Phuong was born in Kim Son district, Ninh Binh province. Without a father, she grew up with her mother, living next to her maternal grandparents and uncle. In second grade, a rare illness stunted her growth, leaving her at 1.1 meters tall.

Her mother's love and care helped Phuong overcome the insecurity of being teased by her peers. Every day, Nguyen Thi Tam took her daughter to school, ensuring she was fed and rested. "When I was with my mother, I felt like I didn't need to grow up," Phuong recalled.

But when Phuong was in 10th grade, her mother suffered a stroke, leaving her half-paralyzed with slurred speech, memory loss, and childlike behavior. "I was shocked. I didn't recognize the person in front of me as my mother," Phuong remembered.

Nguyen Thi Phuong and fellow students return to the dormitory after a day of studying and working, 9/15. Photo: Pham Nga

The two lived frugally on financial support from relatives and neighbors. From a sheltered child, Phuong had to learn to cook, bathe, and care for her mother. Several times, her mother fell, and Phuong rushed to help, but her small frame couldn't support the weight, and they both tumbled down. The young girl would cry out for help.

Watching his niece constantly cry from worry, her uncle, 42-year-old Nguyen Dinh Tinh, scolded her: "Never think you're disadvantaged. Having arms and legs is a blessing. Look at Nick Vujicic; he does everything without limbs."

He then built her a tricycle so she could go to school every day. During her university entrance exam preparation, lacking money for tutoring, Phuong borrowed old books and photocopied practice tests to study independently. She studied during the day while her mother slept. At night, the young woman studied while soothing her crying mother, who wanted to lie beside her. "Many times, I'd put down my books and collapse from exhaustion," she said.

But Phuong always excelled academically. In 12th grade, she joined the Communist Party of Vietnam. "Phuong's passion for learning has been there since childhood. She almost never missed school," her uncle said.

In 2021, the "petite woman" was accepted into the Information Technology program at Thuy Loi University with a score of 26.15. Her first semester was online due to the Covid-19 pandemic. When in-person classes resumed, Phuong was torn between staying home to care for her mother and going to Hanoi. Tam cried, clinging to her daughter, but her uncle encouraged her, "Only education can change your life."

Finally, Phuong decided to go to Hanoi, promising to return on weekends. "I just want a good education so I can support my mother later," she said.

Tinh scraped together a few million Vietnamese dong for her enrollment, but six months of dormitory fees alone cost one million. Phuong skipped breakfast to save money, and on weekends, she bought bus tickets home and small gifts for her mother. But just a few months later, her mother passed away.

"I'm heartbroken that I didn't have time to repay her kindness," Phuong said.

With her mother gone and her motivation lost, Phuong considered dropping out. But a neighbor comforted her: "Orphaned by both parents, you must now study to support yourself and bring peace to your mother's soul." These words jolted Phuong awake.

Returning to school, she dedicated herself to finding effective study methods. For difficult subjects, she searched for online resources, asked classmates for help, or joined online study groups. Outside of class, she took on small web development projects for clubs to hone her skills. Studying until midnight became her routine.

Ms. Huong Giang and her student pose for a photo as Phuong begins her internship at the Department of Political Affairs and Student Management, 9/15. Photo: Pham Nga

Thanks to her efforts, Phuong received an academic encouragement scholarship of 1.5 million Vietnamese dong per month for two consecutive years. In August 2025, she graduated with honors in Information Technology.

At the graduation ceremony, while her peers had their parents by their sides, Phuong was alone. But the small woman wasn't lonely. Ms. Dang Huong Giang, head of the Department of Political Affairs and Student Management, had a graduation gown custom-made for Phuong, personally dressed her, and led her to the stage. "I wanted Phuong to feel included and as if her mother was with her," Giang said.

On stage, the rector and Party secretary of Thuy Loi University presented Phuong with flowers and her diploma, offering her a position at the university. She also received a scholarship for her upcoming two years of graduate studies. Nearly 100 individuals and organizations contributed to her educational expenses.

Nguyen Thi Phuong receives her diploma from the rector and Party Secretary at the graduation ceremony, 8/27. Photo: Thuy Loi University

Phuong feels fortunate to have achieved what she set out to do when she came to Hanoi, but regrets that her mother isn't alive to witness it.

"I will strive even harder to be worthy of everyone's love and believe that from afar, my mother is watching and smiling," Phuong said, looking up at the cloudy sky.

Pham Nga