Orphaned top student works to fund education

Orphaned by her mother, Siu H'Suyn lives with her sister's family, working while studying. She led Tran Quoc Tuan High School in the 2025 high school graduation exam.

Late in the afternoon of 18/7, Siu H'Suyn returned to her home in Chu A Thai commune after a day of harvesting rice. The Jarai student gave the 200,000 VND she earned to her older sister to manage their living expenses and savings.

H'Suyn was a 12th-grade student in class 12A6 at Tran Quoc Tuan High School. In the 2025 high school graduation exam, she scored 27.5 in the C00 combination (Literature, History, Geography) and 24.25 in the C03 combination (Math, Literature, History). With a total score across all four subjects, H'Suyn achieved 34.25 out of 40, the highest among the school's more than 400 12th-grade students.

H’Suyn credits her sister’s encouragement and support, along with the help of her teachers and friends, for her success, especially during challenging times.

"Since receiving the results, I've been both happy and worried about university tuition," she said. H'Suyn plans to study primary education at Quy Nhon University. She will continue working to save money, and if it's not enough, she'll ask her sister for a loan.

Siu H'Suyn lives with her sister's family in a small house with few possessions. Photo: Ngoc Oanh

Siu H'Suyn lives with her sister's family in a small house with few possessions. Photo: Ngoc Oanh

Coming from a poor family in Phu Thien district (now Chu A Thai commune, Gia Lai province), H'Suyn's childhood was marked by hardship. From secondary school onward, she herded cattle, cut grass, and harvested cassava after school to help her parents.

Early last year, her mother passed away from a serious illness. Three months later, her father moved south, remarried, and started a new family. H'Suyn moved in with her sister, continuing to work to support them both.

She takes on any available job in the village, sometimes traveling tens of kilometers for work that pays between 100,000 and 250,000 VND per day, depending on the task.

"There are days working under the scorching sun or pouring rain, completely soaked, but I still persevere," H'Suyn shared. "I've never thought of giving up."

H'Suyn realized early on that education was her path to a better life. She dreams of becoming a teacher and dedicates much of her time to studying. Whenever she has a break from work, she does her homework or reads reference materials, and continues studying in the evenings.

"Even when exhausted, I still try to study until 11 or 12 at night," H'Suyn said, adding that she is fortunate to have teachers who provide enthusiastic guidance in class and offer free tutoring in math.

As a result, she has been an excellent student for 12 consecutive years. In 12th grade, she won third prize in the provincial history competition for students. She is also one of two outstanding members of the Youth Union recommended by the school's party cell for party membership.

Her homeroom teacher, Hoang Dieu Loan, describes H'Suyn as a resilient student with a strong work ethic and a desire to achieve high academic results.

According to Ms. Loan, H'Suyn quickly grasps and retains knowledge in social science subjects. If anything is unclear, she doesn't hesitate to ask her teachers for clarification. She diligently attends free afternoon tutoring sessions offered by some teachers, completing all assignments and practice exams. She also studies independently, utilizing online resources to reinforce her knowledge.

"She is a shining example for other students in the school to follow," Ms. Loan said.