Because life is bigger than any exam…

Life is bigger than any exam. As long as we don't let our willpower wane, our aspirations don't fade, and our enthusiasm doesn't diminish, we will surely achieve success.

Parents attend the "Confident in Entering Grade 10" event organized by Tuoi Tre newspaper to provide their children with the best information for the upcoming entrance exam - Photo: Q. DINH

With the 10th grade entrance exam season counting down the days, the atmosphere of preparation is heating up not only in tutoring centers and schools but also in every household with children taking the exam this year.

1. The atmosphere in many families has become busier. Parents worry about meals, consider school choices, and select the most suitable subject combination. Meanwhile, 15-year-old students are still diligently practicing exam questions, eagerly awaiting the exam day and anxiously waiting for their scores, wondering if they will get into their dream school.

My family is just a small dot in the overall picture of this exam season, full of diverse emotions. The golden summer sun outside the window dyes the flamboyant red blossoms of the flame trees and the fragrant purple of the crape myrtle. But no matter how scorching the summer sun is, it can't compare to the intense feelings my mother has been clinging to me, her daughter, for all these days.

The race for high scores to get into dream schools and desired classes is sweeping away the daily rhythm of our families. We all share the worries of studying, registering, adjusting preferences, attending extra classes, and straining our eyes solving sample exam questions every night. And we will continue to worry about exams, scores, cut-off points, and the constant calculations when our children get accepted or when they unfortunately fall short…

2. Millions of 15-year-old students are bearing considerable pressure. Besides those who have already decided on a career path or studying abroad, tens of thousands of 15-year-olds who haven't secured a place in public high schools are forced to switch to private or vocational schools. Therefore, it's not an exaggeration to say that society considers the 10th-grade entrance exam "even more fiercely competitive than university entrance exams."

My youngest daughter spends all her time online, keeping up with the latest exam regulations and comparing her scores to those of recent years. Occasionally, she anxiously asks, "What if I don't do well on the exam and don't get enough points to get into my first-choice university, Mom?"

My mother hesitated for a moment before giving her answer. It wasn't because she was stunned with surprise or worried about me failing the exam, but rather because she was searching for the gentlest way to express herself, to touch my troubled heart and unsettled soul.

Learning is never an easy journey for anyone. Seeing so many children around me sweating it out pursuing their studies from a young age until adulthood, spending their childhood and youth poring over books, I realize just how fierce the competition is during end-of-year exams and the stressful entrance exams for each new school year. Now, I'm on the threshold of 10th grade – a difficult hurdle to overcome in order to achieve my dream of attending my desired high school.

3. You have diligently studied for nine years. Your brilliant achievements are a source of pride for your mother. Especially since those achievements are the result of your own hard work and continuous effort, a warm gift you want to give to your mother.

Fortunately, the influence of extra tutoring was minimal throughout that journey, so I had to strive harder, work more diligently, and pay more attention than my peers. However, this compensated for it by instilling a strong sense of learning and developing self-study skills from an early age.

Even if you didn't do well on the exam, you're still my proud daughter, that's for sure! This little girl has held my hand through so many storms of life. This little girl is more mature than her age, knowing how to put aside her love for a "hot" movie or her passion for a good book to "save money, Mom." Her heartfelt confession, "The older I get, the more I love you, Mom," makes the heart of this strong and resilient woman flutter with sweet happiness.

If you didn't get a high score on the exam, I might feel a little sad, a little disappointed, a little let down, but it's okay, my child. Because we've both tried our best for these big exams in life.

And you should be proud of those nights spent studying under the lamplight, of the sweat dripping from your studies in the scorching summer heat, of those youthful days striving for the great goals of your life…

Mom is always here.

If you happen to miss out on your dream school, rest assured that I'm always here, right beside you, planning your next steps for the future. Not getting into your first choice, missing out on the chance to attend your dream high school, doesn't mean we can't reach our dreams, find joy, and happiness, right?

Life is bigger than any exam, and the paths we take are incredibly diverse. As long as we don't let our resolve wane, our aspirations fade, and our enthusiasm diminishes, we will surely achieve success.

My mother hopes and believes that you will realize that if you just dare to take the first step, you will get to where you need to go, it's just a matter of sooner or later!

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THANH NGUYEN

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/vi-cuoc-doi-lon-hon-moi-ky-thi-20260506100947948.htm