"Youth"

University of Social Sciences and Humanities – March 2015…

I have been with the Faculty of Humanities through countless sunny and rainy seasons. As a friend of mine once said: For me, the Faculty of Humanities is a small haven that nurtures many dreams. From here, hundreds, even thousands of students have grown up, becoming talented leaders and renowned individuals.

Now a third-year university student, the memories from my first days at this school remain vivid in my mind.

I studied History in the humanities stream (Block C) since high school, so my goal was to get into this university. However, I was still hesitant when faced with so many choices. Whether it was fate or guidance, I chose the Linguistics department. In my first year, I often felt disheartened because not many people knew about my major, not even my parents. I don't know how many people asked me the same question: What language are you studying? Why doesn't anyone think of Vietnamese, my beloved mother tongue? Studying Linguistics is the foundation of most sciences; you learn so many other things.

The humanities have given me so much, teaching me lessons not only in theory but also in life skills. I've matured, I'm no longer a child. As a class officer, besides my own studies, I also have to take care of class affairs. I've learned valuable lessons about how to interact with people, and I've become more responsible for myself as well as for the work of the class, the faculty, and the university.

For me, the humanities are filled with so many happy memories. There were the fascinating specialized classes with leading linguists, and the art rehearsals with my teachers. Thank you, Humanities, for giving me such wonderful teachers. Thank you, Humanities, for giving me such good friends—people who have always been there for me in every situation, good times or bad.

I was fortunate enough to be chosen as a class representative, which gave me many opportunities to interact with professors in the department and throughout the university. Nowhere else is as good as my department; the professors are excellent and very friendly to the students. One word we often use to describe our professors is "adorable." They are not only our teachers and mentors but also our close friends. Have you ever had the chance to go to the head of the department's office or the vice-head's office to chat and enjoy snacks and candy? I bet you've never experienced that, have you? Students often think going to the department is scary, afraid of being scolded, but if you haven't done anything wrong, there's nothing to fear. My best friend and I always say, "Let's go to the department to hang out!" The Department of Linguistics is like our second home. There, I get to have hearty laughs, receive helpful advice, and hear stories about the professors in the department.

During our exchange program at Guangxi University (China), as a student representing our faculty and university, we had to present a positive image of the Humanities to our foreign friends. A Chinese friend said I looked like a Chinese person, but I told her that I'm a girl from the Mekong Delta, a Humanities student. Therefore, I embody both the Humanities spirit of Hanoi and the unique charm of a girl from the Southern region. Perhaps their university is bigger and more beautiful than my Humanities, but even though it's not as welcoming, I still love my small place. Because it's not only where my dreams are nurtured, but also where people always love and support me. One day, not far from now, I will bring the name of my university to my foreign friends, letting them know about Language and Humanities.

Humanities and Linguistics is where I'm spending the most beautiful years of my youth. The spacious lecture halls, the familiar benches, the respected teachers, the dear friends. Someone once asked me why I didn't switch to a better department like Law with such high exam scores. No, I chose Linguistics, and I will pursue it with my passion.

Thank you, Faculty of Humanities, for giving me such a wonderful boyfriend. People often think that guys studying social sciences are effeminate and weak, but he's completely different. In my eyes, he's almost perfect. He's not only academically gifted and a talented artist, but also excellent at housework. I love him, I love him for the essence of the Faculty of Humanities in him, because he always answers my sometimes meaningless questions. That's just one of many reasons why I love him, and I love the Faculty of Humanities even more for it.

I love my boy so much, I love my Faculty of Humanities so much. It's the beautiful present of my youth, the bright future ahead. Life outside has its difficulties and obstacles, but at the Faculty of Humanities, I find my own peaceful world.

Three years is neither too long nor too short a time to get to know someone. Because of the three years that have passed, I have come to understand and love my field of study even more, and I love my beloved Faculty of Humanities even more.