Chapter 23 — Elections and Hearts

The interview in the City Education newspaper was published on a Wednesday morning, taking up two entire pages with the big title: "From Election Rivals to Teammates: Inspirational Stories from a High School". The article recounts the entire journey of Ngoc and Khang, from the early days of fierce competition until together building the Companion Scholarship Fund and Creative Space.

Within just one day, the article was widely shared on many social networking platforms, attracting attention not only from students and parents in the city but also from many other schools looking for a similar model to apply.

"Have you seen it? Three other schools have contacted us asking about how to build a scholarship fund based on our model!" Trang shouted excitedly, running to find Ngoc right at recess, holding her phone full of notifications.

"Really?" Ngoc couldn't hide her surprise, picked up her phone and looked through each message. "I never thought this could spread this far."

That afternoon, Ms. Ha convened a special meeting with Ngoc, Khang and Huy to discuss how to respond to this unexpected concern.

"I think this is a great opportunity for you to share your experiences and help other schools that also want to build a similar model," Ms. Ha said, her eyes full of pride. "She proposed that they could draft a set of detailed guidance documents, from how to build transparent regulations to sustainable fundraising models, to share for free with any interested school."

"I think that's a great idea," Ngoc nodded immediately. "If this model can help more disadvantaged students in other schools, why do we keep it to ourselves?"

She remembered her own feeling of loneliness and loss in 10th grade, when she didn't know where to turn for help, and had to grope through each school office door in fear and shame. If there had been a clear and transparent model like this then, maybe she wouldn't have had to go through those sleepless nights filled with anxiety.

"I think, my initial goal when running for office was never just to help students in my school," Ngoc continued, her voice full of enthusiasm. "Deep down, I want no student, at any school, to feel as alone as I did."

Khang also agreed, although a bit more thoughtful. "But I think we also need to be careful to make sure the model is applied properly in each school, because each school's situation may be different."

"That's exactly why the document needs to be designed to be flexible, not a rigid formula," Ms. Ha added. "You can provide a general framework of principles, but encourage each school to adapt to its specific circumstances."

"I think I should also ask Mr. Trong to take a look at the sample budget estimate in the document," Khang added, recalling valuable lessons from his own process of convincing the school board. "Your practical experience will help make the financial part much more realistic and reliable."

"Good idea," Ms. Ha nodded in agreement. "I will talk to Mr. Trong this afternoon."

Huy, sitting and listening throughout the meeting, suddenly spoke up with a new proposal. "I think I can be in charge of synthesizing and compiling this document. I want to use my own experience - including the mistakes I have made - to warn other schools about possible risks, such as rumors and false information that can affect the foundation's reputation."

All three remaining people looked at Huy with eyes full of respect for that straightforwardness.

"That's a very valuable perspective, Huy," Ms. Ha said, her voice full of encouragement. "Turning your own experiences, even the most imperfect parts, into valuable lessons for others — that's true growth."

Over the following weeks, the group spent many afternoons after school putting together a detailed set of instructions, incorporating practical experience from building both projects. Huy contributed a lot to the risk warning section, sharing frankly his own story as a typical example, although at first he was a bit hesitant to publicly admit his mistakes in front of a much wider audience than the school.

"Are you sure you want to include your story in the document?" Ngoc asked, her eyes full of concern when she saw Huy sitting thoughtfully in front of the paragraph he was drafting.

"Sure," Huy nodded firmly, although his voice was still a bit hesitant. "I think, if my story can help a student at another school avoid the same mistake, then making it public is completely worth it, even if it's a bit awkward for me."

Ngoc nodded, impressed by that courage. "I think that is the clearest proof that you have truly grown up, Huy."

A few days later, when Huy's manuscript was completed, Khang read it and couldn't hide his emotion at the way Huy expressed his own story - not avoiding responsibility, not blaming the situation, but frankly analyzing each step of mistake and lesson learned in an honest and profound way.

“Huy,” Khang said, closing the manuscript, “I think the paragraph you wrote will be the most valuable part of the entire document. It is not only a warning, but also a humane story of redemption."

"Thank you," Huy replied, a bit embarrassed by the compliment. "I just hope it will help someone who is on the brink of danger like I was, to stop before causing irreversible damage, like I almost did."

Ms. Ha, when looking through the completed manuscript, could not hide her emotions, her fingers lightly skimming over each line of text that Huy had painstakingly edited for many nights in a row. "This is a living proof that education can really change a person, if we know how to give them the right opportunity and companionship at the right time."

The completed document set after nearly a month of careful compilation, named "Handbook for Building a Transparent School Scholarship Fund", was officially announced widely via the school's website and shared directly with previously contacted schools. Positive feedback quickly poured in, many teachers and students from other schools sent their sincere thanks for that detailed, practical and humane document.

Looking at the list of schools that have successfully applied a similar model after a few months, Ngoc clearly feels that her journey that started with a personal story filled with suffering in 10th grade has now spread. into a wave of positive change beyond what she ever dared to dream, touching the lives of hundreds of students she had never even had the chance to meet.

One weekend afternoon, Ngoc received a handwritten letter sent to the school address, without mentioning the specific sender's name, just signed "A grateful student from Le Loi High School". She opened the letter and read each neat line:

"Dear Ms. Ngoc, I am an 11th grade student at a school nearly fifty kilometers from your school. My school has just applied a scholarship fund model based on the documents you and your brothers shared, and I am one of the first people to receive that scholarship. I want to thank you, even though we have never met, for showing me that difficulties are not the end, but can be the beginning of something much more meaningful."

Ngoc read and reread that letter many times, tears rolling down her cheeks. She brought the letter to Khang to see during recess the next day.

"Read this," she said, handing the letter to him, her voice still choked with emotion.

Khang finished reading, looked up at her, his eyes also shining with emotion, his hand shaking slightly as he held the paper that was slightly wrinkled from being folded and opened many times. "This is why all the effort we put in is worth it, Ngoc. Not because of fame, not because of achievements, but because of letters like this."

Ngoc nodded, carefully putting the letter in the notebook she always carried with her - along with the first note she received from an anonymous student at the beginning of the campaign, two mementos that reminded her of the real reason behind all the efforts that she and her companions had pursued together throughout the long journey, a journey that she firmly believed, there were still many meaningful things waiting ahead.