Give someone a chance.

My computer usually has three folders, named: BT 1st Edition, BT 2nd Edition, BT 3rd Edition. I work as an editor, and these three folders represent the time and effort I dedicate to the contributors' articles. The process is as follows: I receive and upload articles to folder 1; good articles are used immediately, while those I'm still unsure about are cut and moved to folder 2. A few hours later, or the next day when I have more free time, I reread the article, call to clarify details, adjust the structure and wording, and if it's ready for publication, I put it to the printout. There are still many cases where the "second edition" is not satisfactory, so I move it to folder 3. These are articles with good ideas but disjointed, confusing, or unclear sentences; the editor needs a lot of patience to refine, trim, and supplement them into a coherent form. Sometimes, an original article is as big as a melon, but after trimming and shaping it, it's only the size of an apple. Occasionally, a small piece of information might be sent in, but it's meaningful, it has a story, and after some back-and-forth, we agree that the involvement of a reporter is needed, turning it into a substantial feature. But if, after three attempts, the article still doesn't get published, I have no choice but to give up; many such articles have to be deleted each month.

Every time I click the delete button, I hesitate for a moment. I feel sorry for the hard work of my contributors. Some contributors are so diligent that they submit articles for years without a single line being published, yet they keep submitting. I think about their passion, their enthusiasm, their joys and sorrows. Because I think this way, I am also willing to give all contributors boundless patience, even though the process of "saving" a bad article is difficult, time-consuming, and requires a lot of effort.

There are email addresses so familiar that if I were to delete an email without reading it, no one would likely blame the editor, because the percentage of unusable articles is almost absolute. But I've never done that; I always open and read every email I receive. I treat every email with the necessary seriousness. I always think: What if this email contains something good? That "what if..." thought is an opportunity I give equally to all my contributors.

I used to be a contributor too. During my four years of university, I can't even remember how many articles, short stories, essays, miscellaneous writings, poems... I sent to numerous newspapers across the country. Initially, dozens of submissions were like pebbles sinking into a calm lake. I was very sad, but then I pulled myself together and continued writing, passionately. Back then, I was eager to write, partly because of an inner urge, and partly because I needed income to improve my student life, given my family's difficult circumstances. I wrote instinctively; only later, after working in the profession for a long time, did I realize how valuable that instinct was. However, the downside was that in the beginning, without guidance and correction, it was easy to stray off course, resulting in unusable work.

One day, the editor of a youth magazine sent me an email – the first reply I received after countless emails I had sent. He essentially said he had received my letter, read it carefully, and found some good ideas in the article; if developed more skillfully, it could potentially be published. After a few emails back and forth, he guided me on how to add and subtract, where to expand, and where to streamline… He was also the one who later taught me how to view issues and how to write in different genres… I will forever be grateful to him – that dedicated editor, who, with responsibility and diligence, gave me invaluable guidance that nurtured the tree that has grown into what it is today.

I've always believed that opportunities are like gifts, their value enduring through the recipient's gratitude and their willingness to share them with others in need. We often think of opportunities as something rare and scarce, but in reality, opportunities are simple, abundant, and readily available to everyone. By giving someone an opportunity, you are simultaneously creating countless opportunities for yourself in the future.

Phuoc Anh