A Thai girl leaves her village with 3 million dong and embarks on a journey to rewrite her destiny through knowledge.

Even while sitting at the enrollment counter, I still heard relatives saying, "Go home, child. Where will you get the money to eat after you start studying?"

Lo Thi Phuong Ly, a former student of the K12 Nursing program at Dai Nam University, has written a story of her journey of growth, from the early days of leaving her village to study in Hanoi.

Seven years after that day, the girl from the Thai ethnic group not only graduated from university and became a technician in the Nursing Department at Dai Nam University, but also single-handedly raised her two younger siblings and continued her studies to earn a master's degree. This is the journey of Lo Thi Phuong Ly, a former student of the K12 Nursing program, which began with a seemingly solitary decision amidst the dissuasion of relatives and the difficult circumstances in her remote village in Son La province.

Three million dong and a single belief.

Born into a Thai family in the highlands of Son La, Phuong Ly grew up amidst poverty and age-old beliefs. In her village, many still believe that girls only need to finish secondary school, learn to read and write, and then get married. Therefore, when Ly was accepted into university, her joy quickly gave way to discouragement: some sympathized with her family's circumstances, others worried about the exorbitant tuition fees, and still others said, "What's the point of a girl studying so much?"

With the 3 million VND she saved after a month of working as a waitress, Phuong Ly began her educational journey in Hanoi, determined to change her life through knowledge.

Only Ly's mother quietly saved every penny so her daughter could go to school. Wanting to share the burden with her mother, before leaving for Hanoi, Ly applied for a job as a waitress at a restaurant near her home. After a month, she received 3 million dong in wages, which was all the money she had brought with her when she left her village.

"My hands were shaking so much; it was the first money I'd ever earned myself. I told myself I had to try my best so I wouldn't let my mother down," Ly recalled.

Difficult days in the capital city

Three million dong quickly became the daily expenses for rent, food, and tuition. Just three days after arriving in Hanoi, she started looking for part-time jobs, attending classes during the day and washing dishes or working in restaurants at night. Some nights, returning to her rented room late at night with blistered hands, she could only cry from exhaustion, but then she would think of her mother borrowing every penny for her education, and tell herself not to give up.

"But whenever I think about my mother borrowing every penny for my education, I tell myself I can't give up. I have to study, I have to succeed so that my younger siblings can also go to school," Ly said.

Throughout her university years, the cycle of studying and making a living left almost no days off. But it was during that time that Ly received support from the lecturers of the Nursing Department, not through grand words of encouragement, but through very specific care, dedicated guidance, and faith in a student who always strived to overcome her circumstances.

Opportunities come from Japan.

Understanding that foreign languages would open up many career opportunities, Ly studied Japanese every day. This effort helped her secure a 7-month internship in Japan in her second year of university. Just as she arrived in Japan, the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, making the internship journey of this student from the highlands even more unique.

"When the students went to Japan right when the pandemic broke out, the entire school, faculty, and families were very worried. We always kept in touch, encouraged, and supported them so that they could focus on their studies and internships," recalled Ms. Doan Thi Nga, Deputy Head of the Nursing Faculty.

After graduating, Phuong Ly was retained by Dai Nam University as a technician in the Nursing Department, while also continuing her studies for a master's degree.

In a professional work environment, Ly was highly regarded by her colleagues for her expertise and sense of responsibility. The hospital where she interned offered to cover all tuition and living expenses to keep her working there long-term. It was an opportunity many people would dream of, but Ly declined.

"Staying in Japan would definitely make my life better. But I promised my mother I would come back to finish university. I also want to bring my two younger siblings down to Hanoi to study with me. If I stay, that promise will be left unfulfilled," Ly shared.

When knowledge changes an entire family.

Upon returning to Vietnam, Ly continued to complete her studies. Understanding the resilience and circumstances of this student from the highlands, the Board of Directors and the Faculty of Nursing decided to retain her at the school as a technician after graduation.

After graduating, Phuong Ly was retained by Dai Nam University as a technician in the Nursing Department, while also continuing her studies for a master's degree.

From a girl who came to Hanoi with only 3 million dong, Ly can now support herself, pursue a master's degree, and bring her two younger siblings back to continue their education. What makes her happiest comes from returning home, where the aunts and uncles who once advised her to quit school now tell their children and grandchildren, "You must study hard like Ly."

Ly smiled: "Perhaps, the decision to go to school that year not only changed my life, but also made many children in the village believe that they too can step out, learn, and write their own future."

That is also the most enduring value that education brings: it not only changes an individual but can also change the mindset of a family, a village, and open up hope for future generations.