Scholarship/Orphanage Day 1 (7/18) || Dan Han

The day after we wrapped up our shadowing experience at UMC Hospital, I remember waking up late with Jeffrey and missing breakfast. Still half-asleep, I threw on my neon green 16G merch and a pair of jeans, then joined the rest of the group as we headed out to Trường Tình Thương Ái Linh for the first part of our scholarship program.

On the bus ride there, I was still groggy and feeling a bit drained, but I ended up chatting nonstop with Bill, which surprisingly woke me up completely. As we got closer to the school, I found myself reminiscing about the students I met the previous year—the games we played, the laughs we shared, and the bond we built in such a short time. I wondered if I’d get the chance to see any of them again—and if they’d remember me. This program had been my favorite last year, so I felt incredibly grateful and excited to return for a second summer to support the students once again.

When we arrived, we carried the boxes of backpacks inside and found seats behind the students. They were doing an activity with the principal, and I remember hearing them say, “trời ta ta đứng” and “đất ta ta ngồi,” which brought back memories of my time as a Boy Scout in a Vietnamese troop—we used the same phrases to cue everyone to stand or sit. As the principal gave a heartfelt presentation about the school and its mission, I quietly helped place the scholarship envelopes into the backpacks, getting everything ready for distribution.

After the presentations and student performances, it was time to pass out the backpacks. We lined up, each grabbing a backpack filled with supplies and an envelope of tuition money, then handed them out to the students one by one. When it was my turn, I handed a black backpack to a student, helped him put it on, and gave him his envelope. He thanked me again and again, then ran off excitedly to show his friends.

Once everyone had received their backpacks, we had the chance to hang out with the students. I bounced around between groups, just trying to soak in the energy and see what everyone was up to. One group of boys was deep in conversation about what sounded like League of Legends—but it seemed like a Vietnamese version since the champions and lanes were completely different. Later, a little girl came up and stuck a sticker on my face, which made me laugh. It was such a heartwarming moment, seeing all the kids smiling, laughing, and running around. Knowing that our months of fundraising and preparation had turned into something so impactful was truly rewarding. These students wouldn’t have to worry about tuition or school supplies this year—and that meant everything.

After lunch, it was time to head back. We said our goodbyes, climbed onto the bus, and as it pulled away, I took one last look at the school—hoping that all the students, both new and familiar, would thrive and chase their dreams. I sat next to Bill again, and while we yapped away, the rest of the bus quickly fell asleep. :D

Everyone sound asleep 💤💤😴

Arriving at the school!

Stickers :D