If your child misses out on the 10th grade.

As June arrived, the first rains of the season suddenly poured down on the schoolyard. The last of the flame tree blossoms turned a deep red, like a hasty farewell. Outside, the countdown signs for the 10th grade entrance exam had been taken down, but the pressure of the exam remained evident in the eyes of many parents and students.

Báo Hưng Yên•30/05/2026

The entrance exam for 10th grade has long ceased to be a simple knowledge test; for many families, it's like a first-time "race" where everyone fears their child will be left behind. Adults often ask each other: "Which school is your child applying to?", "Are they taking extra classes?", "Are they sure to pass?". Meanwhile, the naive fifteen-year-olds often remain silent in the face of such immense expectations. There's a question few dare to voice: What if my child fails the 10th grade entrance exam?

Many parents fear their children's failure as something terrible. They worry about their children falling behind their peers, about the gossip of the neighbors, and about their future being sealed off by a single exam. This fear makes children feel they are only loved when they achieve high grades or get into a prestigious school.

I was once haunted by the sight of a young student arriving at a public high school to receive his entrance exam results. The small boy sat huddled on a stone bench, clutching the crumpled score sheet tightly in his hand. He didn't cry, only bowed his head, but that silence haunted me. His eyes didn't cry aloud, but they were red and swollen from failing the 10th grade. I'll never forget the words he whispered: "I'm afraid to go home!"

An exam might determine where a child will study for the next three years, but it can't determine what kind of person they will become in life. Therefore, failing the entrance exam for 10th grade doesn't mean the door to the future is closed. Some people "blossom" early, while others have to go through several seasons of rain and sunshine before finding their own light. What children need most during those uncertain times is not reproach or comparison, but a warm embrace that lets them know that, no matter the outcome, they always deserve to be loved. Because ultimately, the greatest goal of education is not to create children who only chase grades, but to nurture individuals who know how to live with kindness, overcome adversity, and not lose faith in themselves after a setback.

One day, the report cards will fade with time, and the pressures of the 10th-grade entrance exam season will quietly fade away. But one thing will stay with them for a lifetime: the memory of how adults were there for them during their most challenging moments. A word of encouragement can save their confidence. A hug can soothe a youth burdened with pressure, and a loving gaze is sometimes enough to pull a young soul out of the feeling of failure.

If, unfortunately, your child fails to get into 10th grade, please don't be sad or blame them. Because behind that seemingly closed gate, life still offers many paths. As long as your child is loved, trusted, and has the courage to get back up, every fall at fifteen will eventually become a gentle lesson in growing up. And who knows, many years later, that summer filled with tears might be the beginning of another beautiful journey in your child's life.

Vu Hue

Source: https://baohungyen.vn/neu-con-buoc-hut-vao-lop-10-3195671.html