The 'teacher' tirelessly teaches from the heart

In the Northwest, the July sunshine is still golden as honey. Each drop of shimmering sunlight dances as if teasing the dark green leaves of the banyan trees swaying in the wind.

Today, my school has a schedule for admission to grade 6. Turning to the colleague sitting next to her, she is smiling brightly because among the students who passed the entrance exam to grade 10, there is the name of the "special" student in her class, who achieved a score quite high compared to the admission score. I see tears glistening in that smile. The colleague that I want to mention in this article with deep admiration is Ms. Pham Thi Thom - a natural science teacher at 19/5 Secondary School, Mai Son Commune, Son La Province - the school where I am working.

4 years of perseverance and patience "giving" with a special student

Before working at 19/5 Secondary School, Ms. Thom spent 6 years working at schools in extremely disadvantaged areas of Dien Bien province. In 2013, Ms. Thom transferred to her home district. Her journey of spreading knowledge and spreading love was extended.

Kim Chi has positive changes in the new school year (photo taken with Ms. Thom in the middle of the first semester of the 2024 - 2025 school year)

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY AUTHOR

And among the many "special" students, there is a student in her homeroom class who always makes her worry about her worrying "specialness". That is Nguyen Kim Chi. Chi transferred to Ms. Thom's class from the beginning of the second semester of 6th grade. She has a somewhat masculine appearance, short hair, dresses like a boy, and often wears a mask. She hardly talks, lives a closed life, does not want to communicate with her classmates; sometimes she appears indifferent, does not pay attention in class and has no learning attitude. Especially Chi often skips school without reason.

Noticing the abnormality of her student, Ms. Thom went to her house to encourage and talk with her parents. Through understanding, Ms. Thom learned that Kim Chi was suffering from "social disconnection" with the symptoms of "losing interaction with people and losing connection with the living environment". In her family, she did not want to communicate, share or exchange anything with anyone - something she had never had before. Kim Chi always showed signs of withdrawal and reacted to what her parents asked.

After spending time learning about this disease, Ms. Thom chose to go to class every day if she saw Kim Chi's seat was empty, and when she had no classes, she went to her house. Knowing that Kim Chi was inside, she called, but she did not open the door, so she stood outside for hours talking through the door to the inside to confide and encourage her student.

There were times when she came and only her 4th grade sister was groping to cook because her mother had gone back to the countryside, her father was driving, and Kim Chi was sleeping. Teacher Thom patiently stayed to chat and help Chi and her sister. Then every week, every Sunday, she went down to chat with Chi's mother to better understand the treatment process as well as to grasp Chi's follow-up appointment schedule.

The more she heard about Chi, the more she loved her, and then she went into the house. When Chi saw her teacher, she immediately made an excuse to go to the bathroom to avoid her. Teacher Thom still patiently waited for Chi to come out, and many times she had to leave after she "monologued" from outside the bathroom door. In class, she asked the female students to pay attention, take the initiative to talk, and be closer to the "special" student. The teacher also encouraged Kim Chi to join the class's art troupe so that she would have the opportunity to interact and participate in group activities. Although Chi refused many times and once she dropped out without practicing, the teacher was not discouraged.

I will always remember the two-sided review of student education at the end of the 2023-2024 school year, Chi was in 8th grade. When the school's pedagogical council considered her case, many subject teachers did not agree to consider Chi's training as good as the teacher's proposal because during the school year she often missed school without reason, and there was no active lesson building in the class. The atmosphere of the school's two-sided review of education was gloomy. Then, teacher Thom stood up with a choked voice, sharing: "Please give Chi a chance so that she can demonstrate her efforts and change. As a homeroom teacher, having been with Chi for nearly 3 years, my family and I are seeing positive signs from her. Chi's case really needs attention, sympathy and sharing...".

Kim Chi in literature class (left) and teacher Thom with Kim Chi in her class

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY AUTHOR

And also during the summer months of that school year, every free day, my colleague would come to Chi's house to chat and ask about her. She also invited Chi to come over to her house after asking her parents' permission. Kim Chi became more open with the teacher, she told her about her family, especially about her parents' concern, asking about her, and being close to her.

Then, at the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year, on the opening day, while lining up with my students to prepare for the opening ceremony, for the first time in 3 years of being in charge of teaching literature in Ms. Thom's class, I saw the bright smile of a student with a short haircut named Kim Chi. This was also the rare time I saw her take off her mask.

In my literature class, Chi raised her hand to speak up and build the lesson, and when it came to the practice part, she volunteered to go to the board to do the exercises with confidence, encouraged by her classmates. Not only did I notice Chi's surprising change, but other teachers also took note.

And to have a student who is open, friendly and sociable like Kim Chi now, perhaps it is impossible without the presence and love that is lit from the flame of love in the heart of teacher Thom for her. For teacher Thom, perhaps Kim Chi is also the most special student in her nearly 18-year career of educating people.

Kim Chi's positive change reminds me of a saying: "Where there is love, there are always miracles." But that's right, everyone only has one life to live, so let's make it meaningful, make it more beautiful as the poet To Huu once said: "People live to love each other".

Ms. Thom in her 4th blood donation

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY AUTHOR

Hope is lit from a loving heart

Not only is she passionate about her career of educating people, Ms. Thom also inspires me and my colleagues and students with kindness, compassion, love and the desire to give without expecting anything in return. From 2017 to now, this teacher with a heart full of love has registered to volunteer to donate blood 7 times and 4 times she is eligible to do this act. "I want through my drops of red blood, unfortunate situations and patients will see hope at the end of the road that they previously thought was dark and hopeless," Ms. Thom shared.

As the proverb says, "A great teacher teaches from the heart, not from the book." Teacher Thom is like a small ray of sunshine shining into the soul, sowing positive energy into the hearts of teachers like us, giving the generation of teachers in the highlands the will and belief in a bright future for generations of students. She not only teaches children with passion but also in the depths of her heart is perseverance, a heart full of love. And it is also thanks to her journey of perseverance, tolerance, and beautiful lifestyle that makes us love and appreciate the teaching profession even more. A profession that is difficult and tiring, but where we are given love and receive great happiness in return.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nguoi-giang-day-miet-mai-tu-trai-tim-185250818115444879.htm