The alarm clock rang at 6am, Han woke up with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. Today was the most important day of her university graduation – an interview for an accounting position at a large company. The girl who had just graduated, with a good degree but little practical experience, knew that this opportunity could decide her entire future.

Han prepared carefully: a neatly ironed white shirt, a fitted navy blue office skirt, and her hair tied neatly at the nape of her neck. In her small bag, in addition to her application, she also carefully tucked in a fountain pen her father had given her on her graduation day – as a lucky charm.

Hanoi streets are quite crowded in the morning, vehicles are lined up one after another. Han calculated the time to be able to arrive at the company office 20 minutes earlier than the appointment. But life is unpredictable. While crossing the street near the company building, she suddenly heard a loud scream. A middle-aged man collapsed on the sidewalk, his hands clutching his chest, his face purple. Passersby only stopped for a few seconds, some shook their heads in dismay and hurried away, afraid of trouble.

Han stopped. A series of thoughts flashed through her mind: “If I stop to help, I will definitely be late. But if I do nothing, what if he…” Her heart was pounding, her hands clenched. Without thinking any further, Han rushed forward.

She tried to shake him, but the man had already passed out. Panicked, Han shouted for help, and finally a motorbike taxi driver stopped and took him to a nearby hospital. The whole way, Han was trembling, holding her phone tightly, calculating the time. The clock hands moved slowly, and her heart felt like it had hit rock bottom.

Only when the doctor admitted him and confirmed: “He had a heart attack, luckily he was brought in on time”, did Han breathe a sigh of relief. But looking at the clock, she was stunned – the interview time was already past.

She rushed out of the hospital, her heart filled with regret. Before her eyes, her dream of many days seemed to have vanished because of a decision made in a few short minutes. “Did I miss my chance?”, she whispered, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes.

But Han still tried to tell herself: “At least, I saved a life. Chances can be found again, but life cannot.” With trembling legs, she quickly walked towards the company building, not having much hope, but wanting to at least apologize for the unexpected delay.

She never expected that the moment she opened the interview room door would be the moment her life would take a different turn.

When Han entered the office, everything seemed to stop. The room was brightly lit, several other candidates had finished their interviews and were packing up their papers. The HR manager looked up, his eyebrows slightly furrowed at the delay. Han quickly bowed his head to apologize, his voice trembling:

“I… I’m really sorry for being late. On the way, I met someone who had an accident… no, he fainted from a heart attack. I had to take him to the hospital, so…”

The atmosphere in the room became quiet. A few other candidates whispered softly, and someone glanced at her suspiciously: “That sounds like a made-up excuse.”

Han did not explain further. She knew any explanation would be weak in this situation. The chance was almost gone.

But then, a voice rang out from the end of the table. A man in a gray suit,  his face familiar, making Han feel a little surprised. It was the man she and the driver had just brought to the hospital! Although his face was still pale, he was here – sitting right in the interview panel.

The whole room seemed to hold its breath. The man smiled, his warm eyes looking at Han: “This girl… is my benefactor. If it weren’t for her, I probably wouldn’t be sitting here today.”

The entire council was stunned, and the HR staff was equally surprised. Han was stunned, not yet understanding what was happening. The man continued: “I am the company’s Vice President. On the way here, I suddenly had a heart attack. Luckily, she did not hesitate to save me. To me, it was not only a humanitarian act, but also showed a person who was willing to sacrifice personal interests to do the right thing.”

The whispers stopped, replaced by admiration. Han bowed her head, her hands clenched, her heart pounding. She never expected the man she saved to be the company’s top leader.

The vice president turned to the council, his voice resolute: “I suggest we give her an interview opportunity. Such a responsible and humane person, I believe will also work with all her heart.”

The HR manager nodded, then turned to Han: “Okay, you can start introducing yourself.”

In that moment, Han regained her composure. She no longer thought about failure or fear. Because she had gone through such an eventful morning, she understood the value of sincerity even more.

Han talked about her learning process and her efforts to overcome difficulties when her family was not well off. She spoke sincerely, without embellishment, but each word came from the heart. The council listened attentively, no one seemed in a hurry.

When the interview ended, a panel member smiled slightly: “We saw not only a capable candidate, but also a person with character. That is what any business needs.”

Han’s heart was filled with emotion. Regardless of the outcome, she felt herself grow up in just one short morning. And she also understood that there are opportunities that do not come from perfect preparation, but from the choices you make in those fateful moments.

That afternoon, when the sun had set behind the tall buildings, Han sat alone in a small coffee shop near the company. She looked at the glass of orange juice on the table, her heart half excited, half at peace. Her phone vibrated – a new email.

“We are pleased to welcome you to become an accountant at our company…”

Han could not believe her eyes. All her worries and fears vanished in an instant, replaced by overwhelming joy. She cried and laughed at the same time, to the point that even the restaurant staff glanced at her curiously.

On her first day at work, Han was still confused. But her colleagues welcomed her warmly, especially because everyone had heard the story of “saving the boss” spreading throughout the company. However, Han did not want to be remembered just for that luck. She wanted to prove herself with real ability.

Accounting work requires meticulousness and patience. At first, Han encountered many difficulties. Once, because of a data error, she had to stay up all night to check the books. But instead of being discouraged, Han saw it as a challenge to train herself.

The deputy director – the man she saved that day – sometimes stopped by the accounting department. Every time they met, he smiled, his eyes filled with respect. Once, he whispered:
“There are coincidences in life that change everything. For me, that was the moment you held my hand and pulled me back from death. And I believe, in your work, you will have the same determination.”

Those words became a great motivation for Han.

As time went by, from an intern, Han gradually proved her ability through each report, each accurate number. Her colleagues admired her dedication and sense of responsibility. And more than that, Han felt that she had truly grown up – not just as an accountant, but as a person who knows how to appreciate opportunities and the value of kindness.

On a weekend afternoon, Han and a few colleagues sat drinking tea and chatting about life. One asked: “If you hadn’t stopped to help that man that day, maybe things would have been different now. Do you ever regret it?”

Han smiled, her eyes distant: “No. Because I think, if I could go back to that moment, I would still choose to save people. A job can be found again, but a life cannot.”

Everyone was silent for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

Deep down, Han understood that the action that day not only opened up career opportunities, but also opened a new door for her own soul. She learned that: Sometimes, the dreams we thought we had lost come back, even many times more beautiful – when we know how to live kindly and put our hearts before personal interests.

Since then, every morning going to work, Han no longer feels as anxious as before. Instead, there is a small but lasting joy: being able to do the job she loves, in an environment that respects people, and above all – being able to live up to the values ​​she believes in.

The young girl’s story is not a fairy tale, but a real life story – where small choices can make a big difference in a lifetime.