I have often wondered whether the pages of “Dang Thuy Tram’s Diary” influenced Tran Manh Tri’s thoughts and decision to pursue a career in military medicine, having read this book during his middle school years. Now, Tri is a cadet, a cadet at Vietnam Military Medical University, and he has only two more years before becoming a military doctor like Dang Thuy Tram. His goal is clear: he wants to excel in his studies to serve his family and society.

For Tri, studying well means learning from Uncle Ho in a specific and practical way, to later contribute to society.

Inspired by His Parents and the Pages of a Diary

When I met Tri at Vietnam Military Medical University after his self-study session on a weekend, the first impression of this bright and intelligent cadet, born in 2002 from Quang Thien commune, Kim Son district, Ninh Binh province, was striking. My first question to him was about “Dang Thuy Tram’s Diary.” Given that he is a cadet at Vietnam Military Medical University and will become a military doctor in the future, Tri surely could not be unaware of the intimate and noble pages of the military doctor – Dang Thuy Tram, who was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the People’s Armed Forces. Additionally, I was curious whether “Dang Thuy Tram’s Diary” had influenced or impacted his decision to study at Vietnam Military Medical University.

Tri told me that he had read “Dang Thuy Tram’s Diary” back in middle school, but his decision to become a future military doctor was also driven by other reasons. Firstly, his father, an officer at Political Officer University, had steered him towards the military. After exploring different military environments, Tri found his passion in military medicine. Indeed, pursuing a medical career was his own desire as well, as it would allow him to help his family and society. Additionally, the educational environment and facilities at Vietnam Military Medical University are excellent, with many competent teachers.

These were the reasons that motivated Tri to strive hard while he was still at Kim Son B High School in Kim Son district. He aimed to gain admission to the Vietnam Military Medical University and become a skilled doctor to care for his family members, particularly his grandparents who suffer from hypertension and renal failure. With the academy’s general medicine program, he could initially learn about diseases and offer advice to his grandparents. Therefore, there could be no better environment for Tri to grow, train as a military personnel, and fulfill his desire to become a doctor than at Vietnam Military Medical University.

In 2020, Tri was admitted to Vietnam Military Medical University, a result that, as he confided, was anticipated and surprised no one given his parents’ understanding of his academic abilities. Therefore, it was no surprise when Tri continued to excel academically and in training, becoming a class leader and for three consecutive years (2021-2023) winning the title of Base Model Soldier, as well as receiving a commendation from the Minister of Defense (2021).

In his first year – 2021 at Vietnam Military Medical University, Tri had the honor of joining the ranks of the Party. His story thus reminds me of Thien in “Dang Thuy Tram’s Diary.” Thien was a boy who grew up in the wondrous love of his mother. At just 15, Thien added a year to his age to join the army. His mother did not believe it because her son had never managed even a small task; how could he join the army? Yet, the difficult but glorious life of a soldier attracted Thien. Thien matured, and by 17, he had become a Party member…

Trí actively participates and advocates, encouraging family and friends to donate blood to save lives.

As a party member, Trí has been diligent in studying and following the ideology, ethics, and style of Ho Chi Minh. While the teachings of ‘Uncle Ho’ are extensive, Trí finds that embracing them is straightforward. His approach to emulating Ho Chi Minh involves earnestly engaging in his academy’s competitive activities and continuously striving for personal development.

Initially feeling homesick during his first year amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Trí spent the Lunar New Year at Military Academy Corps 2 in Bac Giang province. However, faced with a new and challenging environment, he set a positive and proactive attitude from the start, continually striving to achieve high academic and personal discipline. He actively sought out teaching methods from professors, comrades, and classmates. In the classroom, he focused on understanding the lectures immediately and frequently contributed to discussions, seeking clarification from teachers on unclear topics, and maximizing his study and research time to improve his academic performance.

However, the medical field requires not only theoretical knowledge but also the integration of theory with clinical practice, especially as science and technology rapidly advance and medical innovations are daily updated. Initially, Trí struggled to find reliable and updated resources among the vast content available online. With the help and guidance of his peers and dedicated teachers, he gradually found methods that suited him, enhancing his knowledge and academic results.

As class president, Trí has consistently demonstrated leadership and responsibility in accepting and completing tasks. He has been a role model in initiating activities, always eager and enthusiastic in helping his peers, and actively participating in study groups and knowledge discussions.

Regarding personal development, alongside daily recreational activities like running and chess, Trí, originally from Ninh Binh, has expressed his passion for participating in the academy’s volunteer activities. As a member of the Blood Donation Club at Vietnam Military Medical University, he has donated blood ten times. He also supported many blood donation campaigns both inside and outside the academy, as well as volunteer activities at the Pediatric Department of 103 Military Hospital  and Le Huu Trac National Burn Hospital during Children’s Day and the Mid-Autumn Festival.

In just two more years, Trí will fulfill his dream of becoming a military doctor, as he has always aspired. Inspired by the words of Dr. Dang Thuy Tram about a student named Ninh in her nursing class, I want to echo her words in her diary to Trí, saying, ‘I wish you a steady journey on the glorious and challenging path of a revolutionary healthcare worker. Your steps may be small, but surely, they will grow large and long in the grand life of our generation.’

Driven by a passion for learning and scientific research, Trí and his research team achieved success with their project titled ‘Evaluating the impact of Y chromosome microdeletions on sperm count, motility, and morphology.’ This study was presented at the 2024 Student Research Conference at the university. Currently, Trí and his team are further refining their research in preparation for the National Student Research Competition later this year.

News and images: Manh Hao, Translator: Le Vien Lan Huong