On July 26, 2012, Công an Nhân dân published a Vietnamese article titled “Cậu học trò nghèo đỗ thủ khoa ĐH Quốc gia Hà Nội” (“A poor student becomes a valedictorian at Vietnam National University, Hanoi”). The article was about me, Khuynh Van Nguyen, shortly after I learned that I had become the valedictorian of the Medicine program at the School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
The article described my family circumstances in Que Son, Quang Nam, the years my parents worked hard through farming and small livestock raising to support their children’s education, and the moment when I considered skipping the second entrance exam in Quy Nhon to save money for my family. With my father’s encouragement, I still took the exam, and that decision became a major turning point in my life.
Reading this article again, I remember how those days felt: joyful, uncertain, and full of gratitude. I was happy that years of studying had led to this result, worried about the costs of university ahead, and grateful for the support of my family, teachers, and hometown.
The original article is in Vietnamese and can be read on Công an Nhân dân:
Cậu học trò nghèo đỗ thủ khoa ĐH Quốc gia Hà Nội
Source: Công an Nhân dân, written by An Khang, published on July 26, 2012.