Stand up to move on

Many young people do not hesitate to change direction to find a path that suits them instead of choosing a safe solution.

"I did not hesitate to switch to cooking. Investing in learning should not be afraid of failure and learning at any age is not too late" - Vu Anh Duy (32 years old, from Ho Chi Minh City) shared about his decision to become a professional chef after many hesitations.

Listen to yourself

Duy studied Environmental and Natural Resources Management at a university in Ho Chi Minh City with the desire to contribute to reducing environmental pollution. However, he soon realized that this was not a field that was really suitable for him, so Duy decided to study Chinese Language abroad. Interestingly, it was during his days working part-time at restaurants in Taiwan (China) that Duy realized that his true love from childhood had never faded, which was cuisine . As a child, the love for cooking was kindled in the young Anh Duy every time he watched Martin Yan's "Yan Can Cook" program. "I realized my passion more clearly when I worked part-time in a foreign country. The real-life experiences helped me strengthen my belief that I was capable of pursuing my big dream in life" - Duy said.

For Phan Trung Kien, youth is a precious opportunity to live life to the fullest and it is the stumble that helps many young people realize their true value. Photo: THUY LIEN

Currently, Duy is majoring in Culinary Arts at Saigon Tourism College - where there are many talented, dedicated teachers and like-minded classmates. Duy encounters many difficulties when using knives, controlling fire, preparing ingredients and working in groups. However, Duy is happy to have access to knowledge and honing the necessary skills to become a professional chef. He aims to make his mark in the European cuisine sector, while contributing to promoting Vietnamese cuisine to international friends in the future. Duy is proud to have chosen a career that brings joy to diners through well-prepared and warm dishes.

Mr. Duy (right) and Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thong at Saigon College of Tourism

"No one is bound by one direction for life. On the contrary, one should be sensitive and proactive in seizing every opportunity to adapt to circumstances" - Duy emphasized. For Duy, every decision in life is right at the time it is chosen. Knowledge is limitless, only the desire to learn and perseverance can help young people grow up. Life is not smooth, so each individual needs to continuously practice and be steadfast with their own value system. Learning many professions is hard but opens up new, more suitable and correct choices.

Find your own way

Three years after graduating from high school, Phan Trung Kien (24 years old, from Lam Dong ) continued his education. Kien is a third-year student at Hoa Sen University (HSU). Before that, when he was a high school student, Kien had witnessed many talented people around him having unstable lives, so he thought he needed to build a financial foundation early. In 2019, Kien gave up on enrolling at Da Lat University and sought to assert himself on his own path.

The COVID-19 pandemic has left Kien disoriented, lacking investment capital and becoming a burden to his family. He recalls the day he failed to go to university, his grandmother lost sleep worrying about his future. In a family with a long tradition of learning, Kien was always encouraged by his father to continuously study and improve.

Outside of class, Kien is busy with many jobs: a business consultant, a hair and body care startup, and a nutrition and proactive health care consultant and trainer. "The financial shock was like a wake-up call, making me realize that only studying, with ideals and ambitions, is the sustainable path" - Kien expressed. Indeed, studying is also a way for him to adjust his choices, while balancing his passion and formal knowledge base. He cherishes the dream of studying for a doctorate to gain depth of knowledge, expand his influence, and take on a larger role associated with social responsibility in the field of education and training.

Besides studying and working, Kien still maintains the habit of exercising. His memorable milestone was participating in the VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 Vietnam 2024 in Da Nang - which gathered nearly 2,000 athletes from 52 countries. After 8 hours of swimming 1.9 km, cycling 90 km and running 21.1 km, Kien burst into tears at the finish line. Although he only trained for a few months, thanks to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and being a vegetarian, he was still able to break through. It is not only a lifestyle, but also a testament to Kien's health, will and maturity.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/dung-day-de-buoc-tiep-196250927212235328.htm