A desire to learn
Sitting at his office in Ho Chi Minh City, Tran Ngoc Trung Em (born in 1988) confided: "It feels like a dream." Late last year, he received his Bachelor's degree in Law from the School of Law and Development Management (Thu Dau Mot University, Ho Chi Minh City) and was quickly hired by a law firm.
Trung Em on the day he received his Bachelor of Law degree (Photo: Provided by the subject).
"Five years ago at this time, I was working as a motorbike taxi driver and a construction laborer. My life has completely changed," he said emotionally.
Born into a poor family in An Giang province, Trung Em lost his father early and relied on his mother and younger brother for support. In 2008, he applied to the History Education program at Can Tho University but was unsuccessful.
A year later, he retook the entrance exam and was accepted into Van Lang University, but his family couldn't afford it, so he had to put his studies on hold to work and help his mother. At that time, with the family's breadwinner gone and his mother seriously ill, the family's finances depended almost entirely on him.
He left his hometown and went to Ho Chi Minh City, then to Dong Nai to find work. From 2008 onwards, he did all kinds of jobs, from assembly line worker, salesperson, truck driver, to construction laborer… just to cover his living expenses.
With a monthly income of 7-10 million VND, his life is always a struggle. There are days when he works continuously for more than 12 hours, working overtime until late at night, but still can't escape the constant financial difficulties.
Trung Em works as a construction laborer to make ends meet (Photo: Provided by the subject).
After much effort, he finally paid off his family's debts. But during those difficult years, the dream of going to university still smoldered within him.
Watching his older colleagues being laid off one by one at the factory and construction site, he realized that this job offered little prospect of a stable future. A high school diploma was not enough to help him find a more secure job.
Therefore, he decided to return to university, to continue pursuing his unfinished youthful dream. In 2020, he began to realize his aspirations.
He continues to work as a ride-hailing motorbike driver to this day (Photo: Provided by the subject).
"After more than 10 years of manual labor, I've come to understand that if you don't learn, upgrade yourself, and have a clear profession, you'll eventually be left behind."
"Therefore, I will never escape this vicious cycle. Every morning when I wake up, I worry about whether I will be fired today or not," Trung Em shared.
From dusty construction sites to office desks
After more than a decade of hard work to support his family, Tran Ngoc Trung Em received unwavering support from his relatives when he expressed his desire to return to university. However, some friends remained skeptical, considering him "crazy" for giving up a stable job to study after turning 30.
However, Trung Em remained steadfast in his choice. With the small amount of money he had saved from 12 years of working, he submitted his transcript to the International Economics program at the School of Law and Development Management (Thu Dau Mot University) and was accepted.
The day he received his acceptance letter coincided with the anniversary of his father's death, which made him unable to hide his emotions.
"When I saw the words 'accepted,' tears welled up in my eyes. I remembered my father, who always hoped his son would receive a good education," he recounted.
With his amiable personality, he quickly blended in with classmates around the same age as his nephew (Photo: Provided by the subject).
Stepping into the lecture hall after 12 years of working on construction sites, he felt a mixture of nervousness and unfamiliarity. Students around his age, often mistaking the older freshman for a lecturer, would nod and greet him repeatedly, making him feel quite embarrassed.
The age gap and his slower learning pace compared to younger people made him feel disheartened. He had to painstakingly learn seemingly basic skills, such as using a computer, from scratch.
On days when he didn't have classes, he still went to the construction site to work, and in the evenings, he would take advantage of the time to study on his own, striving little by little to catch up with the curriculum. Seeing his eagerness to learn, the construction contractor readily provided him with more time to focus on his studies.
His efforts were quickly recognized. After only six months, he received a scholarship worth over 5 million VND for excellent performance. He also actively participated in various movements and became a member of the Executive Board of the "5 Good Students" Club, participating in exam support activities and many other school activities.
In July 2024, Trung Em graduated with a good grade, becoming a new graduate in International Economics at the age of 36. That's an age when many people have already settled down with their careers and families, while he was just starting his own journey anew.
He also actively participates in many social activities (Photo: Provided by the subject).
When he submitted his job application to a law firm, the recruiters were surprised to see that the applicant had graduated from university at the age of 36. But after the interview, his hard work, mindset, and perseverance in pursuing his goals convinced them.
He only goes to the office when there's work to be done. The rest of the time, Trung Em works as a ride-hailing driver to earn extra income and continue pursuing his dream of self-improvement.
"My current job has improved my health, and my time is more flexible and stable. I get to meet many people, learn new things, and expand my network, something I never had before."
"Every day, I learn something new and meet new friends. Life is no longer boring like before. Now I find my life truly meaningful because I get to learn and contribute every day," he confided.
Alongside his work, he is pursuing a law certificate, gradually working towards his long-term goal of earning a master's and then a doctorate in law. For him, the path of education may have started late, but it's never too late.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/nguoi-dan-ong-lam-phu-ho-chay-xe-om-12-nam-de-kiem-tien-vao-dai-hoc-20251212130346989.htm
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