In June, 2018, a student from Faculty of Civil Engineering of Ton Duc Thang University (TDTU) won a prize in the Thaco Group's competition on Automobile Showroom Design Challenge. At first, it may seem that this prize does not stand for TDTU students’ outstanding performances in national and international competitions for career in recent years. I asked him some questions but he only smiled merrily without answering my questions directly. I asked him again, a friend standing next to me told him in a louder and slower voice than usual: “He asked you what intake you belong to?" He responded to me in a light voice: "Dear teacher, Intake 19!" At that time, there was a vague hunch inside me of something unusual about him.
I told Mr. Ngo Le Minh about this conversation. He is head teacher and also his instructor in the design projects, then, I got the feeling from surprise to admiration for his intense rise.
His name is Giang Tien Dat, a senior student in Architecture, Faculty of Civil Engineering. He is dumb and deaf from birth, so listening and speaking are the most difficult things from the early years for him. To hear people’s voice, Dat has to read their lips to guess the content; and he "speaks" by writing on paper or typing. Four years of university, the lecturer's notes were recorded by him in that way. His ideas and explanations of the project were also presented at the same way!
He wrote on paper for me that: "Lecturers helped me a lot by speaking very slowly so that I can absorb as much as possible, for what I did not understand, I searched it by myself and read book more. The library was the place where I spent most of my time after classes. Friends also helped me a lot by explaining again and again speech of the lecture to me and especially helping me present as well as protect my project because no one could understand what I said".
Mr. Minh added that "He is very afraid to talk about his circumstance and just confess to the teacher through the message". Dat is not only an unlucky person because his twin brother is also disabled from childhood and unable to go to school. Therefore, Dat has a very real thought that he has to study well, so that he can work and earn a lot of money to support his handicapped brother while he also has the same situation with his brother.
I asked him the reason why he did not choose a field that is lighter and fitter for his health? He said that he likes drawing when he was young. The high school teachers directed him to study Architecture major at Ton Duc Thang University, although they warn him in advance that it will be very difficult! However, he determined to make it. During the past 4 years, sometimes, Dat has been frustrated and wanted to give up because of the overlap of schoolwork but the acquisition is limited. Sometimes he felt that he bothered friends and lecturers too much. However, because of the passion and responsibility for his relatives and his life, he rose up and continued his work.
In the sunny afternoon of autumn, I watched him walking strongly and confidently as if there were no difficulties around him. Normally, people who have just a part of his unhappiness, some of them will decide to give up or be irritable and autism. Dat was not like them! Looking back at his vivid sketches, I realize that there are people who, in all difficult circumstances, rise up to overcome frustrating moments; and I believe that the determination to rise is the source of their power to make unhappy things become normal things; help them live with passion and goal to bring them success and happiness. Is it true that "unhappiness does not exist when we do not see, do not think, do not remember and do not see it around us".
