At first glance, Thu Giang is a quiet, gentle ninth grader with a warm smile. But behind her calm presence is a story of extraordinary resolve—a young girl carrying more than her share of burdens and rising through them with hard work and grace.
Giang lives in a humble home with her parents and two siblings. Her father, Mr. Tran Huu once the main provider, fell ill with a degenerative condition that left him unable to work. Since then, Mrs. Thi Chung, her mother, has taken on odd jobs just to keep the household going. The family’s income is unstable, and medical expenses continue to mount.
With no steady source of support, pressure weighs heavily on everyone—but especially on Giang. She stood by as her older brother, Duc Truyen, left school early to work and help cover the costs at home. And each morning, she sees her youngest sibling off to primary school, wondering what kind of future he’ll have. These aren’t just moments—they are quiet, lasting imprints that remind her what’s at stake.
But instead of giving in to worry, Giang turns pressure into purpose.
In 6th grade, she joined Study Steps, a tutoring program by Children of Vietnam. At the time, English was her greatest struggle, and school felt like something she might not keep up with. But the scholarship changed her mindset.
“If I’m being given this chance, I have to make it count,” she told herself.
And she did.
Giang threw herself into learning with quiet intensity—staying up late to review lessons, rewriting notes until they made sense, and bravely asking her teachers the questions she had kept to herself. She made the most of every Study Steps session, focusing especially on three core subjects: Math, English, and Literature. Each class became an opportunity—not just to understand the material, but to build the confidence she needed to keep going.
The results spoke for themselves. English, once her greatest challenge, became one of her strongest subjects. Year after year, she earned Excellent Student honors—not through ease, but through hours of patient effort and an unwavering will to improve.
Her teachers describe her as focused, thoughtful, and respectful. At every Study Steps activity—from tutoring sessions to life skills workshops and outdoor field trips—Giang participates with sincerity and quiet enthusiasm. She’s not just there to learn for herself—she’s working toward something bigger.
“I want to become a teacher,” Giang says, her voice calm but full of purpose. “I want to help other students the way I’ve been helped. So I’ll keep studying hard and improving myself.”
Giang recently graduated from secondary school and will begin high school this September—a major milestone for any student, but especially meaningful for a girl carrying so much on her shoulders. Those who know her feel both pride and hope, not just because she made it, but because she’s already shown what it means to rise.
At Children of Vietnam, we believe in students like Giang—not only for their academic potential, but for their quiet strength, unwavering discipline, and deep sense of responsibility.
Giang’s story is far from finished. But with every lesson she learns and every step she takes, she moves closer to the future she envisions—one where she stands in front of a classroom not as a student, but as a teacher who once turned struggle into strength. And through her story, she’ll continue to teach others what’s possible when opportunity meets resilience.