A Message to the Scholarship Recipients

Volunteerism and leadership, the two major missions of the Vietnamese Culture and Science Association, are also derived from the Restoring People’s Integrity movement that started a century ago. Volunteerism is the prerequisite for anyone to become a leader. Volunteerism starts with taking responsibility in all circumstances, all levels, and all facets of life, not just for those who are interested in politics.

In Hồ Thư Minh’s essay, which she won the scholarship for “Community Service”, and who is here today. She wrote, “"You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person"

Perhaps this idea originated from her social responsibility and the spirit of the community that leads a single person like Thư Minh to realize that this world needs you just as much as you need this world. The connection and dependency between one person to another in this world is as close to you as you to your own body.

A concrete step that you could take in the spirit of getting involved is return and help with future Academic Excellence Recognition Programs to nurture the spirit of education for the future generations.

Better yet, take a lead role and plan the program since we have been waiting for others to take our places.

To take another step further, let’s stop and think for a minute the half-statement from the former President Kennedy “… ask what you can do for your country?”

In another 100 years, history will judge our efforts in the development and improvement of the Vietnamese people and its culture that each of us has a contributing role and responsibility.

In another 100 years, where would Vietnam be?

In another 100 years, what would our next generation inherit from us?

These are real challenges for the Vietnamese people, particularly those living in Dallas/Fort Worth. Future generations are waiting for our answers. Hopefully we will come up with a solution that our future generations will benefit for a long time.