We might see him as normal as many other men until we recognized that he was reading by his hands on Braille alphabet.
That was my feeling to witness Tran Anh Thi, the Deputy Chair of Ben Cat Town Blind Society, giving a speech at a conference for the blind. His calm, natural, and friendly manner could greet everyone at the first meet. His pride and glory today have been thanks to adversity overcoming and great self efforts.
Tran Anh Thi is present at a conference for excellent blinds of Binh Duong Provincial Blind Society. Photo: Q. Nhu.
Thi recalled his 10 when blindness overcame him after a brain fever. A normal and greatly achieved child at school was suddenly blind, leaving him struggle for a very long time to get up. His life without light has been enlightened up by the care and support of relatives although all his activities have been so challenging.
“If you fail to overcome your fate, it’d sink you” has been a great reminder for him to get up.
Then, he switched his learning to Braille alphabet and sports training. In 2005, he was chosen for competition among other blind. He registered for various sports of javelin, disc throwing, heavy object throwing, etc. from which he won a gold medal. Then on, he kept winning medals. In some of the years, he had even won 3 gold medals in 3 separate sports. Up to day, he owns 13 gold medal of national sports games for the blind. After graduated from high school, Thi chose Japanese to learn at the university. Being the graduate of Course Year number 34 (2008-2012) of Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities, he now can teach Japanese to good eyesight people. He chose Japanese from his adore for Japanese people in terms of adversity overcoming and high discipline.
Meeting me, Thi eagerly infromed of his marriage to a lady who ‘volunteered’ to be his eyes. To acquire happiness as today has been a tough fight against life circumstances and the love of his 9 siblings who have been always together after their parents ceased.
Talking about his current life, Thi disclosed his ambition for social activities to make life better. He, now, can teach other blinds how to offer massage services.
“It matters that we ourselves must stand up. Donot rely on anyone for your better life. Literacy, knowledge, and work will make you more confident to overcome the adversity of darkness. And then, you only need community sympathy for suitable jobs and indiscriminated looks,” said Thi.
He has been chosen as a brilliant individual for conference of the blind in Hanoi as his honor and worthy award for all-out efforts.
Reported by Quynh Nhu – Translated by Vi Bao
