Y Un Diem, of the Gie Trieng ethnic group, is a fourth-year English Pedagogy student at Tay Nguyen University. Hailing from Tu Mo Rong village in Kon Tum, she recently completed a short-term exchange program in the US through the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) scholarship.

Venturing to the wider world was unimaginable seven years ago, when, fresh out of high school, Diem had to quit school to work.

Raised by her grandmother after her parents’ divorce, Diem cared for her younger sister, who has physical and intellectual challenges. When Diem was in seventh grade, her grandmother was diagnosed with cancer. Despite financial hardship, the Gie Trieng girl clung to her dream of education.

In Diem’s village, many children, due to difficult circumstances, dropped out of school early to work in the fields, get married and have children. Their daily struggle to escape poverty made it impossible for them to escape. Those images urged Diem to go to school. 

“I was afraid I would follow that path. Seeing some of my friends get an education, have a stable life, and even explore the world, I wish I could continue going to school,” she said.

But reality trumped her dreams. After high school, Diem stopped studying to work. Fortunately, in Kon Tum, a former high school librarian, aware of her plight, connected her to a French NGO school—a new door for the girl from the mountains.

There, Diem’s tuition and living costs were covered. After six months of training in hotel and restaurant services, she interned for five months at a five-star hotel in HCM City. Working there, she realized English’s value.

“As all managers have bachelor’s degrees, I noticed their distinct thinking and problem-solving. Knowing English opens countless doors. That’s why I saved money to return to school—education is the fastest way to change my life,” Diem said.

For two years, Diem juggled two jobs, working from 5 am to midnight sometimes. Thanks to hard work, she saved enough to study again. In 2020, she enrolled in English Pedagogy at Da Lat University. Her wish was to bring English to her village kids, giving them key to their futures.

Her two-year work hiatus clarified her goals and drive. But challenges persisted. A traffic accident on her way to school disrupted her studies for six months, draining her savings for treatment.

During recovery, Diem wavered between continuing to go to school and quitting. Unable to pay tuition, she paused her education again.

While receiving treatment, she sold goods online, saved money, and researched university admissions. In 2021, she applied with her transcript and was accepted into Tay Nguyen University’s English Pedagogy faculty.

Yet, her academic path remained rocky. Another traffic accident in her first year severely impacted her health. “I thought maybe I wasn’t meant for university. But quitting? I didn’t know what I’d do to survive and change my life,” she said.

Diem called this second accident her toughest time. Though she didn’t lose her university chance again, it upset her life.

“Still, I stayed positive. Challenges make me stronger. I had to keep moving forward,” she said.

After the accident, Diem returned to school, diving into studies, self-improvement, and volunteering, teaching English to mountain kids. Now, she’s a member of the Dak Lak Student Association’s Secretariat and chairs Tay Nguyen University’s Outstanding Students Club.

From her third year, Diem dreamed of leaving her village to explore the world. Guided by an American Ph.D. advisor, she mapped out scholarship requirements. In October 2024, she won a YSEALI short-term scholarship funded by the US government.

“There, I met American professors and youth from 11 Southeast Asian countries. Seeing their community dedication, I felt my efforts were small,” she said.

Returning after the trip, Diem seemed to have become “a different person in her thinking”. The student set a goal to continue developing her expertise and seek a master’s degree scholarship.

“I chose English pedagogy with the desire to bring foreign languages ​​to the village. When I was a child, in the place where I was born, many people still struggled to make ends meet, so learning a foreign language was something very far away. But I want to change the way of thinking that English is not difficult and can open up many new opportunities for children. My dream is to be able to bring cross-border classes to Kon Tum,” said Y Un Diem.

Thuy Nga