“Don’t be too self-conscious. Don’t let your disability make you see yourself as weak or disadvantaged. Believe that you can do it. When you are confident and determined about what you are learning and pursuing, your chances of success are very high. You can change your life and create a turning point for yourself.”
More than anyone else, teacher Vu Phong Ky understands the true meaning of these words. As a person with a disability, he overcame adversity to become a teacher and later an inspiration to students with disabilities at the Will to Live Center in Hanoi.
The power of empathy
To become the source of inspiration he is today, Vu Phong Ky first also had to overcome years of self-pity, self-doubt, and inferiority. Born healthy in 1991, Ky developed osteoporosis at the age of 10, which caused his limbs to weaken. After four painful leg fractures, he was confined to a wheelchair in sixth grade and eventually left school after completing ninth grade. At home, he struggled with loneliness and the curious stares of others.
“I was very self-conscious. In the countryside, people looked at me with curiosity, inquisitive eyes because I was different. With little knowledge about disability issues, I was afraid to go to crowded places, even weddings or family gatherings, because people would stare at me.”
Those experiences shaped Ky’s empathy, which now guides his work with students. He believes understanding is the first step toward unlocking the potential hidden behind self-doubt. “As a person with a disability, I understand what someone feels when they first start school or step into a new life. When I put myself in their place, I can be more understanding and patient,” Ky told VOV.
A turning point: from gamer to graphics expert
Ky’s own journey stands behind the advice he gives his students. For years, he escaped into video games, the one place where he felt equal to others. His life changed in 2014 when he was introduced to the Will to Live Center. After just three months of intensive vocational training, Ky passed a rigorous recruitment process and joined Esoft, a Danish real estate media company. Four plus years of work proved his ability and earned him high income.
He recalls, “Before I started working, I thought, ‘I’m like this. How can I work?’ I used to get tired after sitting for four or five hours. But once I started working, I could work for eight hours without feeling tired. Somehow, working gave me energy.”
The “sharer” and his mission to inspire resilience
In 2019, Ky returned to the Will to Live Center to give back what he had received. Helping others change their mindset and overcome adversity is a mission he cherishes. Ky’s patience and sincerity empower insecure students, turning their renewed confidence into his greatest reward.
Pham Phuc Nam, a student from the former province of Bac Ninh, says: “I also have muscular atrophy. I’m weak and can’t walk. I used to be very self-conscious and avoided interacting with people. I just shut myself away. But after my uncle brought me to the center and I met teachers like Kỳ, I began to feel differently.”
Another student, Nguyen Van Duong from Ninh Binh, has this to say: “I think I’m even luckier than the teacher because I can still move, ride a bike, and exercise. Seeing people who face greater difficulties but still keep trying motivates me to try harder. I now work online. The income covers my food and part of my rent. The teachers have helped us find suitable extra work.”
Coming from Nghe An province, Nguyen Dinh Thanh says, “The biggest lesson I’ve learned is never to give up. If something is difficult, you have to try harder. The teachers always encourage us not to give up. They say companies recruit people who keep trying, so I just keep going.”
Ky says he will continue to be a “sharer” for as long as the community needs him. “I still teach some subjects, but not as much as before. Young teachers are taking over, including those teaching new and trending skills. I see this as a natural, reasonable transition. I can contribute more by sharing my experience, providing career guidance, and supporting the community.”
The 35-year-old teacher said he speaks at businesses and universities outside the classroom to change how society views disability. He wants people to see that individuals with disabilities deserve fairness and the chance to prove their worth, not pity.
