Leadership

SAC XANH TU NHIEN

(Volunteer team that support students taking the 3-day high school entrance examination)

When presented with the question “What made you apply Sac Xanh Tu Nhien leader,” the memory of my 10th grade flashed back. In Vietnam, in order to get into high school, all students have to go through an examination consisting of math, literature, English, and one specialized subject. The day I arrived at the place to take the examination for High School for Gifted Students, I was bewildered and lost among streams of students who also wanted to get into the respected institution. However, it was the student volunteers in blue uniforms and green hats that instructed me about the procedure and directed me to my testing room. It was also them, the students who were currently matriculating at the school, who gave me the pep talk before the exam.

I wanted to help the students who were in the same situation as I was to receive the proper help and support. I wish to turn one of the most stressful events in students’ life into a memorable experience. I got the position; 1 month later, the examination took place.

I woke up to the thundering alarm, relishing the serenity of the 5 am surrounding before getting out of bed. I quickly changed into the blue uniform, putting on the green silk hat, and rushed outside. As I reached the testing site, all of my teammates were in the formation that we had practiced to the point that we could do it in our dream. We stood next to each other and formed a curve in front of the testing location’s gate with the intention to prevent traffic jams.

The clock struck 6 am when some parents and their children came early to get familiar with the location. “This is just the beginning,” my teammate, who also participated in this activity the previous year, whispered.

At 6:30, when the sun is up, vehicles streamed out from every corner and convened in front of our formation. At 6:45, the gate is totally packed with parents on motorcycles dropping off the kids. Running back and forth, I ensured that my team still stood in the formation and nudged the vehicles to move faster to ease out the traffic. My voice hollering from one end of the line to another got mixed with the car horns and parents wishing their kids good luck.

At 7:15, when all students started the exam, I directed a team to lead the families who came from outside the city to the nearest place where they would stay for 3 days - the time of the test. Helping the organizing team to transport the food and drinks to the parents waiting outside under the 30-degree weather, I understood the sacrifice that they are willing to make in order for their children to receive proper education and opportunities.

After 3 hours, the first round of the exam ended, and we returned to the formation to direct the traffic as cars and motorcycles crashed the gates to pick up the students as soon as possible so they could take a quick rest before the second section in the afternoon. Among the chaotic scene, I witnessed the unconditional love of parenthood, the determination of our team, and various emotions on students’ faces after the exam.