Dreaming of becoming a teacher as a child
Teacher Phan Tri, born in 1978, is currently teaching at Huong Lap Primary and Secondary Ethnic Boarding School, Huong Hoa district, Quang Tri province. Being born and grown up in a poor family like many other children in Trieu Phong district, Quang Tri province, when he was still a child, Phan Tri always wanted to go to school, so that he could help his parents.
    |
 |
|
Teacher Phan Tri and local students |
In 2002, after graduating from Hue University of Education, Phan Tri came back to his hometown and started teaching at many school campuses in remote and border areas in Quang Tri province.
Looking back at the time, Tri noted that he had to go across 12km of mountainous and forest paths, then spent another two hours walking to get to school.
Because the school was in a remote area with difficult traffic conditions, he could only visit home once every two months. Every day, in addition to class time, the teacher also spent two hours tutoring the students in the afternoon. Together with the students he would pick vegetables and use nets to catch fish. Feeling grateful to teacher Tri for his wholeheartedness, local people often brought rice to him, helping him and his students get through difficult times.
Wholehearted devotion to teaching
Talking about local students, teacher Tri noted that many border students are not aware of the importance of studying and do not attend school continuously. Meanwhile, their parents also do not care about their children’s study.
|
|
 |
|
Teacher Phan Tri helps his student cross the stream. |
He still bears in mind the memories of encouraging students to go to school. During the 2015-2016 academic year, he started teaching in Ta Pang village, Huong Lap commune. There was a student named Ho Van Sy, who refused to go to school. After many times persuading, his parents agreed to let him go to school. Then, teacher Tri decided to go to Sy’s house and take him to class. At first, he cried, and screamed, but then he gradually became more self-aware and went to school every day.
Talking about teacher Tri’s devotion to the educational cause, Vice Principal of Huong Lap Primary and Secondary Ethnic Boarding School Nguyen Ho Phong held that Tri is always enthusiastic about school activities, and completes all assigned tasks. He is an exemplary teacher, and loved by students, colleagues and people in the area.
Translated by Minh Anh