The young man dropped out of school, worked many jobs, and graduated with honors at the age of nearly 30.

At nearly 30 years old, Nguyen Quoc Cuong has just completed the Bachelor of Applied Science (Aviation) program at RMIT University with a degree of Distinction. The young man born in 1996 said that to get to where he is today was a journey with many twists and turns, with many times having to struggle to find a direction.

“Not everyone has the opportunity to make mistakes and correct them. I am luckier because I get to do it again, although I have also failed many times,” Cuong said.

Nguyen Quoc Cuong on his university graduation day. (Photo: NVCC)

Cuong's college journey began in 2014, when he enrolled in the Aviation Telecommunications Engineering program out of fear of failing the exam. Choosing the wrong major left Cuong in a deadlock during his early years in college.

Lacking motivation and unable to find a goal, Cuong's grades plummeted and he had to retake exams frequently. The crisis lasted so long that Cuong fell into a state of constant insomnia for half a year.

“There were times when I stayed up all night, not knowing what I really wanted,” Cuong recalled. After days of struggle and frustration, in 2018, Cuong decided to drop out of school.

With no qualifications and an uncertain future, Cuong struggled to make a living by doing all kinds of jobs, from tour guide, translator, tour operator, English teacher... In 2019, while working as a ground staff at Tan Son Nhat airport, Cuong accidentally learned about a pilot training program.

This program will provide scholarships worth about 2.8 billion VND, with a commitment to employment upon completion. Despite not having high expectations, Cuong still tried. After passing rigorous rounds including adaptability test, specialized English test, and direct interview, Cuong was surprisingly accepted.

“I didn’t expect to pass the exam. For the first time, I had such a clear and determined goal,” Cuong recalled.

Cuong then began his serious learning journey by preparing his aviation English skills, basic technical knowledge of aircraft, and prerequisite classes to prepare for his trip to the US.

However, just when everything seemed to be “on track,” the Covid-19 pandemic broke out. Plans to establish an airline were canceled, and the pilot training program was also halted.

“It was a big shock, like I was running very fast, saw the finish line in front of me, and then suddenly everything disappeared,” Cuong said.

Cuong wants to work in the aviation industry. (Photo: NVCC)

After much disappointment and frustration, in early 2021, thanks to the introduction from the unit that sponsored the pilot training program, Cuong and 11 other students were registered to study the first 3 subjects in the professional pilot training program of RMIT Australia, temporarily studying theory in Vietnam before transferring to Australia to study practical training on the plane.

Surprisingly, in all three subjects designed for students pursuing a career as a professional pilot, Cuong achieved excellent results. “For the first time, I clearly felt the joy of studying not because of the pressure of grades but because of the values ​​received in each lecture,” Cuong said.

Cuong recalls that when he was still struggling in his old major, he often fell into a state of studying just to pass the subjects, to cope in order to graduate quickly.

“Now, every time I finish a subject, I feel closer to my future career and see clearly how I am developing,” Cuong said, adding that because of his interest, he started to be more proactive in each lecture and spent time doing in-depth research.

However, in mid-2021, when the pandemic situation was still not improving, Cuong's plan to study in Australia was continuously delayed. At this time, instead of waiting, Cuong applied for admission to the Bachelor of Applied Science (Aviation) program through his academic results and foreign language certificate.

“I want to prepare myself for a ‘backward path’, so I decided to study both a pilot’s degree and a bachelor’s degree at the same time. Aviation is still my dream, but I will approach it from a management and operations perspective,” Cuong said.

However, Cuong's life was turned upside down once again when his mother was diagnosed with cancer. The family, which had already faced many challenges, now completely lost the ability to support Cuong in pursuing the path of a pilot - a dream that required a few more billions of dong to reach.

Faced with this great shock, Cuong calmly accepted having to completely give up his dream of flying, focusing all his efforts on the bachelor's program he was studying.

In addition to maintaining a GPA of 3.5/4.0, Cuong taught English part-time, both to make ends meet and to ease his mother's worries. After a while, he started a small center specializing in IELTS training, teaching English, and providing academic guidance. After completing the 4-year program, Cuong received a degree with honors.

From a student who was once stuck when he had to “land” halfway, now Quoc Cuong is more confident with a practical, stable direction and has the potential for long-term development. According to Cuong, sometimes accepting to let go of a dream is not a failure, but an opportunity to build another, more suitable dream. Therefore, Cuong wants to stick with the aviation industry, even if not in the position of a pilot.

“A successful flight is the result of a huge system behind it, from operations, personnel management, safety, supply chain, to business strategy and operational data analysis. Even though I can’t sit in the cockpit, I still want to contribute to making operations more efficient,” Cuong said.

(Source: Vietnamnet)

Link: https://vietnamnet.vn/chang-trai-tung-bo-hoc-buon-trai-du-nghe-tot-nghiep-bang-gioi-o-tuoi-gan-30-2396552.html

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