Anh Duong / CafeF
The first impression Tue Nga makes on other people is her lovely gentle smile. However, with just a few interactions with Nga, one can tell there is a great depth and ambitions in this soulful individual. In the past, Tue Nga had faced so much rejection that it had turned her a recluse. Her love and appreciation for life and herself has helped her transform and deliver positivism to society.
If life is all evil, then why do the apple trees bloom?
“I once read a sentence like this: If life is all evil, then why do apple trees bloom? Books have helped me see that there is more to life than pain”… After more than 20 years of lacking friends due to physical discrimination, Nguyen Thi Nga, nicknamed Tue Nga, from Vinh Phuc has found her refuge in books to internalize empathy, practice willpower and nurture dreams.
When she was only 7 days old, a birthmark appeared on Nga’s mouth. Due to improper treatment, she suffered a serious infection that quickly ate away all of her upper lip. Having undergone various surgeries, there is still scarred remnants on Nga’s face.
Nga shared that during her years in school, she was constantly bullied, physically beaten and mentally abused with insults. “What hurts me the most, and I remember it to this day: ‘What’s the point in living if you’re born with a disability?’. It still causes me pain as I repeat those words”, Nga said.
During her 12 years of school, she never felt happy. “I remember there was a biology class in which we learned about chromosomes. The general idea was that missing a chromosome would cause a certain disease. At that time, everyone in the class turned to look at me and whispered: ‘So what disease does Nga have? How many chromosomes does she lack to have a mouth like that?”, Nga recalled that time.
The constant gossip and bullying of her peers imbued the little girl with shyness and timidity. She said that back then she never dared to stand up for herself and hid away. But she stopped hiding away when Nga found her passion for reading and it transformed her. Books offered her the greatest comfort from a tormented childhood. The pages of the book became a bridge, helping her find people with the same passion, learn and explore together.
“There are things I don’t know who to ask and have never thought about, but they show up in books. Or there are pieces of life, stories, places I have never been to… in books. Books help me open my mind and show me that there is more to life than pain. There are a lot of stories about goodness in the book. There are countless lives; many more unfortunate, more miserable than mine but they are all overcoming…”
Hoping to open classes in the highlands, sharing knowledge to young people
Through the pages of the book, Nga realized that there were still many people around her who were in the same situation, had the same thoughts and were yearning for change like her. This helps the 26-year-old girl no longer feel unhappy.
After more than 10 years of reading, books have become an indispensable part of Nga’s life. From a quiet and timid love for books, Tue Nga started recording video reviews and vlogs in 2020 about books to share with everyone. There were times when she could not avoid malicious comments but Nga did not stop because she wanted to share her knowledge with everyone.
Tue Nga’s life sparkles in a different way. Lacking friends, she turns to books for empathy, train her will and nurture her dreams. From then on, her facial defect is no longer a barrier. On the contrary, it helps Nga highlight another beauty, the beauty of knowledge, confidence and desire for a meaningful life.
There have been nearly 100 books reviewed by Nga, which are not simply sharing about reading experiences, suggesting good books suited for the audience. However, they are interspersed with positive messages and new perspectives on life and the desire to contribute youth and creativity. Her review channel also received hundreds of thousands of followers and millions of likes.
Once felt abandoned and unlovable by society, Nga learned how to accept and forgive those who hurt her. Nga gradually stepped out of the self-deprecating abyss to realize her dreams with confidence. Currently, in addition to reviewing books, Nga also supports homeless children through voice training courses that she sponsors. Besides, the gen-Z voice coach is also planning to open classes in the highlands, sharing knowledge to young people.
“In the past, my mindset was dependent of others. I would wait for people to love me. I would wait for others to take the initiative to get to know me and give me something. But now I can do those things for others and for myself,” Nga said.
Ever present with a gentle and soulful smile, Nga is spirited with kind ambitions. Feelings of isolation and rejection could no longer hold her captive. She has learned to love and appreciate not only herself but also life itself. What drives her is the thought of spreading positive messages and helping those around her.
Meeting Tue Nga, Ms. Vu Phuong Thanh, Swiss Ultra 2022 Female Champion, Number 1 Brand Ambassador feels happy that young people Generation Z like Nga still maintains the habit of reading books. Ms. Thanh also shared that she participated in an multi-staged, ultra-marathon race in the desert after being inspired by a good book. “As I closed the book, my immediate thought was if I will be able to set foot on those mysterious lands one day. So, when there are reviewers like Ms. Nga who can spark my curiosity with a list of enriching books, that is extremely valuable,” Ms. Thanh said.
The Number 1 brand representative also shared that when she was 15 or 16 years old, she was very shy and self-consciousness of certain features that did not match the public’s beauty standards like her “thunder thighs”. “But I realize that when you enjoy life and be yourself, love yourself and be grateful for everything you have, then a new outlook will appear. And Nga’s brilliant new outlook really appeared that way,” Phuong Thanh said.
The story of Tue Nga with her passion for books and love for life will be featured in “Connecting with love” program on Humanity Television (VTV) which broadcast in March 2024.
With the desire to serve society and inspire challenging lives across Vietnam to continue championing obstacles, Tan Hiep Phat Company has been supporting “Connecting with Love” program since 2019.
Over the past 5 years the program has honored many characters who have inspired communities across the country with the spirit of overcoming adversity and called for society’s participation in helping people with special circumstances.
With the spirit of serving, sowing love, and giving strength to difficult lives, Tan Hiep Phat constantly strives to make valuable contributions to supporting the betterment of the community such as sponsoring activities for 50 children orphaned by Covid-19 until they come of age, taking care of deceased veterans’ mothers in needs across the countries…
| In 2023, Tan Hiep Phat has coordinated with local authorities in 4 provinces of Binh Duong, Hau Giang, Chu Lai, Ha Nam to organize the program “Connecting with Love – Uplifting Children’s steps to school” to award 600 scholarships with a total value of 1.2 billion VND to encourage students in challenging circumstances to pursue excellence in their studies. |