When students are away from home

Three years ago, I packed my bags and moved to Hanoi from the highlands of Lao Cai after getting accepted into university. Following the philosophy of "using poverty to raise sons, using wealth to raise daughters," my parents provided me with more than I needed as a new university student, even though our family was "not exactly well-off."

Packing up for the capital

A little over a week after starting school, the delivery guy brought a box of goods right to my dorm room: Séng cù rice from Mường Khương, free-range chicken from Bắc Hà, pork ribs, black pork, fish cakes, and even a bag of my favorite horse meat stew, "to treat my roommates to Lao Cai specialties," my mother said. I knew my mother had chosen the best things to send to her daughter who was away from home for the first time. My parents and younger brother, on the other hand, often ate more simply and didn't get to enjoy all the local specialties like I did.

Every night, my mother would call, reminding me to "eat well so you get fat, study hard so you can make up for those four years away from home, broadening your horizons in the capital." Once, she repeatedly said, "If you're in love, be careful, don't be reckless, or you'll get pregnant and ruin your studies. Oh... and do you need me to buy you some condoms? Use the good quality ones, don't be stingy and buy those cheap ones for 15 for twenty thousand dong; you could get pregnant easily if you buy fake ones." I widened my eyes in surprise and burst out laughing. Although I knew my mother had a modern, humorous mindset, I never expected her to sound like someone from the "muddy village" in *The Adventures of the Cricket* today: "Mom, are you showing me the way to run?" Mom giggled, "Goodness, you've forgotten all my advice as soon as you met your 'older brother who overcame a thousand obstacles'! I'll draw a straight line and run to the finish line for your own good. Don't run into the bushes, or you'll suffer. But listen, if you ever feel lost, or if something unfortunate happens... don't blame yourself and do something foolish. I have enough experience and love to help you solve the problem in the best way. Remember what I said, okay?" Dad, who rarely asked questions, just listened to the two of them confide in each other, and before ending the call, he made his decisive move: "The other day, I 'forgot' a few hundred thousand dong in the small compartment of my laptop bag, did you see it?" And so, Mom discovered Dad's "secret stash" that day...

Illustrations by Nguyen Dinh Tung.

My journey into university life was filled with my father's love and my mother's heartfelt advice. In my first year, after classes, I'd head straight back to my rented room, study, then sleep, or chat on FaceTime with my best friend who'd just gotten married after graduating from high school; or excitedly tell my mother about how my high school friend had suddenly become less carefree; occasionally I'd wander around looking for pork rib porridge with fried dough sticks, crab noodle soup, boiled snails, and many other cheap and incredibly delicious dishes that my mother used to enjoy during her student days, but now couldn't find the chance to indulge in.

Second-year students... regret spending money on potatoes.

In my second year, I considered getting a part-time job to experience what it was like to be an "adult earning my own money." After consulting with friends, researching on social media, and deliberating over the options, along with the fear of being scammed, I decided to interview for a job at a children's entertainment center. The job suited me, the manager was satisfied after the interview, and so I officially started working hourly. At 21,000 VND per hour, my duties included guiding children from kindergarten to junior high school through various professions. I was assigned to the fashion and MC section. Surprisingly, this section was exclusively for kindergarten and elementary school students. I felt proud to be the "stylist," choosing and coordinating outfits for the children, then transforming into a model, trying to appear professional at catwalk modeling, walking in a straight line on the runway to demonstrate to the kids. Under the dazzling stage lights, with their colorful dresses and costumes swirling around, over thirty child models chattered and laughed, demanding changes to shoes and hats; requesting lipstick and blush, along with a barrage of "why" questions that left me, the organizer, dizzy, hoarse, and with aching legs from standing all day.

My first paycheck was a huge success, making me feel like I had "the ability to earn money" when I held a couple of million dong in my hand and indulged in it. That same day, for the first time in my life, I regretted spending money on a 35,000 dong baked sweet potato – almost the equivalent of two hours' wages. Even though my mother covered all my living expenses, I hesitated before buying anything, to the point where I felt almost stingy. Instead of eating at restaurants, I woke up early every morning, cooked lunch, brought it to work, ate it at noon, and then went to school. For eight months, I used all my free time for my passion for earning money, and I became emaciated, dropping from 48 kg when I first started school to a mere 42 kg. Many days I coughed, had a fever, and my voice was hoarse from "battling" with the energetic child models. The company manager promised a raise and opportunities to host important shows, but I still had to consider that my main duty as a student was to study, study, and study. I decided to quit my part-time job when I had almost saved enough money to buy myself a better computer.

" Live your life with your dreams."

If you students are wondering whether or not you should get a part-time job, my personal answer is "yes." After eight months of hard work, I've gained many valuable life experiences. More precious than the wages I earned through my sweat and effort is the understanding of the hardships my parents endured to raise my siblings and me. Furthermore, I've become more adept at managing my personal finances, so I rarely run out of money before the end of the month and have to eat instant noodles for meals. But what I consider my biggest gain is self-discipline and self-discipline within a structured work environment.

I'm now a third-year university student with considerable experience in various part-time jobs such as selling clothes online, tutoring, and being a backup dancer; I've also been learning additional skills like journalism, hosting, and playing guitar and piano. This year, if any of you are planning to apply to Hanoi University of Culture, I can advise you on many things, such as choosing a suitable major; finding accommodation near the school; choosing trustworthy roommates; and finding reputable part-time jobs. However, I have no experience in advising on… love and relationships.

As I prepare for my final year of university, I'm still striving every day to live my student life to the fullest. Oprah Winfrey has a quote that I deeply appreciate: "The greatest adventure you can have is to live the life of your dreams." Young people should never stop dreaming and experiencing. I wish all the 2007 graduating students success in conquering the university campus to "live the life of their dreams."

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/khi-sinh-vien-xa-nha-post403199.html