The Grab Driver

“Your driver is on the way”

This Grab message has been there for 20 minutes and no one turned up. It’s peak hours. If I cancel, there are little chances my bookings will be accepted.

I was struggling to call the driver to find a solution when a middle-aged man in a signature green outfit waved at me. He hastily handed me the helmet, apologizing for having to refuel the bike.

“Bác! Hurry up or we’ll be caught in a traffic jam!” I say as I hurriedly hop on the bike. All I can think of now is to pray that I won't miss my favorite Chinese class today! “人: person, 有影响的: impactful,” I am chanting the words, trying to memorize new lessons as much as possible when all of sudden a noise of the brake blasts.

“Flat tire! Again?” the driver gnashes his teeth. He got irritated.

It’s 7:25 AM, 5 minutes until the class begins. My phone ran out of battery. My wallet has no cash. The last resort is to walk to school only if it wasn't raining. “The best solution is stopping by a bike shop to fix the tire and wait for the rain to be over,” Mr.Thang (the driver) suggests, shrugging. I laugh off - “Well, I guess so.”

The driver pulls out his phone, checking the news. I could glimpse a picture of his son in the wallpaper.

So you have a son? - I initiate the conversation.

Yeah, grade 12.

Oh, me too. Does he have any plans for university?

No, he will enter an apprenticeship program. I can’t afford his university tuition. Finish apprenticeship in 2 years and he is ready to earn money - his life goal. His study is average, but he loves football. Do you know Hanoi Football Club? He plays for that one. (Sigh) I just let him follow his passion. Professional players can only work until their early 30s. After that, his apprentice skills will help him make a living.

No university? Sounds peculiar. Choosing a market-demanding major with little personal reference, entering a university, being disoriented after graduation - isn't this a formulated path everyone in my social circle follows, and I will too. Mr. Thang makes me realize there is no one-size-fits-all path for everyone. Each needs to determine one’s life goals and passion to find a suitable path for them.

Then who am I? I want to be a professional communicator. Detecting people's pain points to offer them the optimal solution to 'ease the pain'; making unheard stories appear in media; being creative with words and ideas - those are what I aspire to do in the future.

“Let’s go, the bike is ready,” the driver breaks my thoughts.

I missed my Chinese class, but I gained an impactful lesson of determining life goals and reflected myself from a perspective that I have never thought about. I want to be a 有影响的人.

Oh, did I mention Mr. Thang’s son looks up to some Hanoi Football Club members playing in Vietnam National Football Team? They recently achieved several regional championships, making them become the pride of Vietnam. I wish one day I could contribute to my country by bettering Vietnamese lives - on behalf of Vietnam National “impact-maker” Team, maybe?

*Update 1/11/2021: Bài này là 90% sự thật. Câu cuối cùng "impact-maker" thì là hư cấu, được tạo ra với mục đích xin học bổng apply đại học. Nhưng tử vi bảo là mình làm influencer nên chắc đổi thành Vietnam National Influencer Team thì cũng được đấy.