Bringing stage dreams to fruition!

(NLĐO) - Our teacher always taught us to embrace genuine emotions when entering a profession and in life.

At 37 years old, I've left school, left behind the days of "if you want to prosper, build a bridge; if you want your children to be well-educated, cherish your teachers" for over a decade. To write down, word by word, the story of a teacher who taught me during my school years is, truly, not an easy task.

My teacher – talented and passionate.

My respect for my teachers remains undiminished, but the most vivid and genuine emotions have forever remained in the farewell hug I received the day I left Vinh Long to pursue my career in Ho Chi Minh City.

So you're probably wondering who I'll write about in this contest entry, since the theme is still about a real-life role model of a teacher? I'd like to choose a unique path to have this precious space on this page, to express for the first time my gratitude and respect for the artist – my friend – and, above all, the best words to describe our relationship – my current teacher: Actor Le Nguyen Tuan Anh.

Since April of this year, I've been enrolled in the Acting class at the Hong Van Theatre. Because I started a few days late, I've been catching up quite slowly compared to the other students in the class. Another reason I feel I'm behind is that I'm 15 years older than my classmates. It's a huge generation gap when we're all together, but Mr. Tuan Anh said, "Art knows no boundaries, especially age." I've heard that before, but from his eyes, I started to believe it was true! Just like how he taught me to believe in each role on stage.

My teacher, Mr. Tuan Anh, is also a voice actor, so his voice is both deep and warm, full of expressive nuances. As Gen Z would say, it's incredibly captivating; you're instantly drawn into his stories. Every time he demonstrates a line on stage, the intonation and tone of his voice are etched into my mind. I practice it over and over again at home so I can say it just like him. Some evenings, he puts aside his personal life to "work overtime" practicing with each student in the class, refining every sentence, every word, and meticulously practicing every movement so that everyone can deliver the best performance for the semester exam. Because we practice until late at night, everyone gets hungry, so we order fried fish balls and lemonade together, eating and practicing at the same time.

My teacher - full of love and kindness.

Several times, my friends and colleagues invited me to participate in short theatrical performances on stage. I would often plead, "Teacher, I'm sending you the script I wrote, could you please help me refine it?" Immediately, I would receive a reply like "Ok ok" from Teacher Tuan Anh. Sometimes he would even ask, "Why haven't you sent the script yet? I'm waiting to help you all feel more confident." These exchanges were very ordinary and intimate, but they contained a great deal of care from the teacher to his students, and a great deal of passion from an artist for the performing arts.

Among the "treasure trove" of stories about Mr. Tuan Anh, there are also moments of awkwardness and confusion, when we angered him. That was when we (including myself) didn't practice seriously, neglecting the homework assignments he gave us, prioritizing other things in life, or perhaps just having fun. The world behind the stage has a lot of emotional allure; it's really easy to pull us away from our serious studies. One day, in class, he was so angry he wanted to leave. I saw the disappointment in his eyes, in every word, but he didn't leave; instead, he chose to give us another chance to correct our mistakes. I realized that teachers are not only knowledgeable but also possess countless "opportunities" to offer their students, without limit, in exchange for the bright future of the person they teach.

Teacher Tuan Anh (standing behind) and the K26 drama class.

Actor Tuan Anh in the role of Mr. Hao - in the play "Co Nam Cau Muoi"

Teacher Tuan Anh and the author at the premiere of the film "Hai Muoi" (Two Salts).

Perhaps the stories I've told above don't sound like I'd tell a story about a teacher, but rather about a peer. However, it's a very genuine feeling, and of all the names I've used to describe the bond between me and Tuan Anh, the word "teacher" is always the first that comes to mind, a word I hold in special respect. He not only ignited my passion for art, but also accompanied us on our journey to achieving our dreams. He helped me broaden my understanding of "teacher," opening my heart to embrace the special emotions I felt as I began to enter the magical world of art.

I don't know how happy my teacher was each time I boasted, "Teacher, our group got to perform on stage!" or "Teacher, today Ms. U (the teacher - People's Artist Hong Van) praised this skit as meaningful..." But every time we sat in the audience watching him transform into a character on stage, we just wanted to shout out loud, "That's our Teacher Tuan Anh, everyone!" It was a feeling of immense pride, a mixture of respect and closeness. And it also reflected our admiration for Teacher Tuan Anh.

Thank you, teacher, for everything!

Mr. Le Nguyen Tuan Anh is a voice actor, actor-director, and lecturer in Stage Voice and Performance Techniques at Hong Van Theatre.

Notable roles:
* Voice acting:
Smurfette (The Smurfs - Parts 4 to 8)
Uchiha Sasuke (Naruto)
Zoro (One Piece)
Elfman (Fairy Tail)
Son Goku (Dragon Ball 1986)

* Notable roles: Mr. Hao in the play "Co Nam Cau Muoi", Mr. Nam in the play "Suoi Linh Hon"

Source: https://nld.com.vn/cuoc-thi-nguoi-thay-kinh-yeu-dua-uoc-mo-san-khau-ve-dich-196241031122146441.htm