Thanks for the pressure that followed me from school to work, from a young age to an adult. Thank you so much!

Shout out to every moment of self-doubt, there was a persistent voice in my head that forced me to keep going on and never give up.

Looking back, it’s perseverance which is the most valuable asset I’ve ever cultivated. You will explore how could I used this ability to overcome challenges through real stories.

Story 1: F**king school

I was never good at memorizing subjects.

For example:

In Physic: Electromagnetic induction. Principle of generating alternating current.
In Biology: Mitosis and meiosis.
…

How was I meant to grasp these complex ideas, presented as dry text and static diagrams that I'd never seen, never experienced, never even truly imagined in real life?

Yet, around me, most students committed them to memory, preparing for the "random call" oral tests, the 15-minute quizzes, the hour-long exams that punctuated our days with unyielding pressure.

I felt like a robot in a factory of perfectly programmed peers. While many classmates got good score, I was the only one left behind. The weight of academic struggle wasn't confined to the classroom; it affected the relationship with my parents, especially my dad.

He worked tirelessly every day, my academic achievements were the currency for his happiness, the only way to earn his pride. At that time, this "f**king school" became a barrier between me and the pride I wanted to give to my dad. The classroom was a heavy chain, binding me to a future that I didn’t want.

In overall, I couldn't change the education system, but I needed to play its game. Okay, so let’s find out the strategy to be “Good Student - Học sinh giỏi” without losing myself.

I found out the formula like this:

• Average GPA of all subjects must be greater than or equal to 8.0/10.
• GPA of each individual subject must be greater than or equal to 6.5/10.
• GPA of one main subject (Math, Literature, or English) must be greater than or equal to 8.0/10.

I knew my strengths in subjects that required logic and understanding. So, here’s the plan:

• Focus my energy on English & Math to consistently achieve a GPA of 8.0 or higher.
• For Literature, I aimed for 7.x, enough to keep it above the minimum.
• For the rest of subjects, I aimed around 6.5 to 7.5.

It wasn't easy. It meant spending more time on strict study routines. But after a few months, I successfully uplifted my GPA to 8.x, enough to be a “Good Student” and satisfy my parent’s expectation.

Story 2: Proving myself

People say things just don't mix together, just like cat and dog; water and oil.

As a Natural Science student in High School, nobody believed that you would be good at Literature. But in fact, my Literature score was even higher than Math in High School entrance exam.

Surprisingly, an opportunity arose – there was an exam to select students for good student's selection team in Literature (for non-honors class). Even considering, it was met with a mix of disbelief and gentle skepticism.

However, there was something inside me that urged me forward. I signed up, then spent hours in poetry and literary analysis. I didn't just want to prove them wrong; I wanted to prove that I could break out from the safety zone others tried to put me in.

The day of the selection exam arrived. I sat there and took the test. But at that time, every doubt, every skeptical glance, replayed in my mind.

And then, the school got the final list.
My name was there. I had been selected.

That moment was about the satisfaction of perseverance paying off. It taught me that never stayed inside the box, always ready to broaden your horizons.

So, if someone ever tells you what you can't do anything, just do it. Go ahead and defy any expectation!