"Humanism within me"

After days of incessant rain, the sunlight began to peek through, casting shadows of trees onto the distinctive red-tiled courtyard. I sat on a cool stone bench, quietly observing and playfully enjoying the fresh feeling of nature brimming with vitality. A few groups of students were chatting, joking, and studying together… The scene suddenly became strangely peaceful, and I wondered when my journey to this school had actually begun?

The red and white striped barrier stood rigidly and solemnly in the middle of the school's entrance. If my father hadn't driven me through this area and told me about the school, I probably wouldn't have noticed its presence. That's not to say I didn't see the row of buildings with their classic yellow paint, imprinted in the minds of students whenever a school is mentioned, but I want to emphasize the humble architecture of this place. Hidden behind the lush trees was a small sign on the main road (which now, both the sign and the trees are gone…) that read: “University of Social Sciences and Humanities”. I quickly waved goodbye to my father, ignoring the raindrops that fell indifferently, seemingly unconcerned about the hurried, eager, gloomy, and tired new students… each with their own unique expressions that I could hardly describe. It rained continuously! Autumn was approaching, so the rain didn't bring the unpleasant dampness of the sweltering heat, but rather a cool, humid breeze that seeped into the empty spaces, perhaps allowing people to draw closer and get acquainted more quickly? Lost in thought about the raindrops dancing on the polished concrete courtyard, I forgot when I had entered the school. My thoughts wandered back to the school's name – the only connection that compelled me to apply, making it my most important goal – and of course, I succeeded. I found the correct house and room number written on my appointment slip and confidently walked in, even though I was (again) late.

Smiling…it was raining that day…the sunlight suddenly shone on my face, bringing me back to the present. Almost two years have passed. People say time flies by so quickly in university; four years fly by in the blink of an eye! For those living far from home in rented rooms or dormitories, this period feels a little special and different. But for someone who's lived here since childhood (even though my hometown is in Quang Ngai – a sunny and windy region in central Vietnam), these past two years have gone by even faster, more hurried, and perhaps a little more boring than my high school years. To say I don't know how to enjoy it would be completely wrong. I've still been actively participating in student union activities, fulfilling my responsibilities as a student leader, things I never paid attention to during my high school years. This is the difference – and these are my efforts to make my years in university more meaningful and memorable. I tried so many things that I previously thought I couldn't do…like public speaking, teamwork…everything felt like it was taken to a whole new level, making me feel a little out of sync and really struggling to get back on track. And then there was the feeling of sitting in the library reading a book with a restless, energetic person like me, the feeling of filling out a registration form to borrow a book, the feeling of being reminded of things I should have known, the feeling of getting used to the concept of scientific research, the unique feeling of repeatedly pressing the F5 key on the computer keyboard on course registration day…those feelings were truly special.

University is like a microcosm of society – and it truly is. But my experience with this microcosm of "humanistic" society is unlike any experience I've had in my original society. Simply put, I'm exposed to this microcosm daily, which gives me the necessary skills to navigate the harsh realities of my "original" society. I've accumulated nearly 50 credits in terms of knowledge, but in terms of behavior, work ethic, and management, I've truly gained a wealth of information. My job – and that of students in general – is to filter out what's necessary and relevant to me. And this information comes from the stories of the professors I've been taught. My high school teachers were like a textbook, programmed step-by-step, and I felt like I had to read each step precisely. But the professors at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities are different; they're like encyclopedias, and in every class they play the role of storyteller – telling short and long stories from their life experiences and the knowledge they've accumulated over the years. Those stories have always stayed with me, and will continue to stay with me throughout the years to come as I take my first steps on the path of life…

“Reeeeeeeeng” – the familiar sound that always reminds me of an alarm clock ringing, waking me from my wandering thoughts and almost rousing me from a long sleep filled with bad habits that I need to break down in order to be better and more effective in my studies and leisure activities while sitting in the classroom of this school, which is both strange and familiar. I first encountered the school when it was raining, and now the sun is shining…is this the true beginning of my journey to the University of Social Sciences and Humanities?