Four years later, Hai graduated as one of eight valedictorians at Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST), the most prestigious technology and engineering university.

On September 26, during the graduation ceremony at HUST, Hai, one of eight top-ranked graduates this year, delivered a speech representing nearly 3,500 new bachelor's and engineering graduates.

From a timid freshman lacking self-confidence, after four years, Hai graduated in Applied Mathematics and Informatics with a GPA of 3.89/4.0, earned merit scholarships in six out of seven semesters, and participated in two international exchange programs.

Standing at the podium, however, Hai addressed not his personal achievements, but his mother, who raised him single-handedly.

"Thank you, Mom, for years of sacrifice, worry, and unwavering belief in my capability. My achievements today were built upon your love and sacrifice. This valedictorian title serves as my gift to you after years of grueling labor," Hai said emotionally.

In the audience, Le Thi Sau, born in 1969, could not hold back tears of happiness. After learning that her son had become a valedictorian, she took a coach bus from Gia Lai to Hanoi so she could attend his graduation ceremony.

Mother takes on every job 

Hai's family consists of him and his mother. His father lost contact with the family many years ago, so Sau worked year-round to support her son through school.

Back in their hometown of Nam Dan, Nghe An, the family has about 1.5 sao (1 sao = 360 sqm) of farmland. Besides working in agriculture, Sau took on whatever jobs available. 

Hai still remembers days when his mother dug galangal. Despite the hard work, she earned only around VND50,000 for a full day's labor. Growing up in such circumstances, Hai told himself he had to work hard at school.

His family could not afford extra classes, so he mostly studied on his own. In 12th grade, Hai won second prize in Biology at the provincial-level academic competition before being admitted to HUST with 26.8 points.

When Hai was admitted to university, Sau was both happy and worried. Tuition and living expenses in Hanoi were a considerable financial burden. But the mother never considered letting her son drop out.

Understanding his mother's circumstances, Hai looked for a part-time job from his very first semester.

Fortunately, in the second semester of his freshman year, Hai was introduced by the Student Affairs Office to the HUST scholarship for students facing particularly difficult circumstances. Receiving the scholarship eased his worries about tuition.

Through the program, Hai was also introduced to an opportunity to work as a teaching assistant at a mathematics club. The job was a better fit and gave him more time to study, while teaching sessions also helped him develop his communication skills.

“From someone who was always shy and insecure, who only knew that I had to do my best but had no idea how far I could go, that support helped me realize that there were still people who believed in me even when I had not truly learned to believe in myself,” Hai said.

The valedictorian

From then on, instead of feeling inferior, Hai began to change and find study methods that suited him. He took the initiative to read textbooks before class so he could better understand the lectures, asked friends about things he did not understand, and maintained a study group to exchange knowledge.

Gradually, Hai caught up with his studies and earned his first academic scholarships.

In the summer of his third year, Hai had the opportunity to take part in a two-week exchange program at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). At the beginning of his fourth year, Hai took another exchange trip to Wuhan and Chongqing in China. The two trips opened up many new experiences for him.

Hai is now working as a research assistant at VinUni while preparing applications for a master's scholarship abroad.

For Hai, the journey ahead has only just begun. But this latest milestone - becoming a valedictorian, as he said at the graduation ceremony - is a gift to the mother who spent half her life working hard to support him.

“I also hope that from now on, I can start taking care of my mother. She will no longer have to work so hard, travel far from home for work or worry about the future,” Hai said.

Thuy Nga