There are things we didn't realize while we were still in school. Only when we grew up and looked back did we realize we had taken away more from our teacher, Tuyet Lan, than we ever thought possible.
In my memories of my school years at My Hao High School in Hung Yen province, the image of Ms. Pham Thi Tuyet Lan always stands out. She was a math teacher – a subject often associated with dry numbers and rigid formulas. But during class activities, she would sing or recite newly written poems to her students with great emotion. This contrast, strangely enough, has left a lasting impression on us.
Bridging the gap
Ms. Tuyet Lan was born in 1963 in Yen My, Hung Yen province. After graduating from the Mathematics Department of Hanoi Pedagogical University 2 in 1984, she worked at Chau Giang High School for five years before transferring to My Hao High School in 1989 and remaining dedicated to teaching there for 29 years, until her retirement in 2018. For over three decades, this teacher not only imparted knowledge but also quietly sowed seeds of love and character in her students.
Ms. Pham Thi Tuyet Lan with memorable moments with her students (above photo). She remains optimistic today. (Photo provided by the subject)
I was fortunate to be Ms. Tuyet Lan's student for two years in grades 11 and 12, when she was my homeroom teacher. As the class vice-president in charge of academics, I had many opportunities to be close to her, to understand that behind her eloquent lectures was a very warm heart. Knowing that I was also the class's "singer," during class activities or when the whole class went out to work, she would often smile at me and gently say, "Hung, sing a song."
Familiar melodies were sung again, sometimes "Secret Fragrance," sometimes "City of Love and Nostalgia," or "Pink Phoenix." I sang, while she and my friends listened in silence. When the song ended, applause erupted.
Then she would sing or recite the poem she had just written. No one said it out loud, but everyone felt that the classroom had become a place of peace and quiet. Those simple moments were enough to bring us closer together. A classroom that wasn't just about grades, but also about laughter, music , and sharing.
Perhaps it was during those times that she recognized my talent. She introduced me to the Student Union Executive Committee, so I could join the performing arts team. From then on, I had more opportunities to perform on stage.
In our senior year of high school, we participated in the local arts festival and won second prize. It wasn't just an award; it was a memory we'll always cherish, because behind it was our teacher's trust.
Teaching is about teaching how to be a good person.
Many years later, having gone through life's ups and downs, I understand more deeply the things Ms. Tuyet Lan quietly imparted to us back then. It wasn't about grand pronouncements, but about her belief in her students, her patience in waiting for someone to find their own path.
There are things we didn't realize while we were still in school. Only when we grew up and looked back did we realize we had taken away more from her than we ever thought possible.
For Ms. Tuyet Lan, teaching mathematics has never been just about teaching numbers. She loves math because it's a subject that helps people develop logical thinking and make sound decisions in life. But above all, she always keeps in mind a simple truth: Teaching is about teaching people how to be good human beings.
She lived by the philosophy of "nurturing people," always loving people, loving nature, and loving life. Teaching students wasn't just about knowledge; she also taught us to love our families, to share, to overcome difficulties, and to nurture our dreams.
Having taught for over 30 years, she has witnessed countless generations of students grow up. There are stories she still remembers as if they happened yesterday, such as the case of Dang Van Hien, a student from the 2001-2004 graduating class.
Hien's family faced a crisis when their brick kiln collapsed, depleting their finances. Furthermore, he broke his arm right before his final exams. Everything seemed to push the young student to the brink of dropping out of school. But Hien didn't give up. Ms. Tuyet Lan and the entire class encouraged and supported him with practical care. And it was from this support that Hien rose above his difficulties, successfully passing the entrance exam to the People's Police Academy with a high score.
Her eyes betrayed her pride when she spoke of her outstanding students – those who have grown up and are making significant contributions to society. One of them is Do Thuy Tinh, a student from the 1991-1994 graduating class, who won third prize in the 12th-grade Literature competition in Hai Hung province; she is currently a lieutenant colonel, a master's degree holder, and a lecturer at the People's Police Academy.
That's Tran Thi Thiem, a student from the 1995-1998 graduating class, whom she personally supervised and taught mathematics to; she is currently a PhD holder, a lecturer at the Vietnam Academy of Agriculture, and was appointed associate professor in early 2026…
For her, each step in her students' growth is like a late-blooming flower, quiet but enduring.
The light never goes out.
But life isn't just about blooming flowers. In April 2022, Tuyet Lan discovered she had invasive breast cancer. After surgery and several lengthy chemotherapy sessions, her health at times seemed beyond recovery.
There were days when her hair gradually fell out after each treatment, and her body was exhausted. Yet, in the images we saw, she still smiled, still sang, still recited poetry, and recorded short videos to share with everyone.
That smile wasn't because she wasn't in pain, but because she chose not to let the pain overwhelm her faith in life. Looking at her then, I suddenly understood that many people, even when going through the most difficult times, still don't lose the light within themselves.
She was very fond of a quote from the novel "How the Steel Was Tempered" and often repeated it to her students: "Life is lived only once. One must live in such a way as to avoid regret and remorse for wasted years..." Perhaps it was this very thought that helped her overcome her illness, not through suffering, but through a spirit of living life to the fullest.
Despite her health setback, she maintained her daily exercise routine and a healthy lifestyle. Approaching 60, she learned to play the piano, took swimming lessons, participated in community activities, and engaged in charity work, supporting those in need.
She continues to teach – teaching children near her home, teaching online, grading papers, correcting assignments, with the same patience as in her classroom days. These activities are quiet, but enough to show that for her, life is about never stopping.
Reflecting on the current state of education, she hopes the government will pay more attention to students in disadvantaged areas and to teachers in remote regions. To her students, she encourages them to study continuously, to be compassionate, and to adapt to life. But perhaps the most important message she wants to convey is an optimistic spirit, faith in the future, and a deep love for humanity.
"When I think of Ms. Tuyet Lan, I always think of a sunflower. Not because sunflowers always stand in the sun, but because even in rain and wind, they never turn their backs on the sunlight. And for generations of students like us, she is that source of light."
Source: https://nld.com.vn/doa-huong-duong-ben-bi-toa-sang-196260528201221289.htm
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