For 12th-grade students, they stand at a beautiful crossroads in life: on one side is the school years full of memories, on the other is the wide-open door to the future, a time to remember, to cherish; not only to be grateful, but also to grow. If school is where wings are nurtured, then family is where all love begins. There are loves that cannot be expressed in words. There are sacrifices that don't need to be acknowledged. These are the early mornings spent getting their children ready for school, the watchful eyes that never leave them, the pride mixed with worry, and perhaps silently hiding a tear. Or the long, sleepless nights during exams, the unspoken anxieties that only parents understand.
Pham Huynh Thanh Dat, a student in class 12Cn1 at An Giang 2 Continuing Education Center, expresses his gratitude to his maternal grandfather for raising and educating him. Photo: Hanh Chau
Expressing his deepest gratitude to his parents, Pham Huynh Thanh Dat, a student in class 12Cn1 at An Giang 2 Continuing Education Center, choked up as he said: “Everyone’s life usually begins with the image of their father and mother. But for me, the first and most vivid memory is the frail, frail figure of my maternal grandfather under the afternoon sun. Growing up in an incomplete environment like many of my friends, I never felt deprived of love. Because he gathered all the broken pieces of life, using his compassion and self-sacrifice to build me a castle of happiness with familial love.”
In a letter of gratitude to his maternal grandfather, Thanh Dat wrote: “During torrential rains, when our roof leaked, Grandpa stayed up all night holding a basin to catch the water, reserving the driest spot for me to sleep soundly. At that time, I was too young to understand that, so that I could have beautiful dreams, Grandpa had to endure the pain of joint pain and the heavy burden of worries about food, clothing, and money. When I entered first grade, the person who taught me to spell wasn't my father, the person who took me to school wasn't my mother, but Grandpa. The old, creaky bicycle on the village road carried the entire sky of my childhood. Every time I got a bad grade or misbehaved, Grandpa didn't beat me, he only sighed. That sigh of his hurt more than a whip; it taught me that I needed to try harder so as not to further dim the eyes of Grandpa, which had already become clouded with time.”
Thành Đạt shared that for the past 18 years, he has lived in his grandfather's loving care as if it were the most natural thing in the world, sometimes even carelessly taking it for granted. He had moments of youthful impulsiveness, disobeying his grandfather to chase after pointless pleasures; he had felt annoyed when his grandfather reminded him about eating and studying. But today, standing at the threshold of his 18th birthday, looking at his grandfather's hair, now as white as snow, and the age spots on his hands, he suddenly realized: While his time is increasing, his grandfather's time is shrinking. Every inch of his height is another step forward for his grandfather. Every step he takes on his educational path is another step forward for his grandfather's eyes. He promises to do his best in the upcoming high school graduation exam, to live an honest life and build a future with integrity, so as not to disappoint his grandfather and teachers.
Mr. Lam Huynh Manh Dong, Director of An Giang 2 Continuing Education Center, shared: “Over the years, teachers have not only taught literacy and imparted knowledge, but also taught how to be good people and instilled confidence. Especially in the continuing education environment, where students have experienced feelings of inferiority and uncertainty in their choices, the patience, responsibility, and love of the teachers are more precious than ever. There are times when teachers worry, times when they have to be strict, and times when they remain silent with their hearts full of thoughts. But all they hope for is for their students to grow into good people, illuminating their future path through their own personal growth.”
After 30 years, more than 160 former students from the 1993-1996 graduating class of Long Xuyen High School, from all over the country, were deeply moved to express their gratitude to their former teachers who directly taught them during that period. Rekindling a friendship forged over three decades, the alumni paid tribute to those who silently guided them along their path.
Mr. Nguyen Viet Anh, a former student of Long Xuyen High School, shared: “Over the past 30 years, we have traveled far and wide, learned so much new knowledge, and met so many teachers in our lives. But the moral lessons we learned at Long Xuyen High School, the strict admonitions and encouraging nods from our teachers back then, remain the most valuable assets that help us stand firm in the face of life's storms. Some of our classmates are now doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs, and quiet laborers... but no matter what position we are in, we are all proud to be students of the 1993-1996 graduating class.”
Leaving school, each generation of students takes a different path. Some go far, some stay nearby, some achieve success early, some have to progress more slowly... but what's important is to live in a way that is worthy of the nurturing and education provided by their grandparents, parents, and teachers.
HANH CHAU
Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/ngay-tro-ve-cua-long-biet-on-a488282.html
![[Photo] "Hanoi Lotus Festival" honors the lotus flower that has been associated with Vietnam for thousands of years.](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/1200x675/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2026/06/27/1782516943048_sen-ha-noi-2026-minh-duy-1-jpg.webp)
