"Humanism in me is..."

For me, the Faculty of Humanities is the gateway and the path to nurturing dreams, the place I choose to "date" my own youth, and the unforgettable years I will spend with "Humanities Volunteers"...

The Humanist spirit I once had…

In the first few days of entering the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH), I and over a thousand other students from the QH-2014-X cohort were asked the same question for our civic education week assignment: What are your impressions of the USSH? At that time, for those of us still basking in the joy of our new title, "student," the question was certainly not easy to answer. Like many young people, I was still caught up in the joy of getting into university, exploring the capital, making friends, and adapting to life there...

Summer – the exam season of July 2014 – Hanoi greeted me with summer showers and the scorching sun, a true symbol of exam season. At that time, the sign "University of Social Sciences and Humanities" was like a big dream. The day I submitted my single university application was also the day I decided that gate was the path to my goal. Besides the stress of the exam room, the worries of passing or failing, and the fatigue of summer, there was also the beautiful image of the student volunteers of the Student Volunteer Team: They helped candidates and their families find accommodation during the exam days, they took care of the meals for the candidates and their families, they found shade for my mother while she waited for her daughter to finish the exam for three hours, they gave me a bottle of cool water and asked how I was doing after I emerged from the stressful exam room… These are the people who have now become like family to me.

Humanism in my early moments…

Over two months of summer have passed, and an 18-year-old girl from the highlands of Lang Son has officially become a freshman at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. The university where she will spend the next four years is now visible in the eyes and thoughts of each new student. From the first lesson on the university's history, we all know that the University of Social Sciences and Humanities possesses a hidden beauty of antiquity and a long-standing scientific tradition. It began as the Faculty of Literature, established by President Ho Chi Minh in 1945, and later became the University of General Studies in 1956. In September 1995, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities officially adopted its name based on the social science disciplines of the University of General Studies. Here, a university, but much more than that, we are proud to have stepped into a prestigious, high-quality, multidisciplinary research and training center in Vietnam.

For nearly 70 years, this very place has been the gathering place of great leaders such as President Ho Chi Minh, leading revolutionary intellectuals like General Vo Nguyen Giap, Prime Minister Pham Van Dong... and top professors in the Vietnamese academic community such as Professor Dang Thai Mai, Professor Tran Van Giau, Professor Dao Duy Anh... Along with countless other famous educators, contributing to the rich history of the university in particular and to the national literary and academic achievements from the transitional period to the present day in general. With such a tradition, the university is currently ranked among the top 200 universities in Asia.

For me, the Humanist movement is a large family of the Shock Troops…

There's a quote about this school, from a late teacher who dedicated his life to teaching here, that I deeply appreciate: "A history of 20 years or 100 years of existence is glorious, but it's not as important as what we write today." That quote is a summary, but also a reminder and encouragement for future generations like us to create glorious chapters for the school and the nation's intellectual heritage.

From the day I entered university, I studied and participated in activities with the spirit of "What will I write today?". My friends and I eagerly participated in countless activities of the Youth Union and Student Association welcoming new students. Then, luck and ability led me to pass two rounds of selection for the Student Volunteer Team. Wearing the green uniform and volunteer ID card, I felt a sense of maturity. Together with the Volunteer Team, I experienced what volunteering is all about: long journeys, dedication and enjoyment, and the immense joy of receiving thanks from those I helped. I can't count the times we clapped and cheered together in the auditorium on the 8th floor of building E, or the Tuesday evenings we "dated" under the coconut trees in the courtyard of building AB. I remember the nights I stayed up with the Team's Communications team to produce the first issue of the Volunteer Team's newsletter for the new members. The rewards can't be measured in material terms, but in the excitement of everyone holding the "Green Fire" booklet, a record of past volunteer journeys and a welcome to the new year. I remember the joyful "meals" and the cheerful "chats" after tiring school hours with the Green Team members. I also love the moments when the whole team posed for photos together, and when we look back, it's all smiles and the color green everywhere.

The Shock Troop family is also a place where siblings share difficulties, from studies to life. Our team leader comforted us by giving extra New Year's lucky money to those who failed Philosophy 2 or had to retake Logic. We cared for each other with goodnight messages, songs to chase away fatigue, and short and long posts on social media. Every comment under a picture or a quote, even just a heart emoji, was enough to share love and empathy. That's who we are: young people who don't demand perfection, but simply live with enthusiasm, passion, and sincerity.

As a freshman living far from home, I sometimes questioned my choice of university, sometimes fearing I wouldn't receive adequate guidance to keep up with my peers and the curriculum. But after more than half a year of studying, with new knowledge, valuable life lessons, and the time spent with the Humanities Volunteer Team, I have faith in the university I chose. I will pursue and strive for success for myself one day in the not-too-distant future under the roof of this university and with these teammates.

There is another Humanist within me…

Another aspect of the Humanities within me stems from a story told by a lecturer during a break: "Look around Hanoi, can you find another school that turns its back on all the hustle and bustle to maintain its own elegant and tranquil atmosphere like ours?" Indeed, the Humanities possesses a serene, ancient, and peaceful beauty: the quiet lecture halls steeped in time beneath the canopy of ancient trees. The stone benches are never empty of students, the buildings are named and connected by letters. Somewhere here, there's even a "legend" about a marble that once existed as the heart of smiles… All of this creates a Humanities that is captivating in its own unique way, and I love those things.

For every young person, making the right choice to achieve success is truly not easy. Once chosen, believing in and pursuing it is even more difficult. I also once pondered my own choice. But the Faculty of Humanities gave me the most honest answer; it helped me realize that I need to live my youth with passion. The Faculty of Humanities will be my home, my haven of knowledge for the next four years of my student life. Student life here will be precious, worth cherishing, and worth dedicating myself to, with the youthful enthusiasm of my wonderful friends.

For me, the Humanities school... is like that!