Systems That Sleep
People Who Stay Silent
Essay by Hạnh Nhi Phan

Essay Writing Competition 2025
Category: 12-15 years
- Commendation -

Senior category: Commendation

Systems That Sleep, People Who Stay Silent - Essay by Hạnh Nhi Phan

Systems That Sleep, People Who Stay Silent

My world used to not be big. It was just a small neighborhood, a few familiar streets, some classrooms near home. But as I grew up, that world kept getting bigger, more expansive. From there, I started to see the quiet, hidden corners: where passiveness existed in how things run, especially from the authorities and even citizens’ awareness.

We don’t lack laws, don’t lack systems. The worrying thing is: those systems only actually work when there’s a cry for help, when the consequences have already happened. I like reading online news, where I connect with the world. But sadly, many of the cases I learn about are only when the government steps in after the media reports heavily, or after people speak up too much.

What’s scarier – is when everything’s already too late. Like the case in Brazil – the dam collapse in Brumadinho (2019) that killed nearly 300 people. This happened not only because of natural causes, but also because of the authorities. If the officials had supervised more actively, if the reporting system wasn’t just paperwork... then maybe it would’ve been different. Sadly, in this life there’s no such thing as "what if"….

Closer to home, right where I live, illegal factories secretly dump waste into the Nhuệ River, Đáy River. Locals have reported it many times, but only when things got too obvious did the government start to act. In 2023, Hanoi’s Department of Natural Resources & Environment recorded over 400 environmental violations. And most were discovered by citizens themselves, not by the management system. A system like that can’t be called good. It’s a machine that waits for mistakes to punish. We don’t need a "firefighting" system, but a "fire prevention" one – proactive, warning, and stopping things.

Even so, we can’t blame it all on the authorities, we also have to mention the people’s awareness. Have they truly "done their part"? I also learned about a famous case in the U.S.: a girl named Kitty Genovese was attacked in the middle of a New York street. More than 30 people witnessed it but ironically – no one stepped in. No one called the police. By the time people reacted, she… was already gone.

This story haunts me, not just because of the crime, but because of the collective silence, the "not my business" or "someone else will help anyway"… Same with school violence. It’s not rare. But how many people really pay attention? How many actually dare to reach out and protect their friend?

I always dream of a peaceful world – but peace is not silence. A good world doesn’t just have clear laws, it also needs people who observe, speak up and dare to act. A good government doesn’t just respond after mistakes happen, but also stops mistakes from happening. If both citizens and the government are proactive, both responsible, then many tragedies wouldn’t have to end sadly like that.

I don’t dream of a flashy world with skyscrapers or big inventions. I just wish for a world that’s safe, kind and progressive. To make that happen, we need a proactive system, and an awakened community. Let every citizen be a "pair of eyes", and every authority be an "arm". Ready to protect from the start, not when it’s already too late. A truly developed world isn’t just beautiful in image. But also has trust between people, between citizens and the government.

In the Age category 12 - 15 years, Hạnh Nhi's essay really stood out in our competition for its honesty, awareness, and thoughtful social reflection!

Hạnh Nhi, you describe very clearly how responsibility, community action, and proactive leadership can shape a safer and kinder world. Thank You for the clear message that peace requires courage, responsibility, and active participation. This is a very powerful and inspiring essay! Keep up working on your English, we are very pleased to recognise your meaningful ideas and vision for positive change with a merit award! Congratulations, Hạnh Nhi!

Hạnh Nhi is 12 years old and attends THCS Khương Đình in Hà Nội/ Vietnam. English as second language. Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese) as home language.