From excellent students to average students, failing subjects.

Many young people are shocked to find that they were once excellent students but now struggle to pass their university courses. What has caused these students to falter academically?

NTNL, a student at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City), was an excellent student for 12 consecutive years, with top entrance exam scores, but still fell behind in university. L. said she was only good at writing essays or studying theory but lacked skills in foreign languages, photography, and video editing. "My classmates are very good at information technology and foreign languages… while I struggled to catch up. In subjects like photography and presentation skills, I was almost at the bottom of the class," L. recounted.

Despite being excellent students in high school, some university students have encountered difficulties during their university studies.

PHOTO: NGUYEN DIEN

Upon graduating from high school with high grades, L. received two scholarships on the condition that she maintain excellent grades throughout all semesters of university. However, she lost her scholarship in the very first semester because she only achieved a "fair" grade, and then, to make matters worse, failed some subjects in the second semester.

Huynh Nguyen Vinh (24 years old), a teaching assistant in the Department of International Business and Trade at the Foreign Trade University (Ho Chi Minh City campus), also said that he faced many difficulties during his early years at university. Vinh had to cope with a large amount of knowledge and new learning methods, especially in a dynamic environment like the foreign trade field.

"To overcome this, I need to be self-aware, proactive, and develop independent thinking skills to research and analyze information on my own. Besides that, the pressure of academic achievement forces me to constantly strive to avoid falling behind. I also need to learn self-reliance, manage my life, develop discipline, and improve my adaptability," Vinh said.

Vinh acknowledges that it's not uncommon for high school students to struggle in university. The university environment is completely different, and not everyone adapts easily. Some students may fail to utilize their strengths because they rely too much on old knowledge or are overwhelmed by the changes. Furthermore, students not only study but also participate in extracurricular activities, socialize with friends, and manage their finances. The important thing is to know how to learn independently, practice, and balance academics with life.

"To overcome difficulties and maintain good academic performance in university, I always manage my time effectively, create specific study plans, and strictly adhere to them. This helps me avoid 'deadlines' and grasp the knowledge from the beginning. I also proactively seek help from teachers, friends, and especially through group study," Vinh said.

According to Bui Khanh Nguyen, an independent education consultant with a Bachelor's degree in English and American Literature from Hanoi National University and a Master's degree in English Language Teaching from Benedictine University (USA), students experiencing academic shock in their early years can strategize to improve by learning effective university study methods; participating in tutoring groups (tutors can be senior students); and reading more materials.

"It's highly reprehensible that students don't go to the library, or don't spend a few hours each day reading materials and research books," Mr. Nguyen shared.

According to Mr. Nguyen, at all universities with good training quality, students are busy with studying, and there is absolutely no such thing as relaxing after taking the university entrance exam following a hard period of high school. "Nor is it true that just because you get into university, you're guaranteed to graduate," Mr. Nguyen said.

Master Nguyen added: "Students who lack motivation should not go to university, but should pursue vocational training or other careers after graduating from high school. Because the nature of university education is high-level research and practice, if students lack motivation or waste time in lecture halls with rote memorization, they will reap very few rewards."

Mr. Nguyen stated that grades assess effort and academic achievement, but are not the ultimate goal of learning. Students should look at their life goals to choose their learning approach: "Why are you going to university?". If you only focus on grades and degrees, you will quickly become disappointed when entering the job market, as employers only care about practical skills.

Mr. Nguyen further shared that wanting to have a profession is very good, as it provides a clear goal to strive for. But more than that, people go to university to push their thinking to a new level, to learn how to use scientific knowledge to solve life's problems. "Then you will realize the power of a university education compared to not studying, or not studying wholeheartedly," Mr. Nguyen said.

"Many professions require a university degree as a passport to begin a career and become an expert in a particular field. That's why university programs have proven to produce individuals who are mature in their thinking and possess the initial abilities to start a profession or industry," Master Nguyen observed.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tu-hoc-sinh-gioi-den-sinh-vien-trung-binh-rot-mon-185250402193040969.htm