At the age of 17, a group of FPT PolySchool Dong Nai students had their short documentary film selected for screening at the international festival "Viet Culture in Motion," appearing in several European countries such as France , Belgium, and the Czech Republic.
Meanwhile, at the age of 20, many young people who have matured within this same training ecosystem have made their mark on their career paths: some have taken on the position of Communications Director for a cultural and culinary project, others have become senior quality assurance engineers at international technology companies, and some work in the field of communications at global universities.
These milestones raise a question: are young people today moving faster, or are they simply being given the opportunity to start earlier?
It's not about going faster, but about starting earlier.
Looking at the achievements of 17 and 20-year-olds, many might easily assume that today's young people are maturing faster than previous generations. But a closer look at the journey ofFPT PolySchool students reveals a different answer: they didn't wait until they were 18 to start learning a trade.
At FPT PolySchool, students can join the program immediately after graduating from junior high school. This means that from the age of 15, they can begin accessing specialized knowledge, honing professional skills, participating in real-world projects, and becoming familiar with the business environment.
Therefore, milestones at age 17 or 20 are not unexpected early successes, but rather the result of a process of preparation from a very early age in a training environment that emphasizes experience and practice.
17 years old: When academic projects take to the international stage.
For most students, age 17 is still a time spent studying in high school. But for many FPT PolySchool students, this is already the time when their first professional achievements begin to be recognized.
A group of FPT PolySchool Dong Nai students created a short documentary that was selected for screening at the 2026 "Viet Culture in Motion" international festival. The work beat out over 100 entries from various organizations and filmmakers to be shown in cities such as Paris, Lorient, Prague, and Brussels.
The production team includes Truong Nguyen Ngoc Khoa, Bui Dang Khoa, Dao Tran Khanh Trinh, Vu Hoang Bao Ngoc, Tran Duc Long, Luong Hoang Minh, and Nguyen Hoang Dai Phuc. Dao Tran Khanh Trinh is the director of the film, while Tran Duc Long plays the male lead.
From ideation and scriptwriting to production organization and post-production, the entire project was implemented according to a professional workflow, just like a real-world media project.
At the age of 17, they not only completed a school assignment but also created a product of sufficient quality to appear on an international stage, bringing the story of Vietnamese culture to audiences in many European countries.
20 years old: When early experiences transform into a career.
If age 17 is when the first achievements appear, then age 20 is when many FPT PolySchool students begin to transform their experiences into real career opportunities.
Dang Ngoc Bao Tram, a former student of FPT PolySchool Dong Nai, is currently the Communications Director of the Nong Nai Dai Pho cultural and culinary project. Throughout her studies, she continuously participated in practical projects, working within a business model and taking responsibility for the product's output.
“What I appreciate most about studying at FPT PolySchool is that I got to gain practical experience very early on. Those experiences helped me understand the profession and become more confident when entering a real-world work environment,” Bảo Trâm shared.
Bao Tram's story shows that the greatest value of vocational education lies not in graduating earlier, but in accumulating experience earlier.
From design students to a global university environment
Another example is the journey of Ho Xuan Gia Bao, a former student of Graphic Design at FPT PolySchool Can Tho. Immediately after graduating from junior high school, Gia Bao chose to pursue early vocational training. During his studies, the student continuously participated in real-world projects and honed his skills in presenting ideas and teamwork.
Thanks to this, Gia Bảo achieved the title of outstanding student, reached the finals of the ACPWC 2024 World Graphic Design Championship, and obtained numerous international Adobe certifications.
Currently, at the age of 20, Gia Bảo is working in the Media & Communication department at Swinburne University Vietnam's Can Tho campus.
"Starting work made me realize the value of the presentations and teamwork I had at school. I'm no longer nervous when presenting ideas to clients because I've been trained beforehand," Gia Bao shared.
From the lecture hall to international technology companies
Another example of the effectiveness of the practical training model at FPT PolySchool is the journey of Vu Xuan Tien. Currently, Tien holds the position of Senior Quality Assurance Engineer at The Improbability Company (TIC), an international technology company operating in the fields of AI, RegTech, and digital transformation.
During his time at school, Tien regularly participated in business simulation projects, working in teams, meeting deadlines, and solving problems closely related to real-world work. As a result, when he entered an international environment, Tien adapted well to the work processes and project pressures, quickly rising to the position of senior quality assurance engineer.
Learning a trade from grade 9: An advantage that makes a difference.
The admissions model based on junior high school graduates gives FPT PolySchool students an additional 3-4 years to explore themselves, determine their career path, and gain practical experience.
While many young people only begin to explore their chosen field after completing high school, FPT PolySchool students have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with their chosen profession early on, participating in real-world projects, building portfolios, and honing their work skills in a simulated business environment.
That period of time may seem short, but it makes a significant difference when entering the job market.
It's not about achieving success early, but about being prepared early.
Looking back at the journey of FPT PolySchool students, it's clear that the milestones at ages 17 or 20 didn't happen by chance.
Behind a film screened in Europe, a communications director position, or a career opportunity in an international technology company are years of study, experience, and early professional practice.
Perhaps that's why the question "How fast have young people progressed?" also has a different answer.
It's not that they're faster than others; they 've simply been given the opportunity to start earlier.
And when a young person begins their career journey at age 15 instead of waiting until 18 or 19, achievements at age 17 or 20 are no longer a surprise, but become the natural result of a well-prepared process.
FPT PolySchool is currently enrolling students graduating from junior high school for the 2026 academic year at over 30 campuses nationwide. Parents and students interested can learn more about the training programs, scholarship policies, and career guidance to choose a path that suits their abilities, interests, and future goals at: https://bit.ly/FPS2026
Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/nguoi-tre-da-di-nhanh-den-muc-nao-post782693.html
![[Image] National conference summarizing one year of operation of the overall organizational model of the political system, the three-tiered government model.](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/1200x675/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2026/07/01/1782882811691_ndo_br_1-jpg.webp)
