Back when I was a student, my family had high expectations of me and forced me to pursue a career that my father could not achieve. I ended up failing, then switched to a major that my father promised would set me up for a comfortable government job.
During my years in university, I was also not allowed to work part-time and told to only focus on graduating as fast as possible.
In the summer, instead of resting or working, I went to class to earn credits. Most weeks, I only had one or two evenings off. As a result, I finished the program in just three years and jumped into the job market.
The shock came when I realized I lacked soft skills. On top of that, the job I was aiming for required a license to practice law. So I could only take odd jobs to earn money, but I often lasted just a month or two because I lacked the skills and the right expertise.
I regret not using my free time during university to experience the world, work part-time to save money or learn skills like content writing, video editing, sales or marketing. Instead, I spent all my time outside of school playing games through the night.
Since graduating in 2024, my life has changed a lot. I tried learning graphic design and spirituality to build an online channel offering fortune-telling services. That brought me a stable income until early 2025, and I also gained a broader view of the world.
In 2025, I threw myself into psychology and built another channel focused on self-development. Spending a long time alone helped me reflect and realize many things. Through books, newspapers and experiences, I found my own drive and came to understand myself better than ever.
I feel like I have been dwelling on the past and drowning in peer and family pressure for so long that I forgot to spend time understanding myself and moving forward.
I have just started new plans, which I am determined to see through even if my family might disapprove or make things difficult for me.
*This opinion was submitted by a reader. Readers’ views are personal and do not necessarily match VnExpress’ viewpoints.
