HNUE’S TEAM IN THE NATIONAL ENGLISH COMPETITION

“Bittersweet”

For me, there are no words more suitable to describe my time in HNUE’s national team , seeing how it was both the tale of my most disheartening defeat and possibly my greatest rise.

HNUE's 2019-2020 team on the day of the National English Competition

Fall

“Sometimes your best isn't good enough.”

In 11th grade, I had the honor of joining the team after achieving a quite outstanding score on the selection test. There, we studied religiously in preparation for the Competition, with countless hours of practicing and tremendous stress, carrying the expectations of a prestigious school such as HNEU.

When the day of the test finally came, I tried my best and poured my heart and soul into that exam paper, 3 hours of intense focus and determination. But it wasn’t enough. Or rather, I wasn’t enough…

My friends all managed to be rewarded for the hard work with a prize, I was the only one who failed. The experience scarred me deeply, plunging me into one of the lowest moments of my life thus far.

Rise

“Persevere like a seed, even when they try to bury you, flourish.”

When I qualified for the team again in 12th grade, I vowed to make it right, by trying harder than ever before. This time, however, I had to carry a dual task, both focusing on my studies in the team and also carrying out the duties of team captain, providing the other members (a whole different team from before) with answers should they have any inquiries about the Competition itself or study methods, since by this time I was a veteran.

Nevertheless, what I came to realize is that, instead of a burden, helping my teammates more was a way of helping myself, in the sense that the interaction consolidates my own skills as I also learned from them. This less self-centered approach than the previous year, is what I deemed to be one of the key factors contributing to my success this time around. Another valuable lesson attained, though not by learning it the easy way.

HNUE's 2020-2021 team at the starting ceremony of the National English Competition