I am the only son in a farming family from a mountainous district in northern Vietnam. At 18, I moved to Hanoi for university, chasing the same dream as many kids from the countryside: get a degree, land a stable job with decent pay, buy a house after a few years, and eventually bring my parents to live with me.
Now, at 28, I work at a tech company, earning VND22 million a month plus another VND8 million from freelance jobs. I live alone in a small rented apartment in the western part of the city. Each month, I send a few million dong to my parents and save the rest.
I used to feel content with this life until I went home for an old friend’s wedding. Back then, he was not a good student and opted out of college to help out in the family business after high school. Nearly a decade later, he now owns a wood workshop with 20 workers, has two houses, a car and is building a villa on a hillside.
At the wedding, everyone gathered around to congratulate him, showering him with praise. When they learned I was still working a salaried job in the city, some just gave a faint smile and changed the subject. One uncle even asked whether I earned as much in a month as one shipment of goods my friend sells.
That night, I could not sleep, not out of envy or resentment, but because I felt deflated. I had gone to university and worked hard in the city for years, yet I still could not afford a car, let alone a house. Meanwhile, my friend back home had everything I had hoped for. I started to wonder if I had taken the wrong path, and whether the city was ever meant for me.
About two months later, my company sent me on a two-week overseas business trip—an opportunity I never thought I was good enough to receive. During the trip, I successfully pitched a technical solution I had developed, which was well received by the client. When I returned, my company gave me a raise and promoted me to a new position.
That was when I realized that even though I do not have land, a car, or billions in the bank like my friends back home, I am building my own path with my skills, knowledge, and perseverance. Everyone starts from a different place, lives in a different environment, and pursues different goals.
My friend back home has a knack for business and a sharp sense of the market. I chose the city, accepting the hustle and competition to gain experience, knowledge, networks, and resilience.
The lesson I have learned is not to measure your life with someone else’s ruler. Comparison is hard to avoid, but what matters is whether you are moving forward. I may be slower than others, but I am walking on my own two feet, and I am proud of that.
There is no one-size-fits-all formula for success. Each of us defines happiness differently. For me, staying true to my choices and continuing to grow each day is already a success.
*The opinion was translated into English with the assistance of AI. Readers’ views are personal and do not necessarily match VnExpress’ viewpoints.
