Education plays an important role in every country. Students are not only learners, but also people who fight for peace in the world. During the Vietnam War, many students from many schools attended mass demonstrations. Among them were many from my school, Cao Thang.
My school was established in 1906 by the French. It was located in the centre of the city. At that time there were few students because Vietnamese people did not want to join the French navy after graduation. There were only thirty students the first year. The French navy also founded Cao Thang Technical High School and provided machines and equipment. The teachers were navy officers in Saigon at that time. During the war, my school trained many people who later became revolutionary fighters (like late presidents Ton Duc Thang and Ho Chi Minh – although he studied only a short time before he left to find freedom and independence for our country). During that time, there were many movements inside the city demonstrating for peace and independence. Even now, Cao Thang School is known as a symbol of solidarity and bravery.
Today, Cao Thang School is one of the oldest schools in the city. My school now has many training courses such as mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, electronic engineering, refrigeration engineering, etc. It trains our young people to become useful citizens of our country. Vietnamese people have a proverb which, roughly translated, is “Traveling and Education.” Cao Thang students do not rest on the laurels of the proud achievements of the school; they constantly study by themselves and invent many labor-saving devices for work, factories and households. “Practice makes perfect”, “Seeing is believing” and “Nothing succeeds like success” – those are the sayings that each Cao Thang student should take with them when they finish their studies. No matter how tough the work gets, Cao Thang students always go toward “the storms.” It could be said that wherever difficulties appear, Cao Thang students will be there.
Now that I am a member of this great school, I am proud of what the older generation did for my school and society. My school has become a technical college, and our team spirit is as strong as ever. I am now studying electrical engineering; I also hope that I can improve all my skills for my future career. I am exerting myself in my studies so that I can devote myself to my country and my old school. Next year will be a memorable time for all Cao Thang students, whether old or new, as we celebrate 100 years since the school’s founding. The image of our historical school, and the time I was here, will remain in my heart and mind as encouragement my whole life.
In closing, I hope people all over the world will learn of living with no misery and sorrow. But this story is not a story about people around the world; this is the story about an old school in a small country built by a small People – a nation that loves, shares, hopes and dreams together.
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