At the boundary between life and death, I met the teacher who saved my life.

The sudden stroke on the morning of August 31, 2019 pushed me to the fragile boundary between life and death, to stay and give up. But in that cold hospital room, a teacher stepped in, with his quiet kindness, pulled my life back together.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

There are teachers who not only teach lessons in textbooks, but also light up in students the belief to move forward, stand up from failures and find their own path. With the series "The teacher who changed my life", VietNamNet brings true stories about devoted, tolerant teachers who silently sow seeds of kindness and make great changes in each person's life.

In the article below, VietNamNet reporter recorded the story as told by Mr. Pham Thai Son - Director of Admissions and Communications Center - Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade:

7:30 am on August 31, 2019, that moment became a bitter break in my life - when the stroke struck, taking with it all my plans, all my passion and even my own life.

In the darkest days, I finally understood what it meant to be in a critical situation. And then, in the darkness of the hospital, a person walked in, changing the rest of my life: Mr. H - my current principal.

Amidst the smell of disinfectant and the cold light of the hospital room, he entered not with the appearance of a leader but with the warmth of a relative. He did not ask: " When will you be able to work again?" He only asked: " Do you still have pain? Are you tired ?"

That question touched the deepest part of my exhaustion. It told me that I was still seen as a person before I was an employee.

Then he opened his phone, showed me a document and said very softly: " I just made a decision. Thank you everyone, especially you, for always being there."

After that, he transferred me some money to help me recover. I remember the feeling at that time, in the midst of the fragility of fate, he seemed to throw me a rope, pulling me out of the abyss not with words of encouragement but with unconditional trust.

Mr. Pham Thai Son, Director of Admissions and Communications Center - Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade

Three weeks after the stroke, I returned to school. My legs were still weak, my heart was still unstable, my mind was still shaky, the first thing I thought of was quitting my job. Feeling guilty about my illness, health and the burden, I was almost desperate. But the first thing the teacher said to me was "just rest assured, the work at the center is taken care of, if there is any problem, I will take care of it. Only come when it is really necessary and you will still be fully recorded."

Occasionally, he came to the center, but not to inspect or judge. He came to listen, to relieve, to put his leader's hand on the right place where the organization was hurting. His presence made the whole group feel at ease. As for me, every time I saw him, my back felt a little stronger.

I called him “boss H” since he was the vice principal. Back then, big and small matters all came to the boss: Professional matters, internal and external affairs, overseas trips, even nameless matters that no one wanted to take on. Events, meals, small matters, all naturally flowed to the boss. But the boss never complained, never avoided, and certainly did not show off. The boss did his work carefully and wholeheartedly. Among hundreds of things, the boss still spoke softly, looked at people without judgment, and treated everyone in a way that made them feel respected.

My illness showed me the fragility of life, and he showed me the power of a kind leader. Leadership is not about slogans on the wall. Leadership is measured by daily repetition: Asking before delegating; giving before demanding; showing up when others are at their weakest.

Mr. Son worked as Deputy Head of Training Department from 2012 to 2018, and Deputy Director of Admissions Center. He then worked as Director of Admissions and Communications Center from the end of 2018 to present. After suffering a stroke in late August 2019, Mr. Son took some time to recover his health.

The decision my teacher showed me in the hospital room that year mended my broken trust. The financial support he gave me healed my body. And his constant presence healed my spirit - the most vulnerable part of me after the serious illness. From then on, I understood that a strong organization is not only based on standard procedures but also on leaders who know how to put people before numbers. Watching my teacher work every day, I learned many things: Integrity, dedication, tolerance and especially the spirit of dedication - being present where needed. Therefore, the word "boss" is no longer a distance, it becomes a support, a protection.

At that juncture of mine, Mr. H. put his hand under my back, helped me sit up, helped me stand up and walked with me for a long distance. From then on, I lived by his lesson - by actions, not words, doing good work, caring for my colleagues sincerely and, if possible, being ready to be a support for someone who was shaking like me back then.

Today someone asked me: “Who is the teacher who changed your life?”, I told the story in that hospital room - where teacher H. showed me a decision paper as a thank you and put a new belief in my heart. When sharing these lines, I still call him “boss H” by habit, but deep down, I know I am calling him by another name: Teacher. Because he is not just the leader of a school. He taught me how to be a human being - with a heart that knows how to trust at the right time and hands that are always ready to help others at their weakest moments.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/o-ranh-gioi-sinh-tu-toi-gap-nguoi-thay-cuu-ca-cuoc-doi-minh-2463129.html