The perseverance of the orphaned student in overcoming adversity.

Be optimistic in pursuing your dreams.

Born into a farming family in Na Leng village, Thach Dan commune, Cao Loc district, Lang Son province, Ly Viet Truong, a young man of the Nung ethnic group, faced many hardships. His mother passed away when he was in the 6th grade, and this loss became a driving force for him to pursue his education diligently.

When Trường entered high school, he had to travel over 8km along a bumpy road interspersed with high mountain passes to reach his school. Even in the cold winter months, the harsh mountain weather couldn't deter this studious student.

During his senior year of high school, Truong's father suddenly passed away. With one loss following another, Truong suppressed his grief and remained optimistic, pursuing his dream of attending university. Truong confided, "The pain of losing my parents is irreplaceable, but I couldn't let that be the reason I gave up. For me at that time, optimism to continue studying was the most important thing. I still had my grandparents and younger brother by my side, so I had to try even harder."

"Hard work pays off," Trường successfully passed the entrance exam to the History Department at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities with a high score, and was also the valedictorian of his former high school – Can Lộc High School.

Notable results

Ly Viet Truong received the Chung-Soo Scholarship in 2014 for his efforts in academics and extracurricular activities. (Photo: Thanh Long)

Stepping into university with the dedicated support of the seniors in the Shock Team, Truong quickly adapted to the new environment. From his first year, the Nung student became a member of the Shock Team and the class secretary, actively and enthusiastically participating in various activities.

Through hard work, diligence, and a continuous pursuit of knowledge, Truong has achieved many academic successes. He participated in scientific research from his first year. In his second year, Truong conducted two research projects simultaneously, both winning high awards. His academic performance consistently achieved excellent grades. Furthermore, Truong actively contributed articles to various magazines, with six articles published in the journals "Xưa và Nay" (issue 438), "Nghiên cứu Phật học" (issues 125, 127, 128), and "Đạo Phật ngày nay" (issue 45).

Speaking about his passion for research, Truong shared: “I don't wait for the school to announce it before doing research; I have to proactively prepare with the help of my teachers to hope to achieve good results. Especially when doing research, I usually read a lot and go on many field trips to accumulate knowledge.” This is also the experience in scientific research that Truong wants to share with students who share the same passion.

The history student's dream is to become a historical researcher in the future, contributing his efforts and intellect to the country's research.