THE BREAKFAST 2020

Some people say that one of the most challenging aspects of writing a story is the beginning. Well, if my time in high school was a book, I was definitely struggling in the beginning as an author.

Me, the other guides, and our underclassmen at the "Game day" event organized by The Breakfast!

Struggles at the beginning

As I entered this new and strange environment that is high school, I was overwhelmed. The culture was different, the teachers were different and of course, the peers are different. I was no longer in the safe bubble that was secondary school with friends I knew well and trusted for years. For some reason, high school life felt more like society, especially since it was the first time I attended public school. Naturally a "last-stage" introvert such as myself, was left confused, scared and lonely, unable to make friends.

A warm welcome

Then there were this of individuals who broke into our class during break time, seniors who called themselves The Breakfast’s volunteers. Immediately, the cold and morose mood in the class was lifted by their confidence, smiles and jokes. My fellow classmates were letting their guards down, everyone started following the lead of our seniors, and I was also swept along by the magic. That first experience at HNUE will always hold a special place in my heart. It was the first time I've ever felt like I could truly call this school my home, where I can feel safe, and mature as a person. Right then, I wondered if a shy kid like me could ever ever even dream to be like them, shining examples of individuals whose very auras inspire and connect people. Luckily in my last year, I managed to achieve that dream.

Legacy

The breakfast is a program organized by HNUE’s students to welcome newcomers to the school, and in 12th grade, I volunteered as a guide. It took me a minute, standing on the classroom’s platform looking down at the new young faces at HNUE, who were entranced, like I once was, did I realize that I was now the magician, that I am now able to give the 10th graders the warm welcome my seniors once gave me. Seeing our underclassmen slowly familiarizing with the school, making friends, and laughing together with our company, was possibly one of the most memorable parts of my time at HNUE. It was also then that I realized that this was probably my most important legacy that I will leave behind when I graduate, not my academic achievements, not my other activities, but instead, the smiles on the faces of our underclassmen and the inspiration to carry on The Breakfast's spirit.

My legacy!