While still a university student, Nguyen Phuc Son found himself unexpectedly taking on the role of a single “father” to a four-year-old boy. Even with that responsibility, he managed to graduate as the top student of his university - a goal he once believed was far beyond reach.

While still a university student, Nguyen Phuc Son found himself unexpectedly taking on the role of a single “father” to a four-year-old boy. Even with that responsibility, he managed to graduate as the top student of his university - a goal he once believed was far beyond reach.

Born in 2001 in Thanh Hoa province, Phuc Son is the middle child of three siblings. When he was just two years old, his parents divorced, and his mother left to earn a living far from home. The three children were left in the care of their maternal grandmother.

“All we had was education to escape poverty”

Son grew up wrapped in his grandmother’s love. “We were part of a poor household for most of my schooling years - only later did we become a near-poor family,” he recalled.

His grandmother often reminded them: “Study hard to escape poverty.”

Watching her wake early every day to pick and sell jute leaves - sometimes earning only 1,000 VND for three bunches - Son resolved to study well so he could take care of her.

Despite the family's hardships, Son always excelled in school. Being only a year older than his younger sister, he often passed down his schoolbooks for her to reuse. Both siblings shared the same dream: study hard to lift their family out of poverty.

But their lives were shaken during Son’s 11th grade year. His elder sister became pregnant unexpectedly and left the baby with their grandmother shortly after giving birth. With no other choice, Son helped raise the child while studying for his university entrance exams.

Despite these burdens, Son’s talent and dedication earned him a place at Foreign Trade University in Ho Chi Minh City through a joint program with full tuition support.

As soon as he enrolled, he began searching for part-time jobs. But just two months into his studies, his beloved grandmother passed away suddenly - a loss that left him devastated and directionless.

“My mother was in poor health, my sister was preparing for her own university exams, and the baby was too young to be left alone,” Son said. “At that point, if I didn’t step up to work, no one else could.”

He made the painful decision to pause his studies and find work. He moved to Hanoi and took up various labor jobs - warehouse work, manual labor - sending money home for his family. At one point, he even considered going abroad as a migrant worker to earn more quickly.

But just as the paperwork was complete, the COVID-19 pandemic struck, halting his plans and leaving him with debt. Trapped and financially burdened, Son took on more jobs, working day and night.

“There were weeks when I survived on instant noodles, sometimes just water because I had no money,” he recalled. “Even though I had knowledge, I couldn’t tutor because I wasn’t enrolled anywhere.”

One day, he stumbled across an admissions notice from Hanoi National University of Education 2, which offered free tuition and a monthly allowance of $150 for eligible students. Seeing a glimmer of hope, he submitted his application using high school transcripts - and was accepted.

Bringing a child to university

Once again, Son faced a difficult choice. His mother was ill, his sister had also started university, and no one could look after the child. Though several people offered to adopt the boy, Son couldn’t bear to let him go.

“I’d held him in my arms for years - how could I give him away?” he said.

After sleepless nights, Son decided to bring his nephew with him to Vinh Phuc, where he would both study and take care of the child. He also encouraged his mother to move to Hanoi for work as a domestic helper - not for income, but to be nearby in case of emergencies.

In 2021, at 20 years old, Son and his four-year-old nephew left their hometown and moved into a small rented room near the university. Balancing student life with fatherhood, he juggled studying, part-time tutoring, childcare, and repaying his debts.

Each morning, he woke early to prepare meals and take his nephew to preschool. He arranged with teachers to keep the child until 7 PM, allowing him time to tutor students in the evenings. When he returned home, he bathed and fed the boy, then resumed teaching late-night online sessions for students in South Korea.

Despite the hardship, Son never complained.

“People feel sorry for me, saying I grew up without my parents and had to raise a child. But I still had a happy childhood with my grandmother. I hope my nephew never feels like he missed out,” he said.

There were days when he returned late and asked friends to help pick up the boy. On other days, with no options left, he brought the child to class. His classmates playfully nicknamed the boy “the attachment” because they were always together.

The little boy never misbehaved in class - he sat quietly beside his uncle, earning the affection and support of Son’s teachers and friends.

Education changed his life

From the start, Son was determined to graduate as quickly as possible. His goal was simple: earn scholarships to survive. He prepared extensively for each subject, reading syllabi in advance and identifying key questions to discuss in class. His efforts paid off - he received scholarships in all six semesters.

He also joined research projects, winning first prize at the university level and a consolation prize at the national level. Alongside the recognition, he was grateful for the prize money to cover living expenses.

Through tireless dedication, Son completed his program in just 2 years and 8 months, achieving the highest GPA in the English department in the last five years and graduating as valedictorian.

Before graduation, he received job offers from schools in Hanoi and even had a chance to study abroad. But again, he put his dreams on hold when his mother was hospitalized with meningitis. Though she survived, she was left with impaired vision and needed long-term care.

“I didn’t feel regret,” Son said. “My dream of easing my family’s burden was more important than studying abroad.”

“But I’ve only postponed it,” he added. “If the chance comes again - once my sister is stable, my nephew is older, and my mom is okay - I’ll travel and see the world.”

Today, Son teaches English at An Hoa Secondary School in Tay Ninh province. Having grown up poor with no access to language education, he chose to work in rural areas, hoping to help other students connect with English and build confidence for the future.

Looking back, Son says his only regret is not being able to repay his grandmother.

“Time waits for no one. When I finally had a bit of relief in life, she was already gone. But I will always be grateful to her - for teaching me the most valuable lesson: never give up on education. For me, education changed everything.”

Thuy Nga