Between The Cuts Of Life, A River Still Flows.

You and I have known each other for quite some time, haven’t we, Trang? Back in the days at DLV, you would sometimes drop by my office for a little chat—sharing a few random stories, venting a bit about work, or commenting on a favorite poem set to music. It was your way of releasing stress, before diving back into the high-pressure work of a Marketing Trainee who had to meet the demanding expectations of a Marketing Manager who asked nothing less than 110% from the team.

Then you left the company, and after a while I heard news about you again. But this time, it wasn’t about work—it was about your battle with a life-threatening illness, the agonizing days spent in a hospital room, hovering on the edge between life and death...

About three years later, we met again at the Bitexco building. Sitting across from me was no longer the “Trang Elephant” your friends used to affectionately call you, but a fragile frame with thin shoulders. Only your lively voice remained the same, and in your eyes shone a will that refused to surrender to fate. You spoke calmly: “The treatment has taken 20 years off my life. On paper I’m 36, but my body is that of a 56-year-old.” Trang, I can’t even put into words how I felt in that moment.

Today, as I read a few chapters of your manuscript “Beyond The Ocean'Call,” I finally understand the path you chose. Your reflections on your career are truly valuable for young professionals, and the hardships you endured will serve as a source of strength and encouragement for them. Hardships are nothing more than a test of human endurance. Despite all the storms and injustices, you remain strong—like a river that winds its way through twists and turns, always moving forward, always bringing life-giving water to the world...

I’m still following your journey.