For Nguyen Thi To Uyen, every step toward her future has been paved with her mother’s sacrifice.
After her parents separated, Uyen’s mother became the sole provider for the family of three. For nearly ten years, she sold tofu to make ends meet. Unlike other vendors who delivered their goods by bicycle, she carried hers in heavy wooden shoulder poles, walking more than 3.5 kilometers each day to prevent the tofu from breaking on the bumpy roads. The burden left deep grooves in her shoulders and lasting pain in her joints.
Uyen still remembers the day she tried to carry the pole herself. Under the weight, she lasted only five seconds, even after the tofu had been sold and the containers were empty. That moment became a lasting memory, reminding her of the invisible load her mother bore to keep their small family afloat.
Her mother’s words stayed with her, too: “Just choose what you love and give it your all. I believe in you.” But in Vietnam, pursuing higher education is filled with obstacles for students from disadvantaged families. According to the World Bank, the number of students accessing official loan programs has dropped significantly since 2021.
Among high school students from low-income backgrounds considering university, fewer than 15% look to student loans as an option if tuition is unaffordable, while nearly 50% switch majors simply because their preferred field costs more than their families can afford (World Bank, 2021). For young people like Uyen, financial barriers can stand in the way of their dreams before they even begin.
That changed in 2021, when she was selected for Children of Vietnam’s Bright Scholars Program. Through the program, Uyen received tuition support and a monthly stipend for living expenses—relieving her mother’s financial burden and giving her the stability to focus on her studies.
And she made the most of it. Uyen earned first prize in a public speaking contest and third prize in a university research competition. Her 2024 project on how English majors can learn through music was praised by professors as both creative and practical. She also gained hands-on professional experience during a two-month internship in customer service at Furama Resort, a 5-star beachfront retreat at Da Nang.
Beyond academics, Uyen embraced every opportunity COV offered—volunteering, joining workshops, and taking part in training sessions. “Becoming a Bright Scholar was a turning point that brought hope and direction to my life,” she reflected. By giving back through service, she not only strengthened her own skills but also sought to encourage other students facing hardships like hers.
Once a quiet and hesitant student, Uyen has grown into a confident leader—someone who knows that her journey carries meaning not just for herself, but for others walking the same difficult road.
This August, Uyen graduated with honors from Duy Tan University with a degree in Translation and Interpretation. She has since begun working as a receptionist at Kop Spa in Da Nang, a professional spa serving mainly international visitors—especially Korean tourists. With stable income and valuable practice in hospitality, Uyen is able to support her family, particularly helping her younger brother continue his studies.
She has also explored other career opportunities, including sales positions in real estate, but for now, she finds her current work both more rewarding and financially suitable. Looking ahead, Uyen plans to continue developing her career in the hospitality and tourism industry, and she has begun studying Korean to expand her professional opportunities.
“COV feels like a guardian angel to me,” Uyen said. “I didn’t choose where I was born, but I can choose how I grow up.”
Her journey shows what is possible when support meets determination: a young woman who once carried the weight of survival now carries the confidence to step into her future with hope and purpose.