From a Samsung worker to a university lecturer

I met Hang on a cold winter morning when the practical lecturer of the Faculty of Tourism, Dai Nam University had just finished her lecture at the 3-star Lotus Legend Practical Hotel (197 Tran Phu - Ha Dong - Hanoi). No one could have imagined that to stand on the podium of the university lecture hall, this girl from Yen Phong - Bac Ninh had to overcome many major events in her life, especially daring to give up to start and change....

Nguyen Thi Hang (second from the right) with teachers in the Tourism Department of Dai Nam University.

Because of her family's difficult circumstances, after finishing high school, Nguyen Thi Hang did not take the university entrance exam like her peers, but chose to work as a worker in an industrial park near her home to earn money to help her family.

Hang quickly found a job at Samsung Company - one of the largest electronic component manufacturing companies in Yen Phong Industrial Park - Bac Ninh with a fairly high salary. Every day, the young girl leaves home at 6:30 am and returns home at 7 pm.

After more than 1 year working as a worker, Hang decided to change by applying to the Tourism Faculty of Dai Nam University.

“ At first, I thought that working would give me money to support my family and allow me to do whatever I wanted. However, the limited time of a worker left me with no time to do anything else… ” Hang recalls.

Hang added that here she and other workers were "exhausted" by having to regularly work 12 hours of overtime, including Saturdays and Sundays. In particular, each worker only did one job on a pre-set production line. " I gradually felt bored with the life of a worker; tired of the consecutive days of overtime; felt extremely suffocated by the stifling and noisy atmosphere at the company... I was afraid! If I continued to be a worker, I would become a machine, and even when I was old, I would only live one boring and tiring day like that... "

From the first day she stepped into university, Hang realized that her change was the right one.

At the Faculty of Tourism, Hang not only gets to study her favorite subject but also has wonderful and meaningful youth experiences.

After 1 year of experience as a worker, witnessing many cases of people being laid off indefinitely due to poor health, being over the working age, pregnant, having small children, etc.; young couples struggling to make ends meet with a meager worker salary, Hang is really worried about her future. “I realized that a worker’s salary only brings me immediate “benefits” and I need to change before it’s too late. I can’t live my whole life as a worker without a job or qualifications…”

Along with teachers, friends and meaningful movement activities.

After all, the 19-year-old girl decided to quit her job as a factory worker to continue her studies. Hang was determined to apply to university to start a new journey in life.

“Luckily for me, at that time Dai Nam University was considering recruiting based on high school transcripts. I seized this opportunity to become a student. And from the very first day I stepped into the university, I had a strong belief that my change was the right one…”

For Hang, Dai Nam University not only gives her knowledge to build her life but also teaches her many meaningful life lessons.

At the Faculty of Tourism, Dai Nam University, Hang studied her favorite subject; was taught and guided by dedicated teachers, and shared all the difficulties in daily life. And especially at the university lecture hall, the young girl had truly wonderful youth experiences with teachers and friends, and meaningful movement activities organized by the school.

“The shock of 2017 was when my father suddenly passed away. That was the motivation that helped me try 3, 5 times harder to get good academic results, set the goal of being able to stay in the faculty, have a good, stable job like my father had expected,” Hang confided.

And all efforts were duly rewarded, after 4 years of hard work, Hang graduated with good academic results and was retained in the faculty as a practical lecturer. “Thank you Dai Nam University for turning me from a Samsung worker into a practical lecturer. Thank you to the teachers of the Faculty of Tourism for teaching and guiding me to achieve the results I have today. I promise to make constant efforts to be worthy of what the school and the faculty have given me…”

Looking at the bright smile, radiant face and eyes full of faith and hope of the young practical lecturer, I thought of the slogan “Learn to change” of Dai Nam University. From the story of the life change of Hang and generations of Dai Nam students, we have the right to believe that any change, any beginning is never too late. We just need to have determination, motivation and dare to act to change.

Thu Hoe