Thuy Chi is taking the university entrance exam.

Despite being paralyzed in both arms and legs since childhood, Nguyen Thuy Chi persevered in her studies and graduated from high school with good grades. Not stopping there, Chi continued to register for the entrance exam at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. Before the first exam, ussh.edu.vn had a meeting with Thuy Chi and recorded her story. My name is Nguyen Thuy Chi, and I am 20 years old. I just graduated from high school in the 2009-2010 school year. I come from Lao Cai City, which is often said to be where the Red River flows into Vietnam. Currently, I live with my grandparents and father. My grandparents are both elderly; my grandfather is 87 and my grandmother is 85. My father also suffers from several serious illnesses. I myself am not fortunate; I was born with a disability and have been unable to care for myself since growing up. I rely on my grandparents for almost all my daily activities. In addition, I receive a lot of help from my aunts and uncles in my daily life, especially in my studies. They all work in the education sector, so I understand the importance of studying and am more determined to pursue my education. I started school at the age of 8, which is two years later than my peers. During my elementary school years, my grandfather often took me to school. Since I started middle school, the school was no longer near our house, and my grandfather's health deteriorated significantly, so my classmates helped me get to class.When I entered first grade, everything was new to me. Initially, because I couldn't write as well as my classmates, I easily forgot what I had learned. I tried to practice writing, even though it was difficult, and eventually I learned to read by the end of the first semester. In higher grades, because I couldn't write fast enough, I had to ask my classmates to copy my notes. To save time and effort, they often used carbon paper. In class, although teachers and classmates helped a lot, I almost always missed practical subjects because the labs were located on the upper floors. However, thanks to the help of teachers and classmates, I was able to participate regularly in extracurricular activities, such as flag ceremonies, ceremonies, and commemorative events like November 20th and March 26th. Each subject had its own unique appeal, but since middle school, I've loved Literature. My teacher often quotes Gorky's saying, "Literature is the study of humanity," meaning that studying literature is also about learning to be a good person. For me personally, literature is like a painting of life, full of diverse colors, making my soul brighter.

I enjoy both romantic and critical realist literature. In the literature curriculum, I am particularly interested in two works by Nam Cao: "Chí Phèo" and "Đời Thừa," and a newly added work by Nguyễn Khải, "Một người Hà Nội." Regarding poetry, I particularly like modern poems, but the most impressive work for me is "Tiếng hát con tàu" by Chế Lan Viên. Concerning exams, throughout my high school years, my teachers always made it easy for me to take tests while ensuring fairness and objectivity. I received exams in various formats, such as multiple-choice tests, oral exams, or sometimes homework assignments on my computer, which I submitted to my teachers via email. In the recent mock university entrance exam, my teachers also gave me the opportunity to test my abilities. During this exam, they asked younger students to transcribe my answers into the exam paper. I've always dreamed of going to university. I know that, in reality, not many people in my situation can afford it. When I expressed this desire to my family, they were initially very worried because they didn't know if I would be able to take the entrance exam and do well. And if I passed, they wondered who in the family could support and guide me throughout my university studies. Currently, my uncles and aunts all live in Lao Cai... I'm interested in both Literature and Journalism. I've been involved in the Young Reporters Club of the Voice of Vietnam Radio for many years, and I've had some works, especially poetry, published in Lao Cai Newspaper, Van Nghe Newspaper, Tuoi Hoa Newspaper, etc. But considering my circumstances, I felt that journalism wasn't really the right fit for me. That's why I decided to choose to major in Literature at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. Studying this field, I feel I can fulfill my dream of becoming a literary researcher or even an editor.

At this point, like many other candidates, I feel very nervous. But I also have high hopes that I will do well on the exam because this is also an opportunity for me to evaluate myself after 12 years of schooling. If I get to go to university, I know it will be a chance to be more proactive in my life and do many things that benefit the community.