Don't... "send your children abroad even if you're poor."

(Baothanhhoa.vn) - Studying abroad is becoming a popular choice for many families. Many people ask, "What is my child studying? Is he/she studying abroad?" Then they boast about their children studying in this or that country.

I suddenly remembered an old acquaintance saying, "Even if you're poor, you should still send your children abroad." He meant sending them to work overseas.

Even so, it's still going abroad. His mindset is very progressive, because going overseas broadens his horizons, allowing him to learn management and production organization methods from foreigners to apply back to his own country's production and business. Not to mention the potential to pocket hundreds of millions, even billions of dong, after completing his overseas work contract. Therefore, despite the difficulties, he tries his best to raise the deposit money to go abroad for work. But that's going abroad with a clear purpose, for those with determination, and should be encouraged.

As for the vague and somewhat emotional approach to going abroad, where people think their children must go because others can, that needs to be reconsidered.

Every year, March and April see a surge in college admissions counseling activity. This is the time for 12th-grade students to choose their schools and careers. Many study abroad consulting companies, affiliated with schools, solicit students and parents on various forums and platforms, attracting considerable attention and causing distraction for many parents.

From the stories I've heard and the people I've witnessed, the conclusion is that studying in countries with developed education systems is good, but choosing a good learning environment isn't always the right path. Nor is it true that studying abroad will automatically guarantee respect and a more secure future upon returning home.

Let me tell you the story of an old neighbor of mine, whom his family called Bờm. The nickname was endearing, but it also partly reflected his somewhat limited intelligence. Back in high school, he once confided that he wanted to work in transportation. I thought he was right, because with his abilities, it would be difficult for him to get into a good university, and besides, transportation is a profession that society always needs, even one that his family had in mind. But in the end, he became a student at a university in Northern Europe, much to the surprise of many. In a way, this is a commendable intellectual journey for a young man on the threshold of life. However, I later learned that his studying abroad was his family's wish. They accepted the significant financial cost so their son could broaden his horizons overseas, and his parents gained a reputation for being sophisticated and modern, on par with some of their family's friends. But after several years of "traveling abroad," he returned to Vietnam and still had to drive daily to deliver flowers to various agencies, following his family's traditional business. He failed in every job application he submitted, despite having a prestigious university degree. If only he had accepted a domestic university, perhaps job opportunities would have been closer, as the field of study and skills offered would have been more relevant and aligned with local job market demands.

Another story, from a colleague of mine. His daughter wanted to study abroad, forcing him to borrow money from many people, including me, to have enough funds in his account to demonstrate financial capability to the receiving institution. After much struggle, his daughter finally got to go abroad, spending a considerable amount of money before returning home. She initially worked at a bank, then constantly switched jobs to various companies, and is now an online salesperson. Many of her peers, even those who only studied domestically, have achieved success, holding positions and enjoying financial stability . He is saddened by his daughter's situation, but also constantly reflects on his own decisions. He has suffered the consequences of chasing after his daughter and following trends.

Recently, many overseas students have struggled to find jobs after returning home because their fields of study don't match domestic needs. Alternatively, they may be overwhelmed by the learning and working environment abroad, unable to accept the system in their workplace, and ultimately quitting their jobs.

Spending large sums of money to buy prestige is an enormous waste for many families. Many students choose to study abroad due to misguided advice or perhaps an excessive pursuit of trends. Currently, many developed countries view studying abroad as a way to increase income from other countries, leading to the neglect of many necessary conditions. Within this "study abroad" trend, there are families who, despite not meeting the financial requirements, still dream of their children studying abroad independently, with various calculations and hopes. Looking at and listening to these study abroad stories, I'm reminded of a humorous saying from an old acquaintance: "Even the poor send their children abroad."

Yes, it's acceptable for poor people to send their children abroad so they can escape poverty upon their return. However, if poor people become even poorer after studying abroad, that's highly undesirable. It's a waste. And that waste stems from a mindset.

Hanh Nhien

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/dung-co-ngheo-cung-cho-con-di-nuoc-ngoai-243929.htm