Lưu Thị Quỳnh Thư

Cô gái tham gia Lead The Change Exchange Trip tháng 11 năm 2019 tại Singapore.
Thư là bạn trẻ đầy nhiệt huyết và năng lượng tích cực. Điều đặc biệt ở Thư là sự quan tâm bạn dành cho các vấn đề môi trường.  Vì thế, Thư luôn từ chối sử dụng túi ni lông mỗi khi mua sắm bất cứ thứ gì. Cũng như luôn mang theo bình nước riêng và sử dụng ống hút bằng thép / thủy tinh của riêng mình. Trong thời gian học trung học, Thư đã xây dựng các mô hình 3D từ vật liệu tái chế cho các đơn vị lớp / cuộc thi và tổ chức các chiến dịch nhằm nâng cao nhận thức về bảo vệ môi trường trong cộng đồng địa phương. Tìm hiểu thêm về hành trình của Thư tại LTCET Singapore

PEOPLE OF LEAD THE CHANGE IN ME

Qua chuyến trao đổi này thực sự là mình được trải nghiệm quá nhiều lần đầu tiên trong đời:
1. Được đi Singapore
2. Sống trong kí túc xá
3. Tham quan các tập đoàn “tai to mặt lớn” trên thế giới
4. Được học hỏi từ những coach & mentor xịn xò
5. Đi bộ nhiều đến nỗi ê bắp chân bắp đùi
6. Chém gió bằng tiếng hoa với người lạ
7. Lên thuyết trình mà không biết phải thuyết trình cái gì
8. Thức đến 5h sáng để chuẩn bị buổi pitch chiều hôm ấy
9. Đắp 1 cái chăn gấp làm đôi rồi tự hỏi tại sao nó lại bé thếeeee
10. Điều cuối cùng đó là được làm 1 thành viên nhỏ bé của gia đình Lead The Change Exchange Trip 2019

Singapore trip 2019 in me

Confession corner: I was quite reluctant to write a full reflection of the whole trip at first as the amount of lessons/experience to cover was overwhelming, and other people’s pieces were tooooo good, and I just couldn’t get myself to do it properly. Last week, I found out I hadn’t have a chance to reply to an old unit instructor at university that I’ve been exchanging email with. Words flowed out naturally from my head as I excitedly describe about this wonderful opportunity I had in Singapore for him.

“Hello Mr. ___,

How are you? I do understand that you have lots of business trips so it’s totally cool that you cannot write me as often. Hope you do take good care of your health . My mom always say food is the medicine itself. Therefore, no need to take pills when you eat the right food in the first place. Fun fact: because my mom is a macrobiotics diet follower, our family meal has been in accordance to such principle for several years now. My paternal grandfather has been a follower for >30 years and he is now over 100 years old!

There are so much have happened since I last wrote you that I don’t even know where to start. Okay, just a small warning to prepare yourself since this might be the longest mail I’ve ever written to you. Sorry not sorry :P.

Regarding the ASEAN cultural exchange trip to Japan, I wasn’t shortlisted. However, I got accepted to another exchange trip in Singapore. This is not a usual cultural exchange trip but one that truly changes mindset and touches lives. I found this opportunity on Facebook – which is an organization that helps empower young Vietnamese and enrich them with necessary skills through various programs, workshops and training.

 

Lead The Change Exchange Trip Nov 2019 family

I signed up for the Lead The Change Exchange Trip in Singapore last month, went through the interview process – which I thought I totally failed, and got accepted with a ~30% financial aid for the program fee. And that’s how I embarked on the trip with 18 other young Vietnamese and a dedicated board of organisers to Singapore for 6 days 5 nights (18 – 23 Nov).

The program is carefully curated to exploit our potential and ability – both mentally and physically; and “inject” us with all relevant skills set and mindset that are pivotal to be successful in today world. We were given a chance to visit corporations such as Facebook, Verizon (Yahoo!), Omron, Uniliver and listen to their companies inside stories; to explore the beauty of Singapore infrastructure and contemporary buildings, mesmerizing Spectra light and water show, Garden by the Bay light and music show, from Singapore to Singaporean history exhibition; volunteering to pack meals for the unfortune people at Willing Hearts center. Having lived in Singapore for long, I’m sure you’re too familiar with all the mentioned above.

If we don’t appreciate who we are, then we can never add value to who we are.

One of the opportunities that I value the most are mentoring sessions with experts in business pitching (Mr. Lincoln Teo CEO of Intel Wise) and business coach (Mr. Warren Eng Founder of Leaders create Leaders). Every word Mr. Warren said sounded like it was extracted straight out of those self-help books I had read. However, having heard it from an inspiring mentor and learned about them through game-based learning experience does make a difference from merely reading it by myself.

It’s not just train, it’s MRT – Mass Rapid Transit

You know, these past few days being in Singapore I couldn’t help making comparison between Singapore and Sydney. Having never been to this island nation before, I indeed got taken away by how modernized Singapore is. People say Singapore is like a banana, yellow skin outside but white core inside – symbolizing the fact that Singaporean are Asian but they have a westernized modern public transportation and infrastructure, a leading and favorable business environment, excellent education system and top-notch luxurious experience. Like Sydney, Singapore is a medley of different cultures and international cuisines; and they also drive/walk on the left side of the road.

 

Unlike Sydney, their trains don’t have as many seats and especially – train drivers. People here are always hustling with “work work work” attitude, which is different from a laid back and laissez faire feeling that I sense in Sydney. While Sydney embraces its old public buildings inspired by Georgian and Victorian architectural style, Singapore adorns itself with high-tech and modern architecture.

On the other hand, I do feel saddened by the fact that many elderly Singaporeans are still in the work force, even manual labour and statistics show that half of them are struggling to make ends meet.

There is so much more about the experience but I think that should be good for today. I’ll write you with job-related update in another mail. Looking forward to reading all of your update and happy belated thanksgiving! Maybe we can share what we are grateful for this year as well.

Warm regards,

Thu Luu”