Second Prize: "Humanity - Silent People"

A day of drizzling rain in Hanoi makes one's heart flutter strangely. The rain reminds me of a rainy day at the end of August a year ago...

Holding the university admission notice in my hand, I was filled with confusion, hesitation and indecision. Should I choose Pedagogy or Humanities? I understood that no matter how much I pursued my dream career in journalism, no matter how fiercely I fought with my family, I could not change my family’s decision. Perhaps it was fate, my fate was at this school and I decided to choose Humanities, this was the place I chose to lay the foundation for my life plan.
Two years have passed, time is slowly passing, everything seems to be changing. But only the moment of looking back at the school is unchanged. Have you ever tried going to school early? From the moment the school gate just opened, the lights in the hallways of the buildings were still not turned off, the security guard laughed and teased: "Why are you so early?". I smiled and replied: "I'm afraid of being late" then walked up each floor, stopping at the stairs to rest. In the summer, the sky is clear, with few clouds watching the dawn just break, the sunlight slowly shines through each glass window, the sunlight makes people look at someone's footsteps, the birds start to chirp on the tree branches in front of the classroom, the rare natural bird sounds in the heart of Hanoi. The sound of vehicles is getting thicker and more crowded on the street named Nguyen Trai. At that time, I love the sunshine at school in the early morning. Still hearing the sound of the brooms of the cleaning ladies cleaning the school yard and waste paper, I sat and confided in them, and realized that this job is very hard, they have to devote all their time to the school, leaving behind all their personal interests. Their simple joy is when we students leave without leaving trash in the lecture hall and without writing or drawing on the desks and chairs. But sometimes there are also troubles that make their eyes tired: "Sometimes they stay at noon and throw sunflower candy wrappers all over the classroom without the teacher knowing, while the classroom she just swept at the end of class", or "Wherever they go, they conveniently throw trash there without throwing it in the right place", until when the inspector comes to check, the ones who are reprimanded are the teachers. Each of these thoughts makes me realize that without the teachers, I would not have a clean lecture hall to study comfortably. But have I ever said thank you to them?

I felt sad when I saw the janitor tidying up every classroom and corner so that I could study in the best environment. She bent her back to clean every path and staircase, her work was so busy that she never had time to look up. When I was happily playing around eating candy in class at noon and forgot to throw it away after break time, she gently reminded me: "When you're done eating, remember to help me clean up!"

I remember when I was in high school, every time it was our turn to be on duty, we students often envied each other, pushed responsibilities to each other and considered the task of cleaning the classroom as an obsession because it took away the time to eat snacks and play during recess. Then studying here, when I went to school, the room was cleaned, every desk was cleared of trash, I felt like I was breathing a truly fresh atmosphere in the heart of bustling and noisy Hanoi. Having such a comfortable feeling, I knew that the teachers' contributions were great. But have I ever had the chance to thank them?

The small figure, the calm face, rarely smiling of the teacher every time he entered the class made an impression on me from the first lessons. He was my homeroom teacher of literature. His lectures were always gentle and calm like Moda's instrumental music. He was passionate in every word he taught to the students. The hot weather, the small classroom for 30 students without any windows made him tired. But his lectures remained steady and unchanged until the end of the class. Looking at him, I felt so much love for him. He also confided his teaching stories and experiences in doing exercises, how to write essays and exams with the highest results for the students to listen to. The devoted instructions not only from him but also from the teachers in the school gave me more strength to love Humanities, love Literature, love the path I am on. Even if I travel all over this country, I still cannot easily find those sacred feelings from teachers. But have I ever had the chance to say thank you to them?

The blazing noon sun, the harsh summer heat in the heart of Hanoi made everyone uncomfortable and frustrated. The teachers standing on the podium were the same. Every day the knowledge was new and difficult to absorb, but the teacher was always enthusiastic in teaching. Seeing the class engrossed in the lecture, not understanding a lesson but asking questions for an entire hour, the teachers were even happier, smiling enthusiastically because his class was really useful. Each drop of sweat on his brown forehead made us students below feel more sorry for him and each of us became more determined to study better.

At other universities, my friends often complained that it was very difficult to meet lecturers to get answers to their professional questions, they had to do all their own research, but at my school of Humanities, the teacher blamed the students for not calling to ask him any questions, and he enthusiastically asked each student in the class what they didn't understand, what part was difficult for him to explain again... When I told him that, my friends at other schools were very jealous, they said I was lucky to be taught by dedicated lecturers. All of that only exists at Humanities and this is the school's own brand. But have I ever had a chance to thank them?

There are hundreds of silent people at Nhan Van who make students feel most comfortable and secure. Sometimes I have never met them, sometimes I have never witnessed their daily work, sometimes I have never listened to their teaching... 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 Nhan Van, proud to receive the wonderful feelings of the wonderful people here. Therefore, from the bottom of my heart, I want to say thank you to all those silent people, the people who have created a "Humanity in my heart.”

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Thank !