The return of gratitude

In November, the grounds of Thanh Chuong 3 High School once again resound with laughter and familiar footsteps. From all corners of the country, many former students return to their alma mater, bringing with them heartfelt sentiments and precious gifts of gratitude. This mountain school, with nearly 50 years of history, shines brightly in the joy of reunion between generations of teachers and students. More than just a visit, it's a journey of gratitude through practical contributions, working together to build a more spacious and modern school – truly living up to its name: "The Return of Gratitude."

Contributions from benefactors and alumni.

Thanh Chuong 3 High School – a mountainous school that once endured difficult times with thatched classrooms and inadequate facilities – has now undergone a transformation, boasting multi-story buildings, modern subject rooms, and a clean, green campus. This change bears the strong imprint of the local government, teachers, and especially the heartfelt commitment to their roots shown by benefactors and successful alumni.

A prime example is Dr. Vo Van Hong, Chairman and General Director of Ben Thanh Moscow Corporation, an outstanding son of Cat Ngan. He sponsored the construction of a three-story school building, a practical and experimental area, a traditional house, and a school gate, totaling tens of billions of VND. From 2021 to the present, he has continued to support over 2.5 billion VND for painting, roofing, and upgrading facilities. For a school in a mountainous region, this is a tremendous support, demonstrating a profound sense of gratitude and remembrance of one's roots.

Not only Dr. Vo Van Hong, but many businesses and alumni have also partnered with the school. Eurowindow Holding Company sponsored the construction of a foreign language classroom area consisting of 6 rooms worth 1.8 billion VND, installed new doors for the Traditional House, and provided 300 million VND to build a canteen for boarding students. In addition, generations of students have contributed modern teaching equipment: a sound system, 30 televisions, 30 computers, and sliding whiteboards, with a total value of over 1 billion VND, helping to innovate teaching methods and create enthusiasm for learning.

Eurowindow Holding Company sponsored the construction of a foreign language classroom complex consisting of 6 rooms, worth 1.8 billion VND.

The school campus is becoming increasingly spacious and friendly, with over 500 million VND contributed to the tree planting program. Today, Thanh Chuong 3 proudly boasts modern facilities: a theoretical and practical learning area, a "House of Wisdom," an outdoor reading area, a communal dining hall, a system of greenery, and convenient learning equipment – all bearing the strong imprint of compassion and generosity.

The school receives funding from Hanoi Engineering Joint Stock Company.

Compassionate scholarships

In addition to providing facilities, alumni also collaborate with the school in promoting education and talent development. Many scholarship funds named after outstanding alumni or associated with memorable school days have been maintained for many years, such as the "Green Flame" scholarship, the Nguyen Anh Tuan, Nguyen Gia Ha, Nguyen Hoang Phi, and Nguyen Thi Thuy scholarships – aimed at rewarding excellent students and supporting those in difficult circumstances.

From 2020 to the present, despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, alumni and benefactors have contributed more than 1 billion VND to scholarship funds, charitable programs, and support for underprivileged students. While these scholarships may not be substantial in monetary terms, they are a great source of encouragement, giving students the strength to strive for success.

In anticipation of the school's 50th anniversary (1975–2025), the "returning to the old school" movement has become even more vibrant. In a short time, former students have donated 700 million VND to install air conditioners in all classrooms and several functional rooms – providing a cool and modern learning environment for teachers and students in the mountainous region. In addition, many graduating classes have donated items and funds worth over 1 billion VND to support the anniversary celebration and extracurricular activities.

Principal Le Van Quyen emotionally shared: "This is proof of the trust, sense of responsibility, and special care that the people of our hometown have for our beloved school."

Connecting hearts and minds – the role of the "captain"

Behind these commendable achievements lies the dedication of the leadership team, especially the connecting role of Principal Le Van Quyen. With his vision and commitment, he and the Board of Directors have brought together generations of alumni, businesses, government, and the community, creating a unified force for the cause of "nurturing future generations."

Under the guidance of the school's administration, the Alumni Association of Thanh Chuong 3 High School was established and operated systematically from its first year. The association has implemented many meaningful programs: raising funds for the renovation of school buildings and experiential learning areas, upgrading the traditional house, assisting retired teachers, awarding scholarships to outstanding students, donating gifts to flood victims, supporting the school's canteen, etc. All of these activities are imbued with a spirit of solidarity, sharing, and responsibility.

Beyond simply connecting people, Mr. Le Van Quyen actively advocated for the socialization of education , creating a strong shift in infrastructure and the quality of teaching and learning. Local leaders consider Thanh Chuong 3 School a shining example of education in Nghe An. On every occasion, the school always expresses its deep gratitude to benefactors and alumni, while reminding students of the school's tradition of "good teaching - good learning - camaraderie."

Under the dedicated leadership of the management team, the teachers continuously innovate their teaching methods; the students strive to learn, share, and help each other. The bonds between teachers, students, alumni, parents, and the community are growing stronger, creating internal strength for the school's development. As educator William Arthur Ward once said: "A great teacher is one who inspires." And Mr. Le Van Quyen and the school's management team today are exactly that kind of teacher.

The bonds of affection continue to be written.

It is truly a source of pride to witness successful sons and daughters of our hometown returning to rebuild our alma mater. Whether entrepreneurs, intellectuals, or officials, they still cherish the gratitude they owe to their teachers and the bonds of friendship, always looking back to their old school, accompanying and sharing with it. It is this tradition of studiousness and deep affection that has created the unique identity of Thanh Chuong 3 High School – a school in a disadvantaged area but rich in tradition and humanistic values.

From its humble beginnings, Thanh Chuong 3 High School has now become a national standard school at level 2, spacious, high-quality, and a shining example of education in Nghe An province. This achievement is the result of the hard work of teachers and students, the attention of leaders at all levels, and especially the affection of generations of returning students.

Warm handshakes, reunion smiles, projects, scholarships, and stories of gratitude – all combine to create a beautiful symphony of appreciation and dedication.
"The Return of Affection" – not just the name of a movement, but a message about the bond between teachers and students, and the camaraderie among fellow countrymen, will continue to be written, like an enduring flame illuminating the half-century journey and future paths of Thanh Chuong 3 High School.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/su-tro-ve-cua-nhung-an-tinh-post754832.html