School Over Surrender

On life's journey, I’m sure everyone has faced difficulties and felt ready to give up. I am no different. I have also wanted to give up and relieve my exhaustion, but I chose the path of education over surrendering.

I was born into a large extended family. Everyone worked hard for what they earned, but we were still poor. When I was two years old, my mother unfortunately passed away from a serious illness, leaving me to rely solely on my father and grandparents. Our house was quite dilapidated, and my grandmother worked through her 60s to provide for us. Despite our circumstances, I worked hard in school, and my family tried their best to support my studies and provide a normal life for me.

However, as I entered middle school, my father’s shipbuilding business began to fail. It wasn't until we paid tuition and school fees that I realized how much hardship our family was facing. I was terrified thinking about dropping out of school. I begged my aunt because I knew "only education can secure my future." Thanks to her support, I continued my studies.

I studied very hard to achieve a high ranking and passed the entrance exam to Thot Not High School. My father was so proud and confidently showed off my achievements to his coworkers in his new job as a ship cook. As I became more confident, I even began focusing on English, a subject I had once feared.

A major tragedy struck my family in June 2022. My father suffered a work accident that resulted in a severed tendon and fractured wrist, which left him unable to grip things steadily. He lost his job, and we lost our main source of income. As I entered 12th grade, I saw my father cry for the first time in my life. I was sad, I was scared – scared of having to drop out of school to help the family, scared of not being able to go to university, scared of having to give up my dreams. 

At this point, I thought I should probably give up. There was no other way. But after a night of thinking, I came to a conclusion: "I won't drop out of school, I must try my best to study. Only education can help me escape my current predicament." After that, I did everything possible to continue my studies. I asked my aunts and uncles for help, ate more frugally, and, most importantly, I had to try harder in my studies.

After graduating from high school, I had hoped to attend university in Saigon, the big city. However, the reality was that my family did not have the money. I enrolled in Can Tho University instead, which was close to home. I was disappointed I couldn’t study in Saigon, but I did my best to take advantage of the opportunities I had. To support myself, I began working at Jollibee while attending classes. I worked late shifts, drenched in sweat in the hot kitchen. The work took a toll on my grades, as I scored a D for the first time. 

Once again, I was almost ready to give up.

Luckily, I learned about Sunflower Mission and the SAS scholarship program. I was so grateful to apply for and receive the scholarship. The organization supported me and helped me think more positively. They helped me realize that even though I had many hardships, I had so many opportunities to be grateful for. They reminded me to never give up on my dreams. 

Today, I am finishing my third year of university and am on track to become a Chemical Engineer. However, my goal is still higher: to obtain a Master's degree in Chemistry. Reflecting on past events, I realize that those obstacles I faced made me stronger, more mature, and more positive.

This is my own story of relentless effort and never giving up. Even in what I consider the most difficult circumstances of my life, I still chose to persevere in my studies. Because I understand that only through education can I gain the knowledge and understanding to change my future.

Trần Thành Chiến
3rd-Year Chemical Engineering Student | Can Tho University
Sponsor-A-Student (SAS) Scholarship Recipient