When youth is spent entirely on 'journeys'

Although they work in two different areas and fields, they are both considered the silent guides of the province's education sector, having overcome many difficulties to dedicate their youth to the noble cause of nurturing future generations. This cause is not only about academics but also about building a lifestyle that benefits the community and society.

Twelve years of staying in the village and community.

These days, immersed in the bustling city of Cao Lanh (Dong Thap province) to attend the national-level awards ceremony for outstanding young teachers, young teacher Vu Thi Hang still fondly remembers the misty, cloud-covered Pu Tat mountain range in Ken and Rong villages, Chau Loc district, Quy Hop province. Following that mountain range is the path to the schools where she has been dedicated for the past 12 years. A journey full of hardships, but also filled with joy and happiness.

Teacher Vu Thi Hang (born in 1989) with her students at Chau Loc Primary School, Chau Loc commune, Quy Hop district. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

Recalling her early days in the profession, young teacher Vu Thi Hang said that she was born and raised in Thai Hoa town. In 2010, after graduating from the Fine Arts Education department (College of Culture and Arts), she was assigned to work at Chau Loc Primary School.

At that time, the roads through the villages of Cụt and Ính were narrow, muddy paths. When the rainy season came, they became a nightmare for many because few vehicles could maintain balance while traveling on these roads. To get through, the only option was to carry sandals and belongings and move barefoot. The mud could sometimes cover up to the calves. Especially in winter, the toes would turn purple from the cold. The schoolyard was also a slippery dirt surface with old, dilapidated buildings. For a long time, there weren't enough students in each class, so they had to study together. The difficulties are indescribable, but they all vanished after each lesson, when the teacher entered the classroom and saw the little students' expectant eyes.

A lesson between a teacher and students at the main school in Rong village, Chau Loc commune, Quy Hop district. Photo: Provided by the school.

Besides the main school in Rong village, Chau Loc Primary School also has two branch schools in Ken and Dan villages. The students here are mostly from the Thai and Tho ethnic groups. The work of the teachers at the school is not limited to just teaching lessons; it also involves going to the students' homes to persuade parents to support their children's education. Because the people's lives are still full of hardships, and the schools are located far from rivers and streams, parents are not very enthusiastic about sending their children to school.

Therefore, there isn't a single path in the village that hasn't been worn by her and her colleagues' footsteps. Their meager salaries are never lacking, but they never run out of candy and cakes to encourage the young students. It is this affection that motivates the children here to go to school. Because there, she is always there to accompany, guide, and share all their joys and sorrows.

Teacher Vu Thi Hang accompanies her students in many beneficial extracurricular activities. Photo: Provided by the teacher.

In 2018, after eight years of dedication to Chau Loc, she was able to transfer to more convenient schools. “That was once my wish, but after spending so much time here, the young students, the colleagues who shared hardships with me, the classrooms filled with smiles… have become a part of me. And I can’t leave it. That’s why now, and perhaps forever, I will continue to be connected to the place where my youth belonged,” Ms. Hang shared.

In addition to fulfilling her professional duties well, to help alleviate the difficulties faced by the young students, in her role as the Head of the School's Youth Union and Secretary of the School's Youth Branch, she has initiated and implemented many activities to bring meaningful gifts to the students. These could be warm blankets, notebooks still smelling of fresh ink, free haircuts, or, on a larger scale, colorful playgrounds for children.

Following those efforts, she received recognition from the school and relevant authorities. For many years, Ms. Vu Thi Hang was a grassroots-level Emulation Soldier, achieving the title of excellent teacher at the provincial level in the 2018-2019 school year. She was awarded certificates as an exemplary teacher and youth following Uncle Ho's teachings at the school level in July 2021 and May 2022. These meaningful sources of motivation encourage her to continue on the path she has chosen, with her silent journeys across the misty Pu Tat mountain range.

Representatives from the Nghe An Provincial Youth Union met with Mr. Truong Van Hung and Ms. Vu Thi Hang before their departure to Dong Thap province to attend the 2022 National "Outstanding Young Teacher" award ceremony organized by the Central Youth Union. Photo: Thanh Quynh

A teacher is not just someone who teaches literacy.

During the recent 2022 Summer Youth Volunteer Campaign in the border area of ​​Tam Hop (Tuong Duong), the local people still remember the enthusiasm of teacher Truong Van Hung (Vietnam-Korea Industrial Technical College, Nghe An). For nearly a month, he and the students of the college used their expertise to repair and complete many projects serving the students' learning and the daily lives of the local people.

Teacher Truong Van Hung (right in the photo) has made many practical contributions to the repair and construction of infrastructure projects and the building of new rural areas in the area where he volunteered during the Summer of 2022. Photo: Thanh Quynh

His journey of combining expertise and volunteer work is also remembered by many through the successful repair of the flagpole on Mat Island, which he and his students completed last July. Specifically, at the end of 2021, after six years of use in harsh weather conditions, many parts of the flagpole on Mat Island were severely damaged.This has caused considerable concern for the Nghe An Provincial Youth Union and related units. The repair work is quite challenging because the flagpole is almost as tall as a five-story building (nearly 23 meters) and is located on the summit of a mountain, making it difficult to bring in machinery for repairs. To overcome this situation, several businesses have volunteered to undertake the repairs with a minimum cost of 300 million VND. This is truly a significant amount of funding.

Leveraging his role as the school's Youth Union Secretary, he mobilized the school's outstanding teachers and students to research and find solutions to the aforementioned problem. After more than a month of work, everyone finally found the most optimal solution.

Teacher Truong Van Hung and his students are repairing the flagpole on Mat Island. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

Immediately, Mr. Hung, along with three students, accompanied by the Provincial Youth Union, the Cua Lo Town Youth Union, and the Youth Union of the Provincial Military Command, arrived at Mat Island. For the next three days, the teacher and students poured all their heart and courage into climbing to the highest point of the flagpole, repairing all the existing damage. The moment they saw the national flag.The flag was raised high again, and both teachers and students had tears in their eyes.

Previously, the teacher and over 100 students from the school worked together to repurpose old bicycles, repairing and improving them. After much dedication from both teacher and students, 110 bicycles were completed and handed over to children in the two mountainous districts of Quy Hop and Tuong Duong. What the teacher will always remember is the happy smiles of the children when they received such a meaningful means of transportation. Those smiles are the motivation for him to continue his activities.

As the Secretary of the Youth Union of the Vietnam-Korea Industrial Technical College in Nghe An, Mr. Truong Van Hung, along with students and the Nghe An Provincial Youth Union, personally handed over 110 bicycles to children in the mountainous areas of the province. Photo: Thanh Quynh

Teacher Hung shared: “The technical profession may seem dry, but don't let your soul become dry along with it. Many people in difficult circumstances out there need sharing and help. Therefore, I always encourage students not only to strive in their studies, but also to apply the knowledge they have learned to carry out volunteer activities for the community. These are the tools that will help them grow and become useful members of society.”

Teacher Truong Van Hung and teacher Vu Thi Hang receive the "Outstanding Young Teacher" Certificate of Merit at the central level in 2022. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

Following these contributions, Mr. Truong Van Hung received numerous Certificates of Merit from the Nghe An Provincial Youth Union, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Youth Union, and the Central Committee of the Vietnam Youth Union, and was awarded the title of Outstanding Young Lecturer of Nghe An Province in 2021. Under his guidance, outstanding students from the school won the C prize in the National Vocational Education Student Entrepreneurship Project Competition in 2020, 8 student entrepreneurship projects under his supervision reached the semi-finals of the National Vocational Education Student Entrepreneurship Project Competition in 2021, and 2 excellent projects reached the finals. This serves as a foundation for the students to confidently establish themselves and build their careers in their homeland.