The only Team Leader of Nghe An received the 'Pink Swallow' award

Teacher Nguyen Sy Bang and students of Tan Dan Secondary School (Nam Dan). Photo: Duc Anh

That is teacher Nguyen Sy Bang - Tan Dan Secondary School (Nam Dan). He is also the third teacher from Nghe An to receive this award. On the occasion of the founding dayYoung PioneersHo Chi Minh City (May 15), Nghe An Newspaper reporter had a conversation with teacher Nguyen Sy Bang before receiving this noble title.

If you want to succeed, you must be creative and innovative.

PV:Youth Union and Team workIn schools, it is considered a supplementary work for teaching and learning, a starting point for movements to help teaching and learning become better and better. One of the mottos of the Youth Union and Young Pioneers work is "using the surface to consolidate the depth, taking students as the deciding factor". As a long-time Youth Union leader, in your opinion, what is the significance of the Youth Union work for young people in schools?

Teacher Nguyen Sy Bang:It must be affirmed that the work of the Youth Union and the Young Pioneers is of great significance to the young generation, because throughout the activities, they adhere to the "5 teachings of Uncle Ho". If all activities follow this pattern, the students' character and personality will be built. Lessons from the Young Pioneers from primary school will form in them good awareness and habits such as knowing how to line up, knowing how to give way, knowing how to respect others...

In reality, the Youth Union and Pioneer organizations have accompanied school youth and Pioneer members in improving the quality of comprehensive education, promoting the creativity and determination of school youth; creating safe and useful playgrounds, contributing to life skills education, equipping union members, youth and Pioneer members with a solid knowledge foundation; helping them to be confident and proactive in learning and practicing.

The work of the Youth Union and the Young Pioneers is very meaningful to the young generation, because throughout the activities, they adhere to the "5 teachings of Uncle Ho". Photo: Duc Anh

PV: The work of the Youth Union and the Young Pioneers in schools is very important, but does everyone who does the work of the Young Pioneers have passion?

Teacher Nguyen Sy Bang:As far as I know, many teachers feel reluctant to accept the position of Team Leader. Due to the nature of the job of a Team Leader, which is to maintain collective activities for students with the sole purpose of helping them gain experience and gain necessary skills in studying and practicing, many teachers still believe that "teaching is the most peaceful thing", if they are diligent, they only need to focus on a few competitions for excellent teachers. I have also heard many teachers who are Team Leaders say, "I only do my duty for 2 years and then quit".

The position of Team Leader is not a lifelong job for a teacher, it is usually only done for a certain period of time. For a teacher, the main job is still teaching. That is why many people are afraid to become a Team Leader for fear that they will be lost in their profession. The heart of a Team Leader is shown in the passion for the job, always thinking, researching and innovating the form of activities, building programs, creating many new forms of activities that are attractive and attract students to participate in Team activities. For me, this job is probably in my blood and I always think about how to be creative, how to make my school's Team activities stand out.

Collective activities of Teacher Nguyen Sy Bang with students. Photo: Duc Anh

PV: I understand your thoughts. Is that why you have participated in many training courses of the Central Youth Union and achieved many "miracles" such as being the valedictorian of the Kim Dong National Training Camp, achieving the record for the Training Curriculum at the Kim Dong National Training Camp, and being the first Level II trainer in Nghe An?

Teacher Nguyen Sy Bang:In fact, it is very difficult to attend training courses. In many training courses, we have to bring our own money because there is no financial support... However, in recent years, I have attended many training courses in Son La, Da Nang... Each training course, I have learned a lot, changed myself, and found many new ideas. Only by going can I see that, compared to many other provinces and cities, our Team Leaders lack many skills such as connecting wires, traveling, first aid, drowning prevention... because to be equipped with these skills, we must receive extensive and in-depth training. For example, at Kim Dong Training Camp, within 6 days, we were trained in 51 skills and to complete them, we had to study and practice until 2-3 am. Meanwhile, there are many people who participate in the summer camp who are very good, just need to hear the whistle, just need a command and they already know what activity to do.

Personally, when I attend summer camps, I only try my best because I love them, without thinking about achievements or awards. Because of my love, in any situation, I only know how to study and research by myself.

Don't be afraid of difficulties, know how to adapt.

PV: You were originally an art teacher and are still an art teacher at the school. So how did you come to the role of Team Leader?

Because I was active and enjoyed participating in movement activities, the school board assigned me to do additional work for the Youth Union. Photo: Duc Anh

Teacher Nguyen Sy Bang:Perhaps compared to other subject teachers, art teachers are different and are associated with art. Therefore, besides drawing as my main profession, I am also passionate about singing and movement activities and have a few "talents" such as playing the guitar, playing the flute... In the past, at school, when students danced, I also danced with them... Perhaps because the school board saw that I was active and liked movement activities, they assigned me the additional task of doing Team work.

Indeed, when I first started this job, I was also quite bewildered, because this is a rather special job without many documents, the training was only organized for a short time at the beginning of the school year, so I could not remember everything. Therefore, in the first days as the Team Leader (since 2009) at Nam Cuong Secondary School (about 30 km from home), at first I could not research much, because I had to go back and forth. Later, I got used to the job, had a lot of experience and was also eager to learn, so from the Team's documents, asking more from seniors, colleagues..., I was shared and encouraged. When meeting me, my friends often said: "If you have that talent, you can do it". From then on, I also believed in myself more.

PV: You are 45 years old this year and you came to this job when you were no longer young. Before that, it seems you had spent many years working in difficult areas. Those years working with students in the highlands must have equipped you with a lot of experience for your future work as a Team leader?

Teacher Nguyen Sy Bang:After graduating, I worked for 3 years at Vinh City Cultural Center, so I knew how to dance and draw propaganda posters... Those days were hard, the salary was contract, but thanks to this job, I learned a lot.

But I could not stay away from the teaching profession. Therefore, in the late 90s, when there was a policy to attract pedagogical students to the highland districts, I volunteered to go to Ky Son and work at Huu Kiem Secondary School. Although I only worked in Ky Son district for 5 years, at that time, as the Secretary of the Youth Union, my students and I had many memorable memories. We worked together to create very lively propaganda skits for drug and HIV-AIDS prevention and control, and the mobile team of the Youth Union organized many effective mobile performances among the people. Since 2008, I was transferred to Phuc Cuong Secondary School, which is also a school in a difficult area, suffering from floods every year.

Everyone says that living in a difficult area is a disadvantage. But I don't think so. The important thing is to have passion, to know how to adapt, and past experiences will give you valuable experiences in the future.

Photo: Duc Anh

PV: At over 40 years old, are you tired of still being involved in the work of the Youth Union? And as a coach, what have you done to build the team of Youth Union leaders of your province?

Teacher Nguyen Sy Bang:To be honest, I have not felt tired yet. I can walk all day, talk all day. Perhaps this job gives me a lot of motivation. For example, I am no longer young, but thanks to this job, people say I am younger, younger in personality, character and speech... I also get to travel a lot, get to know many colleagues from all over the country and receive a lot of affection from friends, colleagues and students. You can see, even though my school is in the countryside, the school is small and poor, but all my colleagues from all over the country, every time they come to Nam Dan, contact me to visit the school and learn about the work of the Youth Union at their school. That is truly a happy thing.

I have been to many districts, cities, and towns, met many Team Leaders, and found that many people are passionate but seem to have not been fanned. Therefore, every time I go to training, whether in difficult or favorable places, I try to inspire and pass on my passion to everyone.

Every time I go to training, whether in difficult or favorable places, I try to inspire and pass on my enthusiasm to everyone. Photo: Duc Anh

PV:This May, you and 20 other Team Leaders across the country will be awarded the “Pink Swallow” prize by the Central Team Council, and you are also the third person in Nghe An to receive this prize. How do you feel about receiving this result?

Teacher Nguyen Sy Bang:Since 2020, I have been striving to win this award but have not been successful (I am only on the list of 27 excellent Team Leaders after the list of teachers who won the "Pink Swallow" award). Therefore, in 2021, when I received this result, I was really happy because this is the most prestigious title for a Team Leader teacher and the number of teachers honored is also very small. The award will also be a motivation for me to continue to dedicate and stick with this job.

Teacher Nguyen Sy Bang is one of 20 Team Leaders nationwide to be awarded the “Pink Swallow” award. Photo: Duc Anh

Content: My Ha; Photo, technique: Duc Anh