INSIDE ME!
KHANH'S
SECRET GARRET
Welcome to my personal space, a cozy corner where you can join me on a journey through the various phrases of my life. Each project, event, and remarkable experience has played a pivotal role in shaping my dreams and aspirations. These encounters have not only fueled my passion but have also planted in me the determination to seize every opportunity that comes my way.
I believe that my mission in life is to spread happiness and care to those around me. Acknowledging the privileges I’ve been fortunate to have, my aim is to evolve into a better person each day. I’m eager to learn as much as I can, with the intention of returning to share these insights with others. My ultimate goal is to contribute to making everyone’s life a little better.
Come along as I navigate through this journey, embracing growth, and aspiring to be a positive force in the lives of those I encounter. Your company on this expedition means the world to me, and together, let’s make every moment count
What principle allows borrowing without repayment? Life is not just about receiving but giving as well."
MY UWC JOURNEY
Vietnam Consulate in India
My Consulate was my home for a long while: during two years of COVID-19, I couldn’t come back to Vietnam. However, the Viet community in Vietnam, especially my General Consulate-Hoang Tung with his family and Vice Consulate-Phuong Anh greeted and welcomed me, as well as other Vietnamese, to their home.
They gave me the first insights into the job of a diplomat and how they represent the country on board, about their job to connect and strengthen, as well as support the Viet community in South Asia. Inspired by them, I applied to be the Event Coordinator of the Consulate-head organizer of events including culture immersion sessions, Vietnamese grammar and language for Indian-Vietnamese students, and online sessions during COVID time to support the community. I also created the theme and organised Tet-homecoming, a New Year celebration for all Vietnamese living in India.
These experiences allowed me to celebrate my identity of being Vietnamese and taught me to be proud of my culture. Most importantly, it lit up my aspiration to become a helpful and talented diplomat to be able to support my community while promoting international relations with different countries.
Peer Support Group (PSG)
A role I never expected myself to take is to be a Peer Support Member. Two hundred students from 75 different countries living on the same hill could be extremely complicated for faculties to assess mental health issues and maintain mental well-being. PSG students, therefore, are selected and trained students to solve daily mental issues related to sex education, conflict resolution, and other similar issues. Especially, it is way easier for students to take initiative because the level of trust peers have for each other could be much higher than that for faculties.
Professional training sessions equipped me with many skills, including specific conversational skills, signs and signals of different emotions, and skills to tackle different reactions or panic attacks. I believe these are all fundamental skills for me to pursue my dream of being a diplomat. In addition, my experience working as a PSG with my peers allowed me to understand the community and how to enhance the harmony between several different perspectives.
East and Southeast Asian Regional Celebration
This is an annual event where country representatives get chances to showcase their own culture to the campus through immersive activities.
We began with Songkran, the Thai New Year celebration, organizing water and powder fights. Later that night, we had a Regional Theme dinner with a menu created collaboratively. We presented a small skit and dance, a combination celebrating each country’s traditions. We hosted TED Talks on heated topics in countries. I facilitated our room’s discussion on bride abduction, an old tradition in our country but often misused. Following that, was a discussion panel with all TED Talk hosts, allowing participants to bring up questions related to our culture—be it historical, cultural, or political—and then engage in diverse discussions. There was a temple fair. Our Core Committee agreed that a fair, common in Southeast Asia, was the best format, featuring different stalls for exploration. I adorned our stalls with traditional flags, conical hats, red envelopes, and Hoi An lanterns. We included two folk games—marbles and nhay lo co. Our stall primarily focused on palm reading and fortune-telling, representing Vietnamese culture. We ended the celebration with a night market and a tea party. During the night market, we prepared traditional food for people to try. The tea party, more of a performance night, began with a fashion show in our traditional costumes. We performed in our languages, presenting songs, poems, and dances, and concluded with a lantern-releasing performance.
OTHER REMARKABLE MEMORIES
SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AND LEADERSHIP
Recharkha
Our dedicated team of 15 members collaborated with Recharkha, an environmental and women-empowering NGO to collect, sort, and preprocess 65 kg of plastic waste for recycling by NGOs. This collective effort reflects our commitment to environmental sustainability and actively addresses plastic pollution. In tandem, we successfully raised Rs 2800 through an inventive approach: selling natural fabric dyes derived from butterfly pea and hibiscus flowers and providing an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic dyes. Additionally, we offered fabric adorned with patterns created from traditional wreaths, wooden splints, and rust. This dual initiative not only generates funds for our cause but also promotes sustainable consumer choices. The proceeds will be directed to support NGOs dedicated to recycling, amplifying the impact of our combined endeavors. This initiative not only contributes to waste reduction but also fosters a sense of community engagement and responsibility towards the environment.
ART ENGAGEMENT
The Six Band
Including six members sharing the same interests and music tastes, The Six, formed in 2019, mainly covers songs from different genres and times in Vietnamese, English, and Chinese.
Each of us can play different instruments, from guitar to piano, shakers, and drums, therefore we cover those songs in our style, giving them newer performances.
We have successfully organised three consecutive small-scale concerts with limited invites on different themes, focusing on many old Vietnamese songs.
DRAMA DE KICO
As the Founder and President of Drame De Kico, an art club uniting enthusiasts of drama, fairy tales, and traditional folk theater, I’ve led monthly training sessions for our 65 members. These sessions aim to raise awareness about diverse theater forms and explore the fusion of fairy tales with drama. My creative role extends to generating script ideas, often adapting concepts from Grimm fairy tales.
Coordinating our dedicated team, we successfully staged six plays at Nguyen Hue High School, captivating an audience of 200 and fundraising 5 million VND for our artistic pursuits. In a spirit of community engagement, we organized a heartwarming theater performance for children at the National Children’s Hospital, spreading joy through the arts.
Further enriching our cultural experience, we arranged a memorable trip to Dao Thuc Village in Hanoi, exposing our members to the captivating world of Vietnamese water puppetry. Through Drame De Kico, we foster a vibrant community passionate about the magic of storytelling and the rich tapestry of traditional theater.
Literature Department Exhibition and Events
Serving as the Head of the Core Committee for the Literature Department Exhibition and Events, I undertook a pivotal role in orchestrating an annual event that brought together 10th, 11th, and 12th graders specializing in Literature. As the Director of the entire event, playwriter, and active participant, I facilitated a comprehensive approach to showcase and deepen the community’s understanding of literature.
My responsibilities included coordinating with the film crew, selecting event themes, establishing timelines, collaborating with the Literature Department Head to organize the program, task delegation to 90 members, and overseeing rehearsals. In 2020, our event garnered attention from National Television, which recorded the well-organized and remarkable exhibition.
In crafting a three-hour play highlighting the beauty of Vietnamese literature, I collaborated with the film crew “Bi Mat Cua Gio.” The play “Nang,” which I wrote and directed, was broadcast on Vietnam National Television VTV in 2020. Additionally, I directed dance performances, namely “Em day chang phai Thuy Kieu” and “Banh troi nuoc,” both aimed at honoring the beauty of Vietnamese women.
