“AISVN–The Fallen Eagles”

A debriefing of the situation and interviews with those who have moved

“Debt”, “money”, and “crisis” are three words that exactly summarize the situation for a school based in Hồ Chí Minh City. However, what lies behind the situation of AISVN is more than just three words can describe. We've all heard about the problem with the American International School in Vietnam, how it went down the road of bankruptcy, and the teachers who went on strike for being underpaid. But what about the aftermath of the whole ordeal? The lives of 1,300 students and 155 teachers after the situation has unfolded now lie in the hands of schools across the country and even abroad. 

The Summary

AISVN, an international school in Vietnam, had experienced a financial crisis due to numerous reasons not often covered by the media; however, due to being underpaid, teachers had gone on multiple strikes, leading to students having to “self-study" at school. Because teachers weren't being paid and parents weren’t getting their money back from the contract signed at the beginning of their child's school life, this led to riots and protests. Ultimately, parents had to raise money to allow students to graduate and continue their studies until April, when the school would allow students to go on an early summer break. 

Interviews 

“A Sea Filled with Waves of Turmoil”

My last days at AISVN were full of mixed emotions, emotions that were constantly changing and made me feel like everything was bursting at the seams. I felt incredibly worried, and the thought of changing schools completely overtook my emotions. I could barely remember when I was the new kid at AISVN, but now I would be reminded of my fear again. However, these emotions soon changed when reality hit me, and I realized that everyone at ISHCMC was very friendly and warmly welcomed me to their community. Of course, at first, I felt like I didn't belong, but soon after the first week, I could fit right in with help from the buddy system at ISHCMC, which I found extremely helpful, and even meetings with the counselor. However, I was worried about not being able to make any friends. I encountered people who helped me conquer this fear. If I were to message those experiencing the same events as me, I would say that you are not alone and that your worries and concerns are entirely valid. 

“It Felt Like I Had Everything and Then Nothing" 

I couldn't stop crying. Everything felt like it was coming down upon me. The idea of leaving all my friends behind and the same routine I had for years made my feelings crumble every time. During my final days at school, I couldn't even look at my schoolwork the same anymore; it felt like all the effort I put into my studies was now ruined. I felt angry, helpless, and terrible, and I kept questioning why we had to suffer because of one person's mistake. My friends and I had promised to graduate together, but now I only see them once a month. We don't even go to the same school anymore. During my first few days at ISHCMC, I felt like there was a tight knot in my chest every time I walked into a new class and everyone stared at me, but soon after a few months, everything started to turn out alright for me. Even though I still miss everyone at AISVN, I know my decision to move was for the better, and I don't regret anything. If I could say one thing to those who are also moving, change is tough, but everything has two sides to it, and it's up to you to choose whether you want to see the bright side of things. 

“Watching everything slip away.” 

I only recently entered ISHCMC in semester two, which meant I was given the break to settle into the school. However, this also meant that I was one of the last few students at AISVN and had to watch all my friends slowly depart and leave the community we all love one by one. It felt very unfair to those who had to go through this situation because people at their new school would talk and comment about the whole ordeal even when they didn't know the entire story. It would get especially tiring when the event became the first thing people would bring up when they learned I was from AISVN. Even though I understand that my peers were curious about the situation, I just wanted space from hearing about the terrible things happening to my old school because I believe that AISVN is so much more than what happened during this year. Suppose I could message those struggling with the feeling of moving and leaving everything behind: never stop believing in yourself. Although this sounds very cliché, I want everyone to understand that you are not the events that have happened to you; you are much more than that. 

Closing Remarks

We all have our struggles and perspectives on the issues we are experiencing; however, after reading this article, I want to leave you with my message of how there is always more to what meets the eye, especially with what the media has portrayed. We often focus on the central problem and forget about the importance of perspective and how change can positively and negatively impact a person. Therefore, I want to end this article with a poem that I wrote on my first day of moving to ISHCMC: 

Drowning

Amidst the ocean of blue and grey,

I feel like a bird forced to swim

When all my life, I have soared.

Yearning for the yellow fields, 

I have once taken for granted

Regret now fills my lungs as 

I drown in the suffocating waves.

Where I was known as one of the greatest,

Now I am seen as a nobody. 

Where they used to cheer my name 

Now nobody knows who I am. 

Regardless of how the seasons change

Although nothing may stay the same 

I am growing and striving to arrange 

And that says more than anything.

About my name.