The “From Me to Others” contest in April has come to a close, but its words still stay with us, who read and truly connected with every word written by the students. These were more than contest entries, yet deeply personal stories about inner transformations and life lessons not found in textbooks, and questions they are gradually learning to find the answer.
Among them, the piece by Nguyen Hoang Phi Long – a 12th-grade student from Class 12A3, My Thuan Secondary & High School – resonated deeply with our judging panel.
Long wrote, “Before joining the program, I was like a passenger without a map on the train to the future.”
He then recounted that journey in a genuine tone without dramatization or idealization. Having listened to our sharing, he reflected and then began to ask himself. From daring to debate – something he had never done before – to gradually learning that “Everyone is good in their own way, just keep moving forward.”
In his entry, Long wrote at length about the inspiring individuals he met through the program – Uncle Tinh, Miss Thuy, Uncle Trung, Uncle Binh, etc. What truly set his piece apart was not just their stories, but how he absorbed those experiences and turned them into his own motivation.
“Mentorship program didn’t offer hollow advice; it helped me navigate through the fog of uncertainty.”
“The future isn’t handed out like a gift. It’s something we sculpt for ourselves.”
Not every student can articulate such thoughts so calmly, and it is much more difficult to do so with such sincerity.
Read Long’s original piece submitted to us: https://drive.google.com/…/1iFciltg5HiYh4e…/view…
At this contest, Be Better’s goal was neither to find the winner nor the loser. What truly mattered was that these young people paused for a moment, listened to themselves, and wrote down their thoughts and feelings after the Mentorship Program.
Whether they made it to the top or not, we believe that every entry marks a meaningful milestone in each student’s journey toward maturity.
We hope the sincerity in your writing, your thinking, and your way of living will continue to shine through.
See you again on your next journey with Be Better—where more questions await, and empathetic listeners are always ready to walk alongside you.
