When students are away from home

3 years ago, from the highlands of Lao Cai, I “packed up” and returned to Hanoi after passing the university entrance exam. “Use poverty to teach sons, use wealth to raise daughters”, following that philosophy, my parents bought me more than the necessities of a new university student, even though our family “wasn’t rich at all”.

Packing up to return to the capital

After more than a week of school, the shipper delivered a box of goods to my rented room, including Seng cu Muong Khuong rice, Bac Ha hill chicken, spare ribs, black pork, fish cakes, ... even a bag of my favorite horse thang co, "to treat my roommates to Lao Cai specialties", my mother said. I knew that my mother had chosen the best things to send to her daughter who was away from home for the first time, and my parents and younger brother, sometimes ate carelessly, not every meal got to enjoy local specialties like me.

Every night, my mother called me, reminding me to “eat a lot to gain weight, study a lot to make up for the 4 years you spent away from home in the capital to broaden your horizons”. Once, my mother reminded me over and over again “be careful with whoever you love, don’t be reckless, if you get pregnant, you’ll miss out on your studies. Oh… and do you need me to buy… condoms for you? Use the high-quality ones, don’t be stingy with the cheap ones that cost 20 thousand for 15, if you get a fake one, you’ll get pregnant easily”. I widened my eyes in surprise and laughed out loud, even though I knew my mother was a modern, humorous person, but I didn’t expect that today she would be like the person in the “swampy neighborhood” in The Adventures of a Cricket: “Are you drawing a path for the deer to run?”. Mom giggled: “Oh, meeting “a brother who overcame thousands of thorns” made me forget what I said. I drew, run straight to the finish line to make myself happy. Don’t run into the bushes, or you’ll suffer, my child. But mom told me this… if at any time you feel lost, or if by chance, unfortunately… you make a mistake, don’t torture yourself and do something stupid. Mom has enough experience and love to help you solve the problem in the best way. Remember what mom said, okay?” Dad didn’t ask questions, he just listened to the mother and daughter confide, then before ending the call, he “made a decisive move”: “The other day, dad “forgot” a few hundred thousand dong in the small compartment of the computer bag, see that, child?” So dad’s “black fund” was discovered by mom from that day…

Illustration by Nguyen Dinh Tung.

My luggage for entering university life was like that, filled with my father's love, and my mother's earnest advice. In the first year, after school, I went straight back to my dorm room, finished studying, then slept, or called FaceTime to chat with my best friend who had just finished 12th grade and got married; or happily told my mother about my high school friend who suddenly became carefree when talking; occasionally strolling around town to find porridge with fried breadsticks, crab vermicelli soup, boiled snails and many other cheap, "delicious" dishes that my mother had enjoyed during her university days, but now had no chance to enjoy.

Second year student... regrets spending money on potatoes

In my second year, I considered working part-time to experience the taste of "an adult earning money by himself". After consulting with friends, researching on social networks, then hesitating, considering, and doubting because of the "fear of being cheated" mentality, I decided to go to an interview for a job at a children's entertainment center. The job was suitable for me, the manager was satisfied after the interview, so I officially went to work as an hourly "salaryman". 21,000 VND/hour, my task was to guide children, from kindergarten to junior high school, to experience different industries and professions. I was assigned to be in charge of fashion and MC. Strangely, this section was only for kindergarteners and elementary school students to participate in the experience. I was "impressive" when I got to be the "head of the show", choose clothes, coordinate clothes for the children, then transform into a model, trying to show that I was a professional Catwalker, walking in a straight line on the catwalk to demonstrate to the children. Under the bright stage lights, with colorful dresses fluttering, more than thirty child models talked and laughed, asked to change shoes and hats; asked to wear lipstick, blush and asked "tens of thousands of whys" that made me, the moderator, dizzy, hoarse and my legs tired from standing all day.

The first month I received my salary, I was happy, feeling that I had the ability to make money when I held a couple of million in my hand and could breathe freely. That same day, for the first time in my life, I felt sorry for eating a 35,000 VND baked sweet potato - almost the same as the salary for 2 hours of work. Although my mother still covered all my living expenses, I hesitated about what I bought, to the point that I felt like I was almost becoming... stingy. Instead of eating at restaurants, I woke up early every morning, cooked rice and brought it to work, ate lunch and then went to school. After 8 months, using all my free time during the day for my passion for making money, I became very thin, from 48 kg when I first came to school to only 42 kg. Many days I coughed, had a fever, and my voice was hoarse from "fighting" with the hyperactive child models. The company manager promised to increase my salary and create opportunities for me to host important shows, but I still had to consider that the main task of a student is to study, study and study. I decided to stop my part-time job when I almost had enough money to buy myself a better computer.

“ Live the life of your dreams”

If you students are wondering whether you should work part-time or not, my answer is “yes”. Because after 8 months of “struggling” and struggling with work, I have gained a lot of life experience. More valuable than the salary I have earned from sweat and effort is the understanding of the hardships my parents have gone through to raise my siblings and me. Secondly, I have become more astute in managing my personal finances, so I have almost never had the situation of “running out of money before the end of the month”, having to eat instant noodles for meals. But what I find most beneficial is self-awareness and being strict with myself in a disciplined working environment.

Now I am a third-year student and have had many years of experience in many part-time jobs such as selling clothes online, tutoring, and dancing; while also learning some skills such as writing articles, hosting programs, playing guitar, and piano. This year, for those who are planning to take the entrance exam to Hanoi University of Culture, I can advise you on many things such as choosing a suitable major; finding a room near the school; choosing a trustworthy roommate; finding a reputable part-time job, but especially I have no experience in giving advice on… love.

Preparing for my final year of college, I am still trying every day to live a full and beautiful student life. Oprah Winfrey has a saying that I really like: "The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams". Young people should never stop dreaming and experiencing. Wishing all 2k7 students success in conquering the university lecture hall to "live the life of your dreams".

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