In the new school year, Diep Minh Tien – a pupil in class 5A at Do Vinh 1 Primary School, Phan Rang–Thap Cham City (Ninh Thuan) – starts getting up early every day to go to school.
Diep Minh Tien is cheerful on the first day of the new school year 2015 – 2016 – Photo: M. Tran
Tien is 10 years old this year, born with a normal body, except for his short arms, each hand having only three fingers.
Early in the morning, Tien dresses himself even though the movements are very difficult. As for his red scarf, because his arms are short, Tien cannot put the scarf around his neck, so he has to ask a family member to help put it on, and then Tien ties the scarf himself with his six-fingered hands.
“Little penguin” is the loving name Tien’s father, Diep Minh Toan, and mother, Le Thi Ngoc Thuy, give him at home. Ms Thuy said that they had a daughter (now in grade 11), and when Tien was born as a son, they were very happy, although they were briefly shocked to see Tien born with arms with disabilities.
“When Tien was born, he was so handsome and lovely. Everyone was afraid that later, when he grew up, it would be difficult for him to hold a pen, so his studies would fall behind his friends”, Ms Thuy said.
But things did not turn out as Tien’s mother feared. Stepping into Tien’s house, no one is not surprised to see many certificates of merit and commendations from all levels, sectors and the school praising Tien’s outstanding academic achievements, hung by his parents all over one corner of the wall.
Ms Nguyen Kim Hoang Thanh, Tien’s former form teacher of class 4A, said Tien studies very well, is diligent and eager to take part in class activities, so his classmates elected him group leader (the class has four groups).
Although Tien writes using only two fingers gripping the pen, with his efforts to overcome all obstacles, Tien keeps up with his classmates in writing.
Tien is writing with two fingers at a conference for people with disabilities who have overcome difficulties in Ninh Thuan Province in November 2014, where Tien was an outstanding delegate – Photo: M. Tran
As for Tien’s four years of study from grade 1 to grade 4, Ms Nguyen Thi Lan, the school principal, said that every school year Tien received an award for outstanding students. Tien has just received a certificate of merit from the Chairman of the People’s Committee of Phan Rang–Thap Cham City for his outstanding achievements in the five-year patriotic emulation movement (2010–2015).
“Tien has brought honour to the school through his efforts in studying to overcome the fate of his disability and his difficult family circumstances”, Ms Lan said.
Entering the new school year, which is also the year Tien moves up to grade 5, the “eldest brother” class of Do Vinh 1 Primary School, Tien said happily: “I will keep trying to study very well so my parents and teachers are happy, and so the younger pupils will see me and follow my example”.
MINH TRAN_http://tuoitre.vn