a new schoolbag, I knew that her hardships had been eased thanks to your generous support. Before Tet, Lifetsart Foundation provided me with some essential items like rice, cooking oil, fish sauce, washing powder and shampoo. Each of these was not only useful to me but also to my whole family. I believe that every student who received such gifts from Lifestart Foundation was deeply touched by the thoughtfulness and care behind them.
I am truly fortunate and happy to receive this scholarship. For me, it is not only a source of financial support but also a spiritual encouragement that helps me overcome the difficulties in my life. This scholarship is truly precious like a warm flame that lights up my dreams. I have deeply felt the love, care and enthusiasm from Lifestart Foundation staff. Holding the scholarship certificate in my hands, I realize that my efforts have been recognized. I am deeply moved to know that there are kind-hearted individuals and organizations who care and support people in need.
Once again, I would like to sincerely thank Ms Karen and Lifestart Foundation for your support. While the scholarship may come with some pressure, it is also a powerful source of motivation for me to strive harder every day. Since receiving this scholarship, I no longer see the sadness in my mother’s eyes. Perhaps from heaven, my father also feels comforted knowing that there are people with such kind hearts helping his child chase her dreams. I will try my best to improve my studies and character in order to reach my dreams.
This letter has become quite long, so I would like to end by expressing my deepest gratitude to Ms Karen and Lifestart Foundation for your attention and care. On behalf of my family, I sincerely wish you all good health, happiness and continued success in your meaningful work.
With warm regards,
Nguyen Thi Quynh Nhi