Top 10 Best Essays on Youth

Like many others, you've created memories filled with dreams and aspirations, heavy burdens that remind you where you came from and why you must strive forward. Youth only comes once, and it’s up to you to decide your own life path.

In youth, you may have the warmth of a loving home, shared meals with family, friends by your side from dawn till dusk, and perhaps a first love that leaves you with a nostalgia you’ll carry forever. It's in these years that you begin to understand the future you want, how you wish to live, and the person you wish to become, so you can feel proud of yourself whenever you reflect on life.

That magical time comes just once in a lifetime, bringing you hope in moments of despair, smiles in times of struggle, and priceless spiritual treasures when you have nothing material. These precious moments often only come once; once gone, they can't be returned. Time passes quickly, like the blink of an eye. Youth, too, will pass, and if you don’t treasure it, if you don't live it meaningfully, all you'll have left are late regrets. It’s a time when you live for yourself, free from too many restrictions, living fully, doing what you love, working with passion, experiencing new things, and gaining knowledge from all kinds of fields. And one day, you’ll thank yourself for having lived without regrets, without fear.

Because youth is the most priceless exchange, a one-way road with no return. So live meaningfully, live fiercely, and bloom like a flower. The best years of your life are your youth—creating a youth full of love, passion, and generosity. That way, you’ll know you didn’t waste your youth.

Minh Hoài

While enjoying a nap, she was suddenly awakened by a song coming from the neighboring room: “Youth is made of dreams / Youth is made of passions / Embracing wonderful dreams of love…” Normally, she would have been irritated, but today, she couldn’t help but smile.

Youth is often tied to dreams. Some dreams are grand, like striving to become a great individual to contribute wisdom to the world or heal the earth, while others are simple, like finding a steady job to support oneself and help the family. But no matter how big or small the dream is, youth requires hard work, dedication, and learning to reach those dreams.

Youth is also about journeys. It's about feeling the warm breath of life, experiencing the world, and opening your heart to nature and humanity. Sometimes, a young person’s trip isn't just for leisure—it’s a way to learn, to expand social knowledge.

Youth is passion, those spontaneous and reckless actions, and sometimes mistakes made in haste. But it is through reflection that one learns from those errors and grows wiser. After each lesson, young people find themselves becoming more cautious, thoughtful, and deliberate in their actions and words.

Youth is full of dreams, living in a romanticized world inspired by movies and novels, immersed in sweet love stories that feel so real, only to face the reality and feel a sense of disappointment and melancholy.

A small reflection on youth helps us cherish life more, to love the most beautiful period of our lives even more.

Collected

Being at a crossroads is a privilege of youth. But don't stay lost for too long, and don't use it as an excuse for laziness or neglecting your responsibility toward yourself.

I'm writing these words after spending an entire week staring at a screen, struggling to finish another piece of writing. From the outside, people might think I'm fully immersed in my work, losing track of time. But in reality, I was just staring at a blank space on the screen, hoping the clock would tick faster so I could escape to bed without feeling guilty. It's already 11 PM, and nothing's progressing. The deadline for completing two pieces in a week is slipping further out of reach.

By chance (or misfortune), I came across a quote on Facebook: "A long, endless day is a simple concept to describe the length of a day that an ordinary person wishes would pass by." That hit me right in the chest. I felt a bit offended. When did I become someone who "lives quietly, passing through each day"? My daily routine is repetitive — the same tasks, the same habits, the same people. All while dealing with the uncertainty of future paths that make me want to escape from everything.

I'm at a crossroads.

People say that 25 is the age of uncertainty. You look back at a quarter of your life and start questioning: Am I happy with where I am? Did I give my best? Am I heading in the right direction? Did I love the right person? At this age, people dive into the battle of survival — worrying about money, relationships, and their own small family. Honestly, I think 25 should be described as "fumbling." Moving left, then right, stepping forward, then backward, calculating each move carefully because the adult world doesn’t have much room for mistakes. At 25, you already have something to lose.

At 21, you have nothing, but you're still afraid of losing. That’s both sad and funny! 21 is when you truly feel "lost" — a state that’s vague, uncertain, and unstable. You don't dare move left or right, because you’re not even sure if you can stand still.

We often feel lost when standing at the threshold of life because we realize how small we are. Today's youth are more prone to FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out), which makes them unable to truly enjoy their choices. Imagine standing between 10 travel destinations, and someone with FOMO will regret the 9 places they didn't choose instead of appreciating the one they picked. This mindset prevents us from enjoying the present and constantly searching for something better, never appreciating what we have. With the abundance and generosity of this new century, people are increasingly uncertain as they face an overwhelming number of choices but can’t decide which one is the best. In economic terms, the opportunity cost is too high to make a satisfying choice.

Being lost is also when you feel like you have no options. The 20-year-olds or those just past 20 — young adults just starting to figure out life — often feel like one wrong move could push them to a dead end. Even after putting in all their effort, they might still find themselves stuck, falling into an abyss. After a few struggles with life, young men and women start longing to freeze time, to stand still and not have to fight with it anymore.

In truth, being lost is a privilege of youth. It’s perfectly fine to take a break, to give yourself some time to reflect and answer the questions inside you honestly. The term "running away together" by the rapper Đen Vâu might also be a metaphor for the thoughts of young people overwhelmed by the fast pace of life.

Yes, feel free to "run away," if you need to. But remember, don't run away — or more precisely, don't stay lost for too long. Youth comes only once and passes as quickly as a summer rain. Don't waste your youth just because you're afraid to face the present. Being lost is not an excuse for laziness or neglecting your responsibility. Because by the time you’re 40 or 50, you’ll be someone without ideals rather than just being lost.

In the movie "Mr. Nobody," before the main character (Nemo Nobody) was born, angels forgot to erase his memory, allowing him to see the future clearly. The film is a series of disconnected scenes, depicting hundreds of possible life paths every time Nemo makes a choice. At the end of the movie, Nemo lives hundreds of lives, but no one really knows who he is, where he came from, or what his identity is when he turns 118 years old.

Instead of asking, "Which choice is the right one?" maybe we should believe that every choice is the right one. Every path leads us to where we need to be, meets the people we need to meet, and helps us become who we need to become. Every path eventually leads to destiny, as long as we believe in it.

To those young souls who feel lost,

When you're lost, make sure you don't fall. Don't spiral into sleepless nights, blaming yourself for not being good enough. Don’t regret your choices or wish you could’ve done things differently. And don’t let the weight of life crush your pride and your self-worth. Courage is the key to breaking free from the state of being lost. The courage to live, to choose, to stumble. The courage to break free from the cocoon you’ve been in for too long, to rise above the petty worries and soar toward the sun, collecting the nectar of life to shine with brilliance.

It seems that we must go through this feeling of being lost before we can find our sure footing.

Lê Minh Anh

During the winter break, my son sent me an email from the US, telling me he was driving south from where he lives in the northern part of the country, planning a road trip that would take him through 11 states. Three days after setting off, he called from Austin, Texas, excitedly sharing that he had visited the O. Henry Museum, the author of 'The Last Leaf.' He also mentioned that in Memphis, he had toured Elvis Presley’s home, the legendary King of Rock.

I long to be like my son, supporting his adventurous spirit, venturing far while still young. Wandering will expose him to new experiences he’s never encountered before, stretching the boundaries of his life and opening it to a world beyond his imagination.

I remember one spring evening, alone at Berlin's train station, waiting for my train, only a few others waiting on the quiet platform. Among them, a young man who looked very much like he was from China caught my attention. I approached him, and it turned out he was a student from Tianjin University in China, studying electronics. Despite ten years having passed, I still remember his words: 'When I first arrived in Berlin, I only had 10 USD left in my pocket.' With just 10 USD, he set out on his adventure, and I couldn’t help but wonder what price he must have paid for his courage to venture far from home, living a life of uncertainty, facing the challenges of survival in a foreign land. His journey, his personality, became shaped by that very experience.

I also think back to myself, younger than my son is now, cycling north to the vast northern wilderness of Heilongjiang Province. Of course, I had to face many difficulties. Whenever a snowstorm would strike, it would sweep away my stubbornness, the bitter cold would blur my sense of direction, leaving me with a sense of disorientation, like a kite whose string had snapped, uncertain of where it would end up. But despite the pain and hardship, I also encountered the warmth of rural life, the kindness of people, moments that transformed into unforgettable memories of my youth.

Indeed, a young heart is often restless, unaware of the value of stability, always imagining that somewhere far away holds the beauty they seek. Only when one dares to wander does the world reveal itself. And wandering is not the same as traveling for leisure; it requires paying a price and experiencing the true essence of life—not the taste of coffee in a warm Starbucks café. Yet, it is only in youth that we can embark on such adventures. It requires courage, energy, and the imagination of youth, which allows us to gather experiences that can only be harvested at this stage of life. These are the memories we cherish when we grow old. A life without regret, to me, is a life lived with youthful recklessness, a journey of adventure, and unforgettable memories in old age.

Living one's life in a comfortable home, even if it is adorned with golden treasures and beautiful fabrics, will eventually feel weak against the wind, susceptible to the storm of life's challenges. If you never leave that comfort zone, no matter how much love and happiness you have, your life will be limited to a narrow perspective, with weak feet and a fragile face. Youth should not be filled with trivial concerns, drowning in a world of virtual emptiness, or consumed by the sweetness of a comfortable home, or lost in the mundane routines of daily life. It’s better to venture, even if you may fall, than to sit idly by. Youth should be like a dandelion in the spring, fragile and small, carried by the wind to distant places, to unknown lands, seeking out new experiences. Only then will you realize that the world is much larger than the glass house you once thought was the only reality.

Life should be lived in pursuit of adventure, not stuck in the daily grind or the confines of a narrow existence. You will understand that life is more than just the endless traffic jams or the monotonous cycle of TV shows and family conflicts. There’s more to life than this.

Almost everyone knows about the famous Italian adventurer Marco Polo. At the age of 17, he began his journey across Asia with his father and uncle. By 21, he was already traveling through all parts of China. Similarly, Captain Cook, the famous British explorer, was only 21 when he first embarked on his dream voyage across the Northern Sea. Schubert, the renowned Austrian composer, left home at the age of 20, embarking on a challenging and impoverished artistic life. Even the famous Chinese travel writer, Xu Haike, began his adventures at 22, enduring countless hardships. 'A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.' Through these journeys, young adventurers experienced the world, facing challenges and gaining wisdom.

Tiêu Phục Hưng

Youth, who hasn't experienced it, but how many can truly define what youth means to them?

Some choose a quiet and peaceful path, retreating like hermits, avoiding the hustle of life. No dreams, no joy, and of course, no sorrow.

Others drift aimlessly, caught up in recklessness, mistakes, and indulgence...

But does anyone truly know...

Our youth...

It’s those sleepless nights filled with unfinished plans.

It’s the long days of perseverance in the pursuit of dreams and ambitions.

It’s those moments of frustration when you wish for more than 24 hours in a day, so you can work more, dream more, and give more.

It’s the joy of wearing a volunteer’s green shirt, wholeheartedly contributing to the struggles of the community and society.

Our youth...

It’s a series of days submerged in fleeting emotions, the passionate yet naive loves, collecting both foolishness and innocence.

It’s those nostalgic autumn afternoons, suddenly missing someone far away, as your heart aches with the breeze.

Our youth...

It’s summed up in two words: "All in": working with all your heart, dreaming with all your might, and loving with all your soul.

So go ahead, be impulsive. Youth has the right to make mistakes. Go all in, because youth is a time for passion, a time when your heart is overflowing with energy.

Because, oh youth, you're allowed to make mistakes!

Di An

Youth is a time when our journey no longer feels as pure as childhood, with dust clouds and unexpected detours. Some stop halfway, unsure where they’re headed, uncertain if they’re reaching the end or just closing the chapter of a wild youth and preparing for a return to simpler days.

If you're still young, live passionately... Tie yourself to vibrant dreams, and know that a new horizon will always greet you after every stumble. Smile and embrace each new day, as if yesterday taught you how to rise again, laugh, and face the new challenges that youth brings.

My friend, there will be times when you search for the way but still can't find it, or when the light at the end of the tunnel seems too far away.

Don’t be discouraged, because these moments are part of growing up. Everyone must go through them to realize that we’re no longer naive or carefree. We grow more aware and capable.

If you’re still young, tie your life to the word “responsibility”... Live as a young person, but never forget to carry the weight of your mistakes. Because youth often leads us down wrong paths, through temptations and stumbles that are part of the human experience.

My friend, some mistakes may be endearing, but there are also those that bring deep pain. You can choose right or wrong, but when you make a mistake, don’t stay silent, don’t blame others, and don’t forget. Remember, carry it in your heart, feel the pain, and ease it with the responsibility of maturity.

I...

I once thought that being young meant doing the impossible, experiencing failure and pain, and growing stronger because of it.

I once thought that being young meant accepting the stumbles, the mistakes, and realizing how many people loved and supported me.

I once thought that being young meant loving, experiencing joy, tears, and goodbyes, and finding strength in those moments.

I once thought that being young meant blaming my impulsiveness, regretting past actions, and learning from them.

When we talk about "youth," it’s full of passion, a bit of foolishness, and that burning desire to live life to the fullest.

But sometimes, while scrolling through social media, I come across posts where young people are lamenting about how tired and frustrated they are with life. At the age of eighteen or twenty, they are already yearning for a peaceful, quiet life. They complain that life is exhausting, and every day seems restless. Problems seem to follow them, and they just want to give up. They ask, ‘Why is everyone else at peace while I’m not?’ Perhaps some of you are struggling with life right now.

But listen! Everyone grows through their challenges. Everyone faces difficulties. The only difference is how we think and act in response to these challenges. The solution isn’t to post complaints online hoping for comforting comments. What you really need to do is turn off the computer and reflect on it.

Don’t say the problem is too hard. If it weren’t hard, it wouldn’t be a problem!

If it’s too much, talk to someone close to you, someone who truly cares. Don’t fall into the trap of relying on virtual comfort from online comments. Don’t mistake it for a solution.

And listen up: When life gets tough, don’t wish for a peaceful, easy existence to hold onto. Life is never meant to be a smooth, effortless ride. Peace doesn’t mean serenity of the soul. One day, you’ll regret wishing for such a life. Don’t let that happen.

Life is never calm. The worries never end. So why waste time moping or complaining?

Who are you? You are the young ones. Full of dreams, big ambitions, and desires to reach for the stars without worrying about the consequences. Right now is the time to go out and hustle, to do what excites you, or at the very least, to see what foolish things you can accomplish.

This is the most beautiful moment of your life, when your energy, health, and dreams are at their peak. Right now, you are the strongest warrior.

Don’t fear failure, don’t fear pain, and don’t fear losing. The real losers are those who never try, standing on the sidelines, filled with regret. So stop talking, start acting. Life is out there, full of color, waiting for you. Smile and live in harmony with it. If you can’t live in peace, fight fiercely, like it’s your last battle, and charge forward with all your might.

That’s what it means to live! Remember that!

Collected

Youth is a time when we forget, overlook, and miss many things. Later, we often wish we could go back and do things differently, but it's those very gaps that make life more meaningful.

There are so many things we have to move past, many memories we must leave behind. Youth is not just a brief downpour soaking your clothes. Youth is a series of fleeting rains—quick and transient, but leaving an imprint that lingers long after.

What have you left behind in your youth, for yourself and for others?

We know that the stories of youth are simply memories, moments when we look back and feel a little lost. We think of times when we were reckless, vulnerable, brave enough to declare love, or when we failed to say goodbye.

Those years were when we chased dreams, did what we loved, and when youth passed, we realized we no longer had the courage to repeat those things.

We often look back at what’s gone, lamenting things we can never undo. Youth passes in the blink of an eye, and when we realize it, it’s already far behind.

During youth, surely we’ve hurt someone, made mistakes that caused pain in others. The things we thought were a waste of time are actually the ones we remember most. We fear being forgotten, but we often forget others.

What have you missed in your youth? Dreams, friendships, love, people who once meant the world to you, things you thought you could never let go of, moments of happiness or tears shed from hurt? Or perhaps all of that? Have you forgotten, or do you simply not want to remember?

It turns out that lacking ambition in youth is also a shortcoming. The process of growing up lacks traces of metamorphosis, failed attempts that led to change, moments when we rose up to transform. It’s in those moments of courage, knowing what it means to sacrifice.

We learn to regret missed opportunities, to feel empty when recalling lost happiness. Youth, we forget, we miss countless things, and half of our lives, we wish we could rewind and redo. But in truth, those very gaps shape our lives into something more meaningful.

Mistakes are fine. Because, no matter what, regret will always follow. That’s the rule. So, choose what feels right, do what you believe is right, for we can never turn back time. Regret exists because we can’t have it all. The hesitation we feel is merely a form of engraving it on our hearts.

We know that life is finite, and youth comes only once. We make mistakes, do things right, cherish things but lose them, hold people dear but let them slip away.

Remember, instead of regretting, embrace everything fully. Don’t try to erase it, don’t reject it just because things aren’t perfect. Every missed opportunity is simply a chance for a new beginning. Every mistake is a step forward toward becoming stronger.

Those who matter, keep them in your heart for life. The things that are worth keeping, never forget them.

Collected

In the uncertain phase of youth, amid life's turbulence and challenges… looking up at a vast, starless sky, sometimes you can't escape the feeling of aimlessness and vastness. During such moments, you should lie down on your beloved bed, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and immerse yourself in peaceful sleep. Allow yourself to rest, to find inner peace, and to begin a new day with a sense of calm...

As adults, we face many issues that we never imagined in our childhood. And perhaps, the future version of ourselves is the very person we never imagined becoming. We may not have wanted it, but life is not like a fairy tale, it's not filled with roses, nor is it wrapped in perfect pink hues. Sometimes, instead of overthinking, we need to learn to accept and keep moving forward, continue facing the future.

Life can get busy, the constant rush of work can gradually make people forget what they truly need. Often, in our teens and twenties, we don’t know what we want or need. When asked, “What’s your passion?”, we hesitate, mumble, and give vague answers. It’s understandable because passion isn’t something you can figure out in a day or two. It’s like a lifelong friend or a soulmate; it takes time, it requires understanding before we truly know what we need.

Actually, everyone has moments like this, feeling uncertain in life, confused among countless choices. When you feel like you're at a dead-end, with no one understanding you, no one by your side. It’s the time when we wander, searching for answers to the questions: Who am I, and what do I truly want? With nothing in hand, everything feels like it's suspended between dreams of a future as beautiful as we envision.

In those moments of uncertainty, when faced with too many roads and choices, we are forced to make decisions, but often we don’t even know which direction to take. So, we surrender to fate or follow someone else’s plans. We know every path has its own allure, but also its own challenges and obstacles, making it hard to choose. We fear making the wrong choice, so we hesitate, feel stuck, and grow frustrated.

We hope that the decisions we make are the right ones. But how can we be sure that the path we’re on is the right one if we haven’t even walked it yet? There’s so much in life that we can’t be certain about, and if we don’t try, how will we know whether it's right or wrong, success or failure? We have to walk the path to discover it. But life doesn’t give us enough time to explore every possibility. Choosing one path means giving up another, and giving up is real. We must learn to adapt to every situation.

Therefore, we can only choose a few things, so we must give our best to those choices. If you like a job that isn’t related to your degree, or if it goes against your parents’ wishes, I still hope you will have the courage to follow your dreams. The objections from your parents come from their immaturity and their concern for you. Set a goal, and give all your energy and passion to achieve it. Prepare the tools, the knowledge, and the determination to conquer your goal. When your passion and belief are strong enough, nothing is impossible.

If you're afraid that the degree you spent four years to earn will go to waste, or if you're afraid of the instability of doing something you love but aren’t familiar with, it’s understandable. You want “stability” – a job where you go from morning to evening, getting paid at the end of the month, without fearing for your next meal or rent… But are you really as stable as you think? Are you truly content with doing work you don’t enjoy, day after day, only to go home and wonder if you’re too afraid to live your dream, just once? Do you think that’s stable? Or are you living the life that’s truly yours? Or are you living the life someone else, like your parents, expects of you?

What we regret later in life is not the things we’ve done, but the things we haven’t done.

Be true to yourself and cherish your own life. Break out of your comfort zone and fight for your goals. It will hurt, you will fall, but never give up.

Your youth only passes by like a flash of light, forever locked in your memories. So, will you choose to boldly pursue what you love, gain experiences, and lessons to grow for the future, or will you remain in a state of uncertainty, with no way out?

Phạm Long Thuyên

"A violet placed in the palm of the hand will eventually leave a bright mark in our memories. Everyone who crosses our life journey participates with us, and in the end, they shape who we become."

The train of youth rolls on slowly, carrying us to distant and unfamiliar lands. All we have with us is the vast sky of youth and the passion burning in our hearts. The train doesn't stop, pushing forward through the uncertainties of youth, reaching towards the longing to soar higher, a desire that has always burned deep within. The scenery changes constantly, passing through lush meadows, bathed in the crimson glow of the sunset, with the breeze carrying the scent of wildflowers, gently lifting our hair. On this train, filled with dreams and aspirations, I find people who, like me, are alive with energy and a burning desire to embrace the future awaiting us. Wandering and meeting, we walk together on a shared path. Strangers at first, we soon became companions, sharing moments and growing closer. It seemed like nothing could be more wonderful than these years of youth, as we journeyed together, exploring a world full of color and wonder, each step taking us closer to maturity.

Each day and month passes, and the train continues its steady journey, as if there is no destination ahead. The passengers gaze out the window, watching the scene unfold. The faint sunlight breaks through the morning sky, fields of flowers in full bloom, dark clouds gathering before a storm, the light shining at the end of a dark tunnel. The vibrant and varied world, and the image of my companion by my side, remain captured in my gaze, never to be erased or changed by time.

The journey continues with friends by my side. We share pain and sorrow, healing broken hearts, standing together through long, dark nights when it seems there is no way out. We share joy and happiness, understanding each other's unspoken feelings. The road to maturity is uncertain and lost, but you pull me out of the chaos and despair, holding my hand as we look to the future, chasing that light deep within our hearts. Life doesn't seem so difficult because we have each other. In those youthful days, I found you, and you found me. By chance, we met on this journey and were fortunate to experience a part of youth together. I thought the train would never stop, that this journey would never change. I wanted to stay by your side forever, through the years ahead.

"There are things you can never forget. Some friendships will never be reunited. The clearer the memory, the more ruthless it becomes. We once thought that when we grew up, we'd stay together. But growing up means separation." (Fleeting Years - Cửu Dạ Hồi)

Every journey has its end, and the train eventually reaches its destination. People come and go, each with their own journey ahead. The party ends and people part ways, but meeting on this crossroads was a beautiful fate. We can only ride the same train for a short distance, then each of us must go our own way to pursue our dreams. You were by my side through the darkest times, witnessing the best moments of my life. You filled our youthful days with precious memories that seem impossible to fade. I am grateful to have had you on that journey. Now, as we part ways, that presence remains beautiful and irreplaceable. We gave each other our sincerest affection, and as the moment of parting comes, there's no need for sorrow. The world we shared will never disappear. We will keep this youth forever, under the falling petals, in the treasure chest of memories, or within the endless flow of time. Behind us lies a stretch of youth colored with memories, where I, you, and all of us lived together.

"Good friends are like stars. You don't always have to see them, but they are always there."

We are all striving to fulfill our own missions. No one can stay together forever on the long road of life that awaits. Still, even if we no longer share the same path ahead, even if we are no longer side by side, as we once were, I will always wish you peace. I believe the feelings we have for each other will never fade, only being stored in a small corner of our hearts. Even though that passionate youth no longer exists, it has become a beautiful memory of the people we shared that time with. Each of us must strive to live the best life we can, finding joy and peace every day, and continually making an effort. I hope we all remain strong and brave.

Time is like sunlight, slipping through our fingers in the blink of an eye. A moment of youth with you has passed like that. Now, when I look back on that beautiful time, I feel so lucky to have met everyone. All meetings will eventually lead to parting; it's natural, and there's no need to bind it. Farewell is not the end, but a promise of a beautiful reunion in the future. Let's meet again in the spring when the flowers bloom.

Author: Mia