Starting today, Tuoitrenews will publish the 10 winning entries of the “Who's Who" English writing contest held by Tuoitrenews from January 17 to February 16, 2012, where entrants are asked to share their thoughts about Mark Zuckerberg’s trip in Vietnam on Christmas 2011. The entries can be found at http://www.tuoitrenews.vn/cmlink/tuoitrenews/education/nhip-cau-anh-ngu

Here is the entry of one of the winners -- Le Pham Thy Nha

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My thoughts on Mark Zuckerberg’s visit to Vietnam

One early morning in December last year, I woke up and stayed in bed for a while, feeling so peaceful. The year 2011 was the milestone that marked my growing up through 20 years. One of the things I thought of that morning was all the people that stepped in my life. In the past, I had looked down on many of them as much as I had admired others. I had not known I could be better than them in one aspect but I was a loser in another one. Suddenly a question crossed my mind: What does it mean by the word “talented”? A famous singer? A hot boy or hot girl? What I have learnt is that a talented person is not always a famous one. Recently, reading some articles about Mark Zuckerberg’s visit to Vietnam, I thought cheerfully: “Wow! Glad the image of Vietnam has spread in the world and Mark recognized it!” But what really amazed me was the fact that he did not look quite like a celebrity. Mark and his girlfriend did surprise everybody for their simple clothes. However, many people who needed Mark’s signature and pictures felt uneasy with the guardians. I think there is no point in complaining about the guardians because all that Mark, like other people, wants when travelling is relaxation and peace. So Mark has no other ways than having the guardians with him. Suppose we meet Mark Zuckerberg on the street, what will we do? Many of us may be so excited to talk or take pictures with him. But just for a moment, take our eyes off Mark, look around and see. Every day, sellers in the market try hard to sell products and street cleaners work with dust and dirt to keep our streets clean. Don’t we see they are talented? I myself can sit for hours at home studying or reading many books but I cannot work in the market or on the street like that, so I really admire them. There are so many talented people around us to talk about, but they are not celebrities. The jobs that they do are not always known and favored by most of people. No jobs are less important than others. They are just different in the level of fame, popularity and salary. Mark Zuckerberg is among millions of people that help beautify our life, so there is no need to exaggerate everything when seeing him. Calm down and go back to our work if we know we cannot get near him. Mark might thank us for our respect to his privacy. Smile and think Vietnamese tourism is welcoming another foreigner in Vietnam. Again, can’t we see someone needs our caring? Our family, friends or an old woman on the street? Aren’t they worth caring for? Do not just care for the things we like that seem beyond our reach. Observing everything in its way and having enough time for our beloved people, we will see what the real happiness is.

(LÊ PHẠM THY NHA)

(For other winning entries, please visit our English Study page: http://www.tuoitrenews.vn/cmlink/tuoitrenews/education/nhip-cau-anh-ngu)