Second prize: "Humanities - The Silent Heroes"

Hanoi on a day of gentle rain evokes a strange sense of longing in people's hearts. The rain reminds me of a rainy day at the end of August, a year ago…

Holding my university acceptance letter in my hand, I was filled with uncertainty, hesitation, and indecision. Should I choose Education or Humanities? I understood that even if I pursued my dream of becoming a journalist, no matter how fiercely I argued with my family, I couldn't change their decision. Perhaps it was fate; my destiny lay with this school, and I decided to choose Humanities. This was where I chose to lay the foundation for my future plans.
Two years have passed, time is slowly slipping away, and everything seems to be changing. But only the moment of seeing the school again remains unchanged. Have you ever tried going to school early? From the moment the school gates open, before all the lights in the hallways of the buildings are turned off, the security guard teases, "Why are you here so early, child?" I smile and reply, "I'm afraid of being late," then walk up each floor, stopping at the stairwell to rest. In the summer, the sky is clear, with few clouds, watching the sunrise, the sunlight slowly shining through each window pane, the sun shining brightly as I watch my footsteps, birds begin to chirp on the branches in front of the classroom, a rare natural bird song in the heart of Hanoi. The traffic on Nguyen Trai Street becomes increasingly dense and crowded. At that moment, I find myself loving the early morning sun at school so much. I could still hear the sound of the cleaning ladies' brooms sweeping the school grounds and littering the trash. Sitting and chatting with them, I realized how hard their job was. They had to dedicate all their time to the school, putting aside all personal hobbies. Their simple joy was seeing us students leave without littering the lecture halls or vandalizing the desks and chairs. But sometimes, troubles would tire their eyes: "Sometimes, they stay late at lunchtime and carelessly throw sunflower seeds and candy wrappers around the classroom without me noticing, even though I just swept that classroom at the end of class," or "They just throw trash wherever they go instead of disposing of it properly." When inspectors came to check, it was the teachers who were reprimanded. These thoughts made me understand that without them, I might not have had such a clean and comfortable learning environment. But have I ever managed to thank them?

My heart ached when I saw the cleaning lady meticulously tidying every classroom and corner so that I could study in the best possible environment. She bent over, cleaning every walkway and staircase, her work so busy that she never had time to look up. When I stayed behind during lunchtime to eat candy and forgot to throw it away, she would gently remind me, "Child, please remember to clean up after you're done!"

I remember back in high school, every time it was our turn to do classroom cleaning, we students would compete with each other, passing the responsibility to one another, and treating cleaning duty like a nightmare because it took away our time for snacks and joking around during recess. But here, when I go to class, the classroom is already clean, every desk drawer is spotless, and I feel like I'm breathing truly fresh air in the heart of bustling and noisy Hanoi. I know the teachers' hard work is a great contribution to this feeling of comfort. But have I ever had the chance to say thank you to them?

My professor, with his small stature and calm, rarely smiling face, impressed me from the very first classes. He was my head of the Literature department. His lectures were gentle and serene, like a wordless Moda piece. He poured his heart into every word he taught the students; the heat, the small classroom for 30 students with no windows—it made him tired. But his lectures remained steady and consistent until the end of the class. I felt so much affection for him. He also shared stories about his teaching career and his experiences, how to write essays and achieve the highest possible scores on exams. The dedicated guidance, not only from him but also from other professors in the university, gave me strength to love the Faculty of Humanities, literature, and the path I am on. Even if I traveled across the country, I wouldn't easily find such sacred feelings from my teachers. But have I ever had the chance to say thank you to them?

The midday sun blazed down, the intense heat of summer in the heart of Hanoi making everyone uncomfortable and irritated. The teachers standing at the podium were no different. The knowledge was new and difficult to grasp every day, but they were always enthusiastic in their teaching. Seeing the class engrossed in the lecture, asking questions for an entire hour over a single lesson, the teachers were even happier, smiling warmly because their lessons were truly beneficial. The beads of sweat on their brown foreheads made us students below feel even more sympathetic towards them and strengthened our resolve to study harder.

At other universities, my friends often complain that it's difficult to meet with lecturers to get answers to their specialized questions, and they have to do all the research on their own. But at my university, the professors scold students for not calling them to ask questions, and they enthusiastically ask each student in the class what they don't understand, what parts are difficult, so they can explain them again... When I tell them about this, my friends at other universities are very envious. They say I'm lucky to have such dedicated lecturers. All of this is unique to the University of Humanities, and it's the school's own brand. But have I ever had the chance to say thank you to them?

There are hundreds of unsung heroes at the Faculty of Humanities who work tirelessly to ensure students feel comfortable and secure. I may never have met them, never witnessed their daily work, never heard them teach… And have I ever had the chance to thank them? I am proud that I made the right decision, proud to be a student of the Faculty of Humanities, proud to have received such wonderful support from these amazing people. Therefore, from the bottom of my heart, I want to express my gratitude to all those unsung heroes, those who have created a truly exceptional environment.Humanity is in my heart.

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Thank !