By Long Nguyen
The Vietnamese International Student Association (VISA) at the University of Michigan recently
organized a memorable event to celebrate Vietnamese Teachers’ Day on November 20th, 2024.
This event was designed to honor the educators who have profoundly impacted our academic
journey and to introduce the university community to the cherished Vietnamese tradition of
venerating teachers. Reflecting on our project, we are delighted to share that it met and even
surpassed our original goals outlined in our grant proposal.
Our primary objectives were to recognize the dedication and efforts of professors and graduate
teaching instructors, to foster a deeper cultural appreciation and understanding within the
university, and to express our heartfelt gratitude to the educators shaping our futures. By
presenting flowers and thank you notes to faculty members, we not only adhered to our
traditional Vietnamese practice but also succeeded in creating a warm and inclusive
environment where educators felt genuinely appreciated. The heartwarming reactions from both
students and professors reaffirmed the success of our mission.
Coordinating a large-scale event entailed meticulous planning and effective communication.
One significant obstacle we faced was managing the schedules of busy professors and
graduate teaching instructors to ensure their participation. To overcome this, we remained
flexible and proactive, scheduling meetings based on their availability and sending consistent
follow-up emails to keep them engaged. Additionally, rallying the student community to write
personalized thank you notes required persistent encouragement and reminders. We tackled
this by organizing note-writing sessions, which fostered a sense of collaboration and shared
purpose among students.
Throughout this project, our team’s leadership skills were honed and strengthened. We
embraced the habit of “Collect, Combine, Create,” integrating the rich cultural heritage of
Vietnam with the academic setting of the University of Michigan. By doing so, we not only
celebrated our roots but also enriched the university’s cultural tapestry. Encouraging students to
creatively express their appreciation cultivated an innovative and collaborative atmosphere
within our team. Additionally, the BLI habit of “Start Small” played a crucial role in our project’s
success. Beginning with a manageable scope allowed us to execute our plans effectively and
build confidence. Collecting signatures from educators on an honor card, which will be exhibited
in future VISA Teachers’ Day events, provided tangible and incremental achievements that
motivated us to aim higher for subsequent events.
The skills and lessons learned through this project will undoubtedly inform our future endeavors.
Effective communication, flexibility in planning, and fostering a collaborative environment are
pivotal leadership skills that will be beneficial in both academic and professional settings.
Moreover, the importance of cultural appreciation and inclusivity is a value we will continue to
champion in all our future initiatives.
Looking ahead, we plan to build on the success of this event by expanding the scope of our next
Teachers’ Day celebration. We aim to involve more students and educators, introduce additional
cultural elements, and perhaps organize workshops or panels to facilitate deeper engagement
and dialogue about the significance of teaching and mentorship.
In conclusion, Celebrating Teachers’ Day at UMICH was not just an event but a testament to the
power of gratitude, cultural exchange, and effective leadership. We extend our heartfelt
appreciation to the Barger Leadership Institute (BLI) for sponsoring this project and providing us
with the invaluable tools and frameworks to succeed. The BLI’s support and guidance allowed
us to integrate key leadership habits, fostering an environment of collaboration and innovation.
As we continue our academic journeys, the lessons and skills we’ve garnered from this
experience, bolstered by BLI’s principles, will serve as a strong foundation for our future projects
and initiatives. We are profoundly grateful to our professors and teaching instructors and look
forward to celebrating their contributions for years to come.
