Over the past year, people who often exercise at Vinh City Central Park (Nghe An) have seen a group of young people gathering in the square area every early morning to jog.
Standing out in this running group is an energetic girl who is always the one to start and lead the group.
She is Tran Thi Na (born in 1996), a literature teacher at Nguyen Truong To High School. Na has turned the running track into a second podium, inspiring hundreds of students with her love of sports and perseverance.
Promise of "change" for age 28
"I used to not care about sports. On the contrary, I loved soft drinks and snacks like many other young people," Tran Thi Na laughed when talking about her 180-degree difference just a year ago.
The turning point came in April 2024, when the literature teacher was startled when she read the words printed on the health check result sheet.
Tran Thi Na is a literature teacher at Nguyen Truong To High School.
Fatty liver and hemangioma - problems she never thought she would encounter when she was young, were partly caused by the habit of staying up late, irregular eating, and lack of exercise, the doctor emphasized.
"I have to change," Na set a goal for herself at the age of 28.
Thanks to the encouragement of a colleague who was passionate about running, she decided to give it a try.
With a tight teaching schedule, Na is determined to wake up early, spending 4:15 - 6:00 a.m. every day jogging.
"The sport that seemed so familiar became strange to my body that was only attached to the podium," Na recalled.
The first kilometer was the most difficult, but also a very memorable milestone for the 9X teacher. Na chose to gradually increase the distance "slowly but surely" after each run to improve her ability. Her steps and breathing rhythm gradually got into "orbit" thanks to her perseverance.
After completing 5 km and feeling that her strength was still "good", Na began to believe that the distances she often saw in newspapers, which she thought only belonged to "heavenly people", could be conquered with her own efforts.
Gradually, for her, running is no longer a way to "cure" illness, but has become an indispensable part of life.
When Na considers running as a joy and a way to improve her quality of life, balancing teaching and running is no longer a pressure.
As long as she knows how to manage her time properly, she can do her job well and pursue her passion at the same time.
"Health is the foundation for pursuing dreams. When I listen to my body, I feel healthier every day.
Before, I just talked in theory, saying 10 and doing 7. But now, when I have health, I say 10 and do 9 and a half," Na said.
To "touch" young people, you must use young people's methods.
Tran Thi Na's familiar route around Central Park soon has some special companions.
The students cycling and doing morning exercises saw Ms. Na running and panting, so they excitedly joined in. Some ran with her, some brought water to help her. From then on, the steps were not only a journey to regain the young teacher's health, but gradually spread to become a movement.
Ms. Na's running group has more and more students participating.
"I made an appointment to go jogging at 5 o'clock, but at 4 o'clock there were already 4 or 5 students standing in front of the house, excitedly urging the teacher to come.
The first time running was memorable, every time the group ran by, the neighborhood dogs barked loudly. Then I thought about creating content on TikTok specifically about running, unexpectedly the students responded enthusiastically," Na said.
The young teacher expressed her concern that many students, despite being good students, are caught up in a sedentary lifestyle. They leave school, go to extra classes, study at home, and spend their free time glued to their phones and computers.
"I am a teacher who can teach students how to study well, so why not teach them how to live well?", this question is also the motivation that urges Na to spread her passion.
Na said she knows that young people are very quick to catch up with new trends on social networks. So she also wants to reach them in the closest way possible.
"I want to be the breath of Gen Z. Because you don't see the benefits of a healthy lifestyle yet, but it's definitely present in your life.
As a teacher, I will demonstrate how this lifestyle is very healthy and brings positive values," Na expressed her passion when creating content on the platforms.
The health training activities were shared by the teacher herself in a very familiar way that quickly "touched" the students.
Initially just a small group of students, now more than 200 young people have joined the Nguyen Truong To Runner Club, led by Ms. Na. Not only students from the school, but also students from many other schools in the city.
The legs that used to be reluctant to move are now used to turning off their phones at 10pm and waking up at 4am to keep up with the literature teacher.
This literature teacher believes that in order for students to maintain a good lifestyle, she must first set an example.
Not only were the students eager, but parents also began to show interest. One parent even set a condition: If her child ran with Ms. Na four mornings a week, she would receive a worthy reward.
"This is something that makes me extremely happy," she shared.
Na talks about the change of Quynh Trang - a young student who once couldn't run 1km, calling it one of her prides.
Before joining the club, Trang never thought she could walk 1km, let alone run. For her, waking up at 5am to have breakfast was already a luxury, let alone waking up at 4am to run.
Na recounted: "In the early days, Trang kept teasing me: "Come on, teacher, go to sleep. Running in the foggy morning will ruin your hair!" every time I encouraged her to run in the morning. However, after 3 months, seeing me and my friends still diligently running, Trang started to pay attention."
- Miss, does running like that hurt your legs?
- Where did you buy your shoes?
- How much weight have you lost?
Questions from curiosity gradually drew the student into the passion of the "foot-crazy" world.
Now, Trang not only runs 10km but also leads a group of friends to join. Previously, she spent her pocket money on buying milk tea or opening blind bags, but now she saves it to buy running shoes and healthy food.
"A change not only physically but also mentally and that is what I always want when spreading this lifestyle," Na emphasized.
Lessons not only in the classroom
On the morning of February 23, the steep slopes through the forest of the Tam Dao City Trail made Tran Thi Na's legs tired and trembling.
At CP6, the female runner felt like she had "reached the threshold" before conquering the 3km winding trail through the famous "Ao Dua haunted forest".
The race in Tam Dao was a big challenge for Tran Thi Na.
The challenge he is facing is far beyond what this runner imagined when he decided to sign up for the race, after his previous success in the Half Marathon.
But every time she thought she couldn't go on, she thought of her students and told herself: "If you want your students to follow your example, you have to do it yourself to set an example."
That afternoon, the image of teacher Tran Thi Na finishing the race beautifully on her personal Facebook page quickly received hundreds of "hearts" and congratulations from her students.
"Being a role model yourself" is also the secret for this young teacher to spread her positive habits.
"As a literature teacher, I often teach social studies lessons about discipline, perseverance, and belief in victory. And for me, there is no more practical example than running," Na said.
For this young teacher, the greatest motivation is her love for her students. She always wants to inspire and help them realize that a healthy lifestyle is always present in life.
The rapid development of technology, artificial intelligence and social media has changed the way students perceive everything. For Tran Thi Na, literature and running have one thing in common: Both cannot stand still but must constantly innovate to reach the younger generation.
"Teaching is not only about imparting knowledge, but also about sowing the seeds of a healthy life, so that they grow and spread positive values to everyone on their own," she shared.
The image of a young teacher persistently pursuing a healthy lifestyle is a great motivation for many students.
Another day has come.
At 4am, the club's group chat lights up. Students continuously send in check-in photos from the square in Central Park, along with the message: "Teacher, today we have 3 new friends running together!"
The young teacher put on her shoes and hit the road as usual, excited to know that her journey brought more value.
"Education is changing. The classroom is not the only place where teachers can impart lessons to their students," Na said.
The first steps are always difficult, but who knows? Maybe one day, her students will continue to spread this passion, taking positive living even further.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/co-giao-9x-me-chay-quyet-keo-hoc-tro-sup-ho-de-buong-dien-thoai-xo-giay-20250319083232779.htm
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