Dear Ms. Karen and Lifestart Foundation,
My name is Nguyen Van Nam, and I am currently a third-year medical student at Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy.
Today, I am writing to express my sincere gratitude to Ms. Karen and Lifestart Foundation for listening to my story about the difficulties I am facing and for awarding me this valuable scholarship. It brings immense joy and happiness to me and my entire family.
I was born and raised in Quang Nam province. My family consists of seven members: my grandmother, who is over 80 years old, my parents, my elder sister and two younger sisters. My parents have been farmers since they were young. While they used to have enough to live on, things have become increasingly difficult, especially since 2018 when my mother fell ill with tuberculosis, hypertension and vestibular disorder (dizziness and vertigo) and the family had to borrow money to pay for her treatment. My parents’ health has declined, and their work has become less productive, increasing the financial burden.
In 2020, my parents borrowed money to grow watermelons to support my sister and I in our university studies, but heavy rains flooded most of the crops, leaving our family in a state of despair and helplessness. Despite the difficulties, my parents were determined to ensure that their children received an education, believing that “education is the ladder to get out of poverty.”
After finishing high school, my elder sister planned to drop out to help support the family, but my father disagreed. However, because she wanted me to have the opportunity to study, she asked my father to give me that chance. My sister went to work, but unfortunately, she was cheated in her first job and did not receive any pay. She then worked in a garment factory, devoting most of her income to supporting the family. My younger sister, Han, is currently in Year 5. My youngest sister was born in 2020. When my parents found out about the unplanned pregnancy, they were devastated because our family was already struggling, but I saw it as a source of joy, as I believe that nothing in life happens by chance.
Our house, which was built a long time ago, has suffered from many storms and is showing signs of decay. I still remember one night when it rained heavily. My parents were at the hospital, and I was lying down when I woke up because I was getting wet. The house leaked so badly that I had to cover the bed with a jacket and use a plastic basin to collect the rainwater. That night, the rain got heavier and the wind stronger, and the window at the side of the house was insufficient to protect inside. Only a piece of metal sheet covered it, but it blew off, letting the rain pour in. Then, the thunderstorm began (I am scared of thunder). At that moment, I was at home without my parents. I did not dare to cry because I was afraid my younger sister would cry too. My siblings and I just quietly sat in a corner until the rain stopped. Our house has not yet been renovated with a proper bathroom, so when we were younger, we bathed outside. But as we grew older, we would go to our uncle’s house next door because he had a bathroom. However, my parents are now trying to save enough to build a small bathroom for our house.
From a young age, I understood the value of hard work and compassion. When my grandmother was hospitalized, witnessing the doctors’ efforts to save lives inspired me to become a doctor. Although I was studying in specialized Physics class, I decided to change my course and start from scratch to pursue my passion. In my final year of high school, I joined the school’s biology team.
Through persistent effort, I achieved some small successes, but everything remained challenging. My school was 12 kilometers away, and I commuted on an old electric bike that a teacher had given me. However, after a few months, the bike’s battery started to deteriorate, but it was too expensive to replace, so I continued using it. The bike could get me to school, but by the time I was heading home, the battery would run out, and I had to pedal the rest of the way. On days when I had extra classes in the afternoon, I would use a regular bicycle. I still remember rainy days vividly – school ended around 5 PM when it was already dark. The road home was lonely, and I often felt scared. Sometimes, the rain was heavy, and the wind was so strong that it felt like it could blow me away. But I realized how lucky I was to be able to go to school, and so I never missed a day or gave up.
Realising that my family life was difficult, I tried to earn some money for breakfast, books and school supplies. After school, I collected plastic bottles to sell. I was truly happy that my neighbors were kind and often gave me plastic bottles or scrap paper to sell, which provided me with some extra income. At home, my family farmed rice and beans, so after school, I helped my parents in the fields.
In the evenings, the lights at home were dim, and there were many mosquitoes. When it rained, the roof leaked, sometimes soaking my study area. Because of these problems, I made it a habit to study whenever and wherever I could find a little free time.
Despite our hardships, our family has always maintained love and unity. I am grateful for the sacrifices my parents, sister and younger sisters have made to provide me with the opportunity to study and grow. I understand that the path to success is not easy, but with the support and encouragement of my family, I am determined to overcome any obstacles.
In 2022, when I was preparing for university entrance exams, I considered dropping out to help my family, just like my sister had done. However, she insisted that I should not. She said, “I quit studying because I know what your dream is. I want you to continue studying and make our family proud.” Honestly, at that moment, I just cried. I did not realize that my sister sacrificed her own education for my future. This inspired me to work even harder, and I was finally accepted into university. However, our financial situation worsened as we had to borrow money from the bank to pay for tuition and home repairs. My father works tirelessly, earning only 3.5 million VND (approximately $218 AUD) per month, most of which goes towards my education. Seeing my sister’s sacrifices and selflessness, I felt immense gratitude and love for her.
To help support my family, I took on various part-time jobs, from working as a waiter in a café to tutoring. There were times when I only ate eggs or tofu for a whole week to save money because I did not want to ask my parents for more. I felt that I did not need to eat well, just enough to have the energy to study. Despite the challenges, I always remained optimistic, believing that difficulties could fuel my drive to succeed. I supposed living with passion and spreading kindness will help me overcome any obstacles and become a successful doctor.
Through my university, I learned about the Lifestart Foundation scholarship program. On the interview day, we departed for Hoi An at 4:00 AM. I could only manage a short nap in the car due to anxiety that had kept me awake the entire night. However, upon meeting my fellow participants, I felt more relaxed. When I entered the interview with Ms. Karen and Ms. Nhung, I felt much of my worry subside, as their warm smiles made me feel comfortable, despite it being our initial meeting. This encouraged me to confidently share my challenges. The interview process was not as formal as I had expected; it felt more like a conversation where I could express the difficulties I was facing and things I had never shared with anyone before. Although my English language skills were limited, I was determined to introduce myself in English, and I was thrilled to have accomplished that. After the interview, I felt a sense of relief and happiness, as I had finally been able to express myself.
I waited nearly a week for the results and began to feel quite anxious. One morning, while attending a conference at my university, Ms. Nhung called to inform me that I had been awarded the scholarship. I was overwhelmed with joy and immediately shared the news with my family. My parents were overjoyed, and I could see tears of happiness in their eyes. I could not believe it, as this was my first time applying for a scholarship, and I had no prior experience. I simply wrote about my own experiences and feelings, and I was incredibly grateful for this recognition.
I will allocate 100% of the scholarship to pay tuition fees and living expenses, reducing the financial burden on my parents. They will no longer have to worry about borrowing money for my education. The scholarship will allow me to fully concentrate on my studies without financial stress and enable me to improve my quality of life.
I believe that in life, what goes around comes around. Having received such a substantial gift, both materially and spiritually, from you, I am eager to share this goodness with others. I will continue to save money with my friends so that we can purchase small gifts each month for those in need within our city. Whenever we encounter someone facing difficulties, such as a broken-down vehicle or an elderly person in need, we will lend a helping hand.
I aspire to study abroad in the future to enhance my skills and become a skilled doctor who can help others and make my parents proud. After completing my six years of study, I hope to graduate with honors and work in my hometown to be close to my parents, provide care for them and save for further education. One of my goals is to open a free clinic for the elderly and those facing financial difficulties, as I understand the concerns my parents have about seeking medical treatment due to the cost. I always remember the proverb “the leaves protect tattered ones” and hope that in the future, once I am financially stable, I can contribute to or establish a scholarship fund to support disadvantaged but studious students. This is my way of spreading love and repaying the kindness I have received.
Currently, I am starting my clinical practice and hospital shifts, which provides me with an opportunity to develop myself, interact with patients, learn how to extract information about their symptoms and make preliminary diagnoses. It also allows me to listen to their stories and empathize with them. However, this is perhaps the most challenging aspect. While knowledge acquired in class provides a foundation for clinical practice, it is not sufficient. Learning from individual patients is essential, as even the same disease can manifest differently in different patients. This is the most challenging part for me, but I am fortunate to have the guidance of dedicated seniors. In the mornings, I attend clinical sessions at the hospital and participate in case discussions, which offer opportunities to learn from my lecturers. In the afternoons, I study theory subjects or do practical exercises in classrooms and laboratories. On days when I have night shifts, I am on duty from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM or later. Therefore, on days when I have more time, I dedicate a significant amount of time, around 4-5 hours daily, and even more on weekends, to self-study. Final exams require me to devote almost half a day to studying, as they are crucial. Despite the challenges, I find clinical practice and patient interactions to be rewarding experiences.
In closing, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Ms. Karen and Lifestart Foundation for your immense support which has boosted my confidence as I navigate this challenging path. I understand that achieving success is not easy, and I am aware of the obstacles I may encounter along the way. Lifestart Foundation will have been like a supportive arm, providing me with strength, belief and inspiration.
I promise to put the best effort into studies, remain strong and never stop living up to your expectations. I will actively engage in community service and work hard to become a skilled doctor who can make a positive impact on society. I wish Ms. Karen and Lifestart Foundation continued success in assisting more students overcome challenges and achieve their goals.
Kind regards,
Nguyen Van Nam