On a sunny afternoon in Buon Ma Thuot, sitting on the balcony, I was sipping an iced coffee with milk, looking lost in the incessant ballet of the crowd. The highland breeze ruffled my hair, and my thoughts went back twenty years.
Get out of your comfort zone.
At that time, I was in 6th B, during the 2005-2006 school year, at Thieu Cong middle school, in Thieu Hoa, in the province of Thanh Hoa. Mrs. Dinh Thi Hoa was my homeroom teacher and my geography teacher. My first impression was that of a young teacher, petite, dressed in a flowing ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress), with a gentle look and a smile as warm as the autumn sun.
Mme Dinh Thi Hoa
When I was in 6th grade B, I was a very shy girl, always withdrawn into myself. I was afraid of social interactions, afraid of being in front of an audience, and I generally stayed in the background during group activities.
One fall morning, as my class prepared for a performance celebrating Vietnamese Teachers’ Day on November 20, I sat quietly in the corner, with no intention of participating. At that moment, Ms. Hoa walked in, looked at me for a moment, then came up to me unexpectedly and asked, “Do you want to participate in our class performance?” ” I was confused and worried, not knowing how to refuse, but she smiled at me reassuringly: “We’ll rehearse together, don’t worry! » From that day on, after class, she always stayed to guide my classmates and me, step by step. She patiently showed me how to stand straight, how to dance, what expressions to use and how to be confident in front of an audience.
Thanks to his kindness and the hard work of my classmates, we succeeded in our group dancing and singing performance. When I got on stage, I was still shaking, but as soon as I saw the kind smiles and encouraging looks from my teacher and classmates, I felt strong and confident enough to finish my performance. It was also the first time I stepped out of my comfort zone, going from a very shy girl to a more confident person.
Simple life lessons
Ms. Hoa not only imparted academic knowledge to me, but also valuable life lessons. Among the most profound, she instilled in me love of my homeland, compassion, empathy and sharing. I remember, while we were preparing for the end of semester exams, I was sick and could not attend classes for several days. Knowing that I wouldn’t be able to take the exam, she took the time to visit me and my classmates. She had brought her books and asked my classmates to copy the notes so that I didn’t miss anything. She kindly inquired about my health and brought me my favorite rice cakes. She encouraged me not to worry too much about the exam, telling me that she would let me take it once I was fully recovered. We talked a lot. She taught us that success is not always immediate, but that with effort and perseverance, you will always be rewarded. His genuine affection and care helped me overcome my personal difficulties and made me feel less alone.
Another time, during a geography class, while she was telling us about the different regions of the country, she encouraged us not only to acquire knowledge, but also to love our homeland and cherish even the smallest things. “There is no country more beautiful than ours, and nothing is more precious than the love of simple things. » His voice, soft and deep, little by little touched my heart. She gave us knowledge, a vision of life, the importance of appreciating what we have, love of neighbor and pride in our beautiful Vietnam.
Ms. Dinh Thi Hoa (fifth from left) with her colleagues. (Photo provided by the person photographed)
The dedication and attention she gave to her students, as well as the simple life lessons she skillfully imparted in each class, still impact me today. It was thanks to Ms. Hoa that I understood that life is not just about numbers, calculations or school textbooks, but that it is also made up of intangible values. It is only by knowing how to live fully, in harmony with ourselves, and by knowing how to unite, love and support each other that we can truly appreciate them.
Now that I am an adult and at a crossroads in my life, I understand that Ms. Hoa’s advice was not only a lesson for a middle school student, but also a seed that has sprouted and taken root over the years. His teachings, whether overcoming fears, expressing yourself confidently, loving or sharing, have become a valuable guide during many difficult times.
Sow seeds of faith to move forward.
I remember my first year of college, in a foreign city. Sometimes I felt lost and disoriented. Just when I was about to give up, overwhelmed by the pressure of studies and homesickness, I suddenly remembered the kind gaze and gentle words of my teacher, spoken years ago: “Success does not always come immediately, but with effort and perseverance, you will always reap the fruits of your labor.” » These words helped me get up and continue moving forward, convinced that I was capable of it. Perhaps she never knew that the simple lessons she had taught me years earlier had unknowingly become a beacon in my life.
Source :