[Vnbiz] Taking care of our students

[Tran Dinh Hoanh]

Dear CACC,

Our new sister Thu Huong wrote in her introductory message: "And, now,
I'm here, to ask for joining to Vnbiz, and also ask for a care, a care
for us-the Vietnamese students, the Vietnamese next generation."  This
is really heart breaking.  I remember I asked for that myself when I
was in college.  I was always struggling with difficult issues and was
always lonely in my quest.

In college, we need more than just a bunch of dry mathematical
problems or social theories.  We need someone to help us know how to
make life choices, how to think with our heart and our mind, how to
apply different-and-often-conflicting principles in our
life--compassion, honesty, non-prejudiced, upholding our own values
while respecting our neighbor's values, how to make peace and win
friends, etc.  Many of these issues only can be learned only through
living and shared only through brother/sisterhood and friendship.  I
really think that the older generation has to try to "hang out" often
with our younger brothers and sisters so that we can be of some
support for the new generation.

But here is another side of the coin, Thu Huong (Singapore and Saigon
:-), Romi & other students.  Everyone needs to stand up and take
charge of his/her life, and then ask for help.  In the US there is a
saying, "God can help only the people who help themselves."

And how do we help ourselves?  We help ourselves by simply saying to
ourselves: "I can take charge of my life and I can move forward. How?
I don't know how yet.  But I am sure that I can do that."

That is the key.  All the roads start with a determination to go.
Once we have decided "I will get to that point" then the roads will
gradually appear in front of our eyes, like magic.  That is called
miracle--the miracle of the mind.

So I suggest that the students move first.  Tell everyone what should
be done.  Then everyone will jump in to brainstorm and to help.
During the entire process, the students have to take the lead,
probably with some more-experienced advisers.

A couple of weeks ago we talked about doing a job-search training for
students. And now, through chi Dieu Anh and Thu Huong I realize that
many students don't even know what major to choose in school.  So
maybe a career fair for the students would be good.  These two things
can be done together in one project too.

But each project has to have a leader.  I suggest that some students
or new graduates band together with some more experienced
brothers/sisters to lead a project.

In this forum, we try not to operate from the top down.  We want
bottom-up style of working.  So if we want to lead a project, just
lead.  We we will support you.  And don't worry about all the
technical details.  We have enough knowledge and experienced and
national contacts in this forum.

Start to get the ball going, guys and gals.  BTW, Brothers Nhon and
Shane are doing a terrific job getting the Internet users research
going.  Bravo!

Have a great day!

Hoanh

-- 
Tran Dinh Hoanh, LLB, JD
Attorney of Law
Washington DC