Editor's note:

There are stories about teachers that are quiet but leave behind many simple and meaningful lessons. On the occasion of Vietnamese Teachers' Day, November 20, VietNamNet respectfully introduces to readers the forum "Simple stories about teachers" - to share profound memories and unforgettable experiences with the "ferrymen".

My first impression of my homeroom teacher Nguyen Thi Ha was really nothing special. She did not have a slim figure, long black hair, and an oval face like in the essay I wrote in 4th grade. She seemed to be lost among her students because of her small stature, her voice drowned out in the chorus of more than forty noisy mouths. Her lectures were also not as smooth and fluent as I had expected from my Literature teacher.

Yet, after a year of studying, she had captured my heart. Many times I wondered: When did that love originate?

teacher Nghe An 3.jpg
Teacher Nguyen Thi Ha and students of class 12B1, Quynh Luu 4 High School, Nghe An).

It must have been her special birthday last October. We secretly threw a small party to celebrate her birthday. When the door opened, the whole class sang happy birthday. She was surprised and turned around to wipe away her tears. She thanked us.

And then, surprisingly, she said she would give each of us a present. She opened her bag, took out a stack of papers and gave each of us a sheet. It was a letter. The first line was so affectionate: "My daughter."

Soon, the whole class quieted down. Every word in the letter that the writer Mèo Xù sent to his daughter was so captivating. It was the first time in my life that I had read such a close, honest, and profound article. Borrowing Mèo Xù’s letter, she wanted to tell us to take control of our lives. She also told sad stories about female students who got pregnant and dropped out of school because of love, and girls who had to live as parasites in their husband’s house. She hoped that we would respect ourselves and constantly improve our values ​​through education, health, a kind soul, and a desire to assert ourselves.

I realized something interesting, instead of waiting for surprises from others on her birthday, she proactively gave gifts to each of her friends. The gift made both the giver and the giver happy. Surely the 39 girls and 3 boys in the class felt the weight of this gift. Although each person has their own circumstances, personalities and future plans, the common point we aim for is to live our lives to the fullest.

For a naive and immature high school freshman like me, her birthday message helped me understand more deeply about people and life. It was a gift of meaningful and practical life values ​​that helped me and other members look back at ourselves and try to improve every day. I fell in love with her from that moment.

How did that love grow?

In November, my class prepared a grand performance for November 20th, mobilizing almost the whole class to participate. She chose me to play the role of a student holding a bouquet of wild flowers to present to the teacher. Being shy, I asked her to choose another student because I was afraid that I would not perform well. She smiled and signaled, “try your best.” She also explained that the performance we would perform would tell her own story at this school. I would transform into a little student from twenty years ago, who is now my teacher.

teacher Nghe An.jpg
Author Nguyen Thi Hong Lam (3rd from right to left in brown shirt), class 12B1, Quynh Luu 4 High School, Nghe An, in the class's performance.

The day of the performance came, holding a bunch of wild flowers picked from the roadside as a prop, I was so nervous. When the audience's applause broke out, I breathed a sigh of relief. It was great to have broken through my self-imposed limits. I had overcome my fear of crowds and what people would say about me.

She looked at us and smiled brightly. The next day, we were delighted to know that our class performance won second place and was chosen to perform at the November 20th rally. I felt my love for her growing day by day.

In the school science and technology competition, she encouraged the class to think critically and choose topics and said that this competition would help us learn many new skills.

After the qualifying round, our class 10B1 had 12 topics that made it to the next round, making up the overwhelming number of topics in the behavioral science category. At 12 midnight, teachers and students texted to correct each survey question, process data, adjust charts... For half a month, teachers and students were absorbed in scientific research. The feeling of facing the judges for the first time and presenting our products was truly special, I was both proud and worried. In the end, my class won first place collectively with 8 projects that won school prizes. I realized that my friends and I had matured a lot.

Then the project “Spring of Love”, the film program “Late Blooming Flowers”, the project “This Tet, I Have Grown Up”, “Small Corners to Follow the Future”… connected us all. More than ever, we realized that we were full of energy and could conquer all goals. Thanks to her love, we were confident, optimistic, and knew how to care for others… More specifically, she helped me realize my passionate love for the teaching profession. I aspire to become a teacher so that every day I go to class, I can sow more seeds of love.

The road ahead is still long with many mysteries. But for me and all members of 12B1, we have found our soul's support in this school. Teacher Nguyen Thi Ha has shone so brightly that our youth has become so bright. Thank you for everything!

Nguyen Thi Hong Lam
(Student of class 12B1, Quynh Luu 4 High School, Nghe An)

When it comes to Physical Education, almost everyone immediately thinks it is a minor subject and is of little interest to students and parents, but my teacher is a special case.