User-friendly notebook
Born and raised in the mountainous border region of Dân Hóa, Cao Phương Linh (a 9th-grade student) and Đinh Tiểu Vi (an 8th-grade student) understand the difficulties faced by boarding school students. These include not only the long commute to school but also homesickness, the awkwardness of having to take care of themselves, and the challenges of adapting to a group environment.
From their daily observations, the two students noticed that many of their peers did not fully understand the meaning of the boarding school regulations; their self-reliance and problem-solving skills were limited. Meanwhile, the current regulations were mostly dry, administrative documents that were difficult to remember and apply to boarding students.
After conducting fieldwork at Dan Hoa No. 1 Ethnic Boarding Primary and Secondary School and Hoa Tien Secondary and High School, and surveying hundreds of students, the group found that over 70% did not know how to properly take care of themselves, over 60% were still shy in communication, and the majority wished to have a close "companion" in the boarding environment.
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The joy of the teachers at Dan Hoa No. 2 Primary and Secondary School after their students won second prize at the provincial-level high school science and technology competition in the 2025-2026 school year - Photo: Provided by the school. |
From that reality, the idea for the "Friendly Boarding School Handbook - A Companion for Students in Highland Areas" was born. The handbook is designed into five chapters with relatable content, such as: independent living skills, studying, group interaction, self-protection, and emotional management. Instead of dry regulations, the authors transformed the content into mind maps, comics, role-playing scenarios, and easy-to-understand illustrations...
Specifically, the product is built on the "3 Selfs" formula: Self-reading - Self-watching - Self-action. Each skills page integrates a QR code linking to visual instructional videos created and collected by the students themselves. In addition, the handbook includes an "Emotional Toolbox" and a "7-Day Green Living Challenge" to foster interaction and develop positive habits in students.
Cao Phuong Linh shared: “We wanted to create a notebook that, when students look at it, they feel a sense of closeness, like a friend. From there, the rules of the boarding school would no longer be something to fear, but would become guidelines to help them live and study in a better environment.”
Life skills education for students
According to the two students from the mountainous region, what made them happiest was not just the award, but the fact that many boarding school students, after using the handbook, had become more confident, learned to take care of themselves, and integrated well with the group.
Dinh Tieu Vi shared: “The project was a challenging but meaningful journey. There were days when we stayed late at school to finalize the content, shoot illustrative videos, and edit images. When we heard our project was announced as the second-place winner at the provincial-level high school science and technology competition for the 2025-2026 school year, we were truly moved and proud that our product had been recognized by the organizers. This project also helps me live better in a multi-level boarding school or other boarding school environments.”
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