Luc Thi Thuong – from a poor family of the Nung ethnic group in Cao Bang province – has overcome all difficulties to rise up in life.
Growing up in a poor Nung family from Cao Bang province, Luc Thi Thuong (born 1987) has overcome all difficulties to rise up in life. The Australia Awards Scholarship (AAS) that Thuong received is evidence of the strong spirit and determination of this woman from the highlands.
The fairy tale shoes of a poor girl
“Fortunately, my father only cursed when he drank alcohol, and never hit his wife and children, nor broke things. Although, there was almost nothing in my house to break”, said Thuong when recalling her childhood.
Thuong was born into a poor family with three children. Her father was an alcoholic, and her mother had to work hard to raise the children, going to work during the day and selling porridge in the evening.
Born in poverty, Thuong was striving to rise up
Her mother’s hard work made Thuong want to ease her burdens. She found that the only way to get out of poverty and have the opportunity to rise up in life was through education. So, young Thuong was determined to focus on her studies, no matter how hard and bumpy the journey would be.
“When I was in elementary school, my house was only 500 meters away from the school, but the slope was very difficult to walk. It wasn’t until my third grade that my mother had enough money to buy me a pair of plastic shoes, which made me overjoyed,” Thuong shared. And those plastic shoes became the first “vehicle” to bring Thuong to her future dream.
Thuong had to walk many kilometers on her bare feet to school until the day her mother afforded her a pair of plastic shoes
Thuong graduated from high school in 2005. While her friends were making their university choices, Thuong felt helpless because she had no one to guide her, and she could only study at a tuition-free school. She did apply for a pedagogical university, but failed the entrance exams. However, she was eventually admitted to Viet Tri Central Ethnic Preparatory University and studied geodesy (the study of the Earth’s fundamental properties) at the University of Mining and Geology. Upon her graduation in 2011, Thuong was employed by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE) of Cao Bang province.
Thuong continued to strive for an AAS and earned her a Master degree in Public Policy from RMIT University.
Although her journey was not smooth, Thuong reached her destination and became a government official.
After a year of working, Thuong obtained an Australia Awards scholarship and became a Master of Public Policy at RMIT Australia University.
The path to Australia
“In 2017, I applied for an Australia Awards scholarship and I succeeded. I studied English at RMIT University I Hochiminh City from September 2017 to September 2018. In January 2019, I went to Melbourne to study a Master’s program in Public Policy at RMIT University. In March 2021, I returned home on a government relief flight and continued to work at the DNRE”, Luc Thi Thuong shared about her journey to success.
Thuong also shared that she chose public policy because during her time at the DNRE, she noticed many problems related to policies and legal documents and wanted to help fix these. She also saw the emergence of one-stop shops and digitalised documentation in Vietnam, which made her think of promoting e-government.
Energetic little Nung girl is an inspiration for those who desire to reach further and fulfill their dreams.
When Thuong started to apply for an AAS, she also simultaneously worked and attended an English class, recognizing she needed to improve in this area. After she was shortlisted for the AAS, Thuong took leave from work to focus on her IELTS exams.
“When I finished the English test, I started to have a fever because it was too hot, and I felt very tired while waiting for a bus to go back to Cao Bang. I finished my scholarship application journey and waited anxiously for the results. And finally, I made it”, Thuong shared. When asked what makes her most proud of herself, Thuong simply responded: “It is always striving to learn, ‘working hard to be smart’ so that when an opportunity arises, I can seize it”.
“I named AAS the “Humanities Scholarship” because what I received is not only knowledge, but also an interdependent network. With my experience with the AAS, I helped a number of young people prepare their applications, giving them the opportunity to study in an international environment”, Thuong proudly shared.
Thuong wishes to contribute to improving the quality of life, increasing learning and development opportunities for Ethnic Minority women
With a desire to contribute to society, especially to Ethnic Minority women, after completing her Master’s degree in Public Policy, Luc Thi Thuong studied more about social issues, including those related to Ethnic Minorities, such as poverty and domestic violence. She hopes to contribute more to improving quality of life and increasing learning and development opportunities for Ethnic Minority women.
On her journey to overcome disadvantageous circumstances, the little and energetic Nung woman Luc Thi Thuong is like a flower in full bloom, inspiring those who aspire to rise up, reach further and fulfill their dreams.
Source: phunuvietnam.vn
