Dear Ms. Karen and all members of the Lifestart Foundation,
My name is Ngo Thuy Linh Phuong, a fifth-year student majoring in General Medicine at Danang University of Medical Technology and Pharmacy. Today, I am writing this letter to express my sincere gratitude to you and the Lifestart Foundation for giving me this precious opportunity to receive such a meaningful scholarship.
I was born and raised in Tay Ninh, a province in the South of Vietnam located nearly 1,000 kilometers away from Danang City. My family has four members: my father, my mother, my younger sister and me. My family has never been well-off. My childhood consisted of watching my parents work tirelessly to earn every penny to make ends meet and raise my sister and I.
My father is now 63 years old and has just undergone his second kidney stone surgery. He also suffers from several chronic health conditions including stage IV chronic kidney disease, heart failure, hypertension, diabetes and pleural effusion. In the past, my father worked as a gas delivery worker, but about two years ago due to his deteriorating health, he could no longer handle heavy work. Now he only does small repair jobs at home such as fixing locks or gas stoves when someone nearby needs help.
My mother is nearly 60 years old and also has several chronic illnesses such as tachycardia, hypothyroidism, hypertension, diabetes and chronic hepatitis B. Recently, her health has become much worse and even simple tasks like cooking or walking to the nearby market increase her heart rate and cause shortness of breath.
As a result, my family’s financial situation has become increasingly difficult. Despite their age and illness, my parents still have to support both of us through university at the same time. I am studying General Medicine in Danang while my younger sister is a fourth-year General Medical student at Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy. Seeing my aging parents who suffer from many illnesses still working hard and worrying about our education in the hope that we will have a brighter future, reminds me to keep striving and studying hard so that one day I can repay at least in part their love and sacrifices.
Perhaps the greatest gift life has given me is not abundance but hardship, for it has taught me to cherish knowledge and to move forward in life with greater determination than those who grow up in comfort. I study not only to change my own destiny but also to help others who are less fortunate. What drives me most strongly is my dream of becoming a doctor. I have witnessed many heartbreaking scenes of sick children in my neighborhood whose families were too poor to take them to the hospital, relying only on herbal remedies or folk medicine. Some of those children sadly passed away simply because they never had the chance to receive proper medical treatment. Those images have been deeply engraved in my memory and have become the flame that fuels my dream to one day wear a white coat and care for and heal disadvantaged children. I especially wish to work in remote and mountainous areas where children lack even the most basic necessities and where the word “doctor” still feels distant and unreachable.
I understand that the path I have chosen will be full of challenges as my parents are getting older while the educational expenses for both my sister and myself continue to increase. The field of medicine we have both chosen requires a great deal of time, effort and financial investment. In order to pursue my dream and not disappoint the hopes my parents and others have placed in me, I have taken on many part-time jobs throughout my university years, for example, working as a waitress, tutor, dishwasher at local eateries and domestic help. However, when my clinical rotations, tests and exams became more frequent, it was nearly impossible for me to balance studying and part-time work. There were times when I had to temporarily stop working which resulted in me feeling extremely stressed about financial issues. This in turn affected my academic performance to some extent.
Although life has given me hardship and scarcity, I see them as gifts that have motivated me to rise above difficulties, build resilience and push beyond my own limits to become stronger and more mature. I truly believe that education is the only path that can change my destiny. Over time, I have learned to stay calm, manage my emotions and balance my time between studying and part-time work, always prioritizing my education above everything else. I often remind myself, “My parents have sacrificed so much for me, so why can’t I try harder? Linh Phuong, keep going! Stay strong! You’re almost there!” I understand that if I were to give up, it would not only mean losing my dream but also shattering my family’s hopes in me.
I learned about the Lifestart Foundation Scholarship through my university as well as from senior students and friends. Fortunately, after submitting my scholarship application, I was selected for the interview round in Hoi An. I felt a great sense of relief after sharing my personal story and the challenges my family has been facing. During the interview, I truly felt the empathy, sincerity and genuine care from Ms. Karen and the staff at Lifestart Foundation. That experience gave me faith and strengthened my determination to keep pursuing my dream and to never let down the trust that everyone has placed in me.
The day I received the news from the Lifestart Foundation that I had successfully passed the interview, my family and I were deeply moved and overjoyed. It was the greatest encouragement we had received in a long time. For me, this scholarship not only eases my financial burden by providing material support but also serves as a powerful source of motivation to continue my academic journey and personal growth. Moreover, it helps reduce the financial pressure on my parents, allowing them to focus more on taking care of my younger sister without having to borrow money or accumulate debt. With this scholarship, I feel more confident about my goals and plans for the future. I can dedicate myself to studying, developing my abilities and broadening my knowledge. This scholarship represents a deep trust and belief in me, reminding me to keep striving to become a doctor who is not only skilled and professional but also compassionate and committed to serving the community.
At present, I am focusing on reinforcing my medical knowledge and maintaining a strong academic performance. My goal for this semester is to achieve a GPA of 3.6, and I am determined to reach it by devoting more time to study, exploring additional medical topics and applying what I have learned in practice. In addition, I actively engage in academic activities such as the Internal Medicine Academic Club, where I have the opportunity to exchange ideas with others, reinforce my understanding of medical concepts, discuss clinical cases, practice essential skills and learn valuable lessons from professors and senior students.
In addition to focusing on my studies and developing essential life skills, I also actively take part in voluntary blood donation. I have donated blood several times, hoping to make a small contribution to helping patients in need. Furthermore, I am involved in activities at Thanh Duc Parish in Danang City, where I serve as a catechist. Each week, I spend time preparing lessons and teaching the children in the parish. This role requires patience, responsibility and effective communication skills, but it also brings me great joy. It has helped me grow as a person, strengthen my interpersonal abilities and nurture faith and hope in the young children I teach.
In the future, I plan to pursue one of two specialties: Paediatrics or Internal Medicine. Both of these align with my current strengths and would allow me to serve the community. I know that I am still just a student with many limitations, but with perseverance, continuous effort and the invaluable support of this scholarship, I believe I can go the distance to achieve my dream. I also hope that one day, when I am in a better financial position, I will be able to give back by supporting students who face circumstances similar to mine. My wish is to help them pursue their dreams and share their burdens, just as the Lifestart Foundation has so generously done for me.
Once again, I would like to express my deepest and most heartfelt gratitude to Ms. Karen, and all members at Lifestart Foundation for your constant care, kindness, and for giving me this precious opportunity. I will do my utmost to live up to the trust and expectations placed in me by you. I will continue to work hard to become a responsible citizen and a dedicated doctor who can care for and support many patients.
Finally, I wish Ms. Karen and all members of the Lifestart Foundation good health, happiness and continued success in spreading kindness and positive values throughout the community.
Sincerely,
Ngo Thuy Linh Phuong