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1. Master English Communication
What would you think if you were an excellent student but couldn't help a foreigner with directions? This would undoubtedly be frustrating. Some people achieve over 700 points in TOEIC but still can't speak English. Why is that? The issue lies in focusing only on listening and reading comprehension without actually using their learned English to communicate. Many students and professionals seek job opportunities or career advancement but face barriers when communicating in English, which keeps them stuck and prevents growth.
Therefore, you should practice speaking English as much as possible, even if you make mistakes. Don't be afraid of errors, as that's how you gain experience and improve. At university, there will always be opportunities to interact with foreigners. If you're unable to speak English, you'll miss out on these valuable chances to connect, and that's something to regret.
2. Collaborate in Teams with New Friends
After graduating from university, you'll enter the workforce and have to collaborate with people you don't know. Many Vietnamese people struggle with teamwork and prefer working with familiar faces. This is why the term "carrying the team" exists—where one person ends up doing the work of the whole group. Of course, when working in teams, conflicts arise, with some doing more, some less, and some doing nothing at all. It's natural to want to work only with your friends because it's easier to manage.
However, in the workplace, especially as a fresh graduate, you won't have the luxury of choosing your team. Whatever group your boss assigns you to, you must work with them. So, you can't always stick with your familiar friends. By collaborating with new team members, you'll gain valuable experiences and learn diverse approaches to teamwork. Whether it's good or bad, you'll have more experience working in teams. Success is when you can integrate and work well with everyone.
3. Make as Many Friends as Possible
Make sure to build a wide circle of friends during university, as you'll inevitably need their help at some point. If you believe university is just a place to gain professional knowledge and that friends are not as important as those from high school, then you're mistaken.
While university friends may not be as close as high school buddies, university is a microcosm of society, and in society, relationships are key. These people will be there to support you whenever you're facing challenges. Even if it's just a small favor, having friends is essential. Making friends is an art, and if you master this art, you're already a successful artist.
There are plenty of ways to make new friends:
- Use social media: It's one of the easiest and most convenient ways to connect with people at university.
- Join clubs: Find clubs that match your interests or passions, such as a guitar club, martial arts, English, or even a fan club for your favorite celebrity. Being part of a club gives you a chance to meet like-minded individuals and form connections.
- Start a part-time job: If you have the time, get a part-time job. You'll work in the same environment, with the same boss and similar customers, making it easy to bond with coworkers and share experiences. You might even make lifelong friends from your part-time job.
- Join local groups: Many universities, or even cities, have student associations for people from the same hometown. This can be a great way to connect with people from your area.
4. Join Clubs
At university, clubs are created to help students connect and learn from each other. Why not join one? It's a great way to improve your communication skills. Even if you're shy, members of the club will bring out the best in you, giving you the chance to learn and grow your own abilities.
Joining a club allows you to discover hidden talents within yourself, understand your strengths and weaknesses, and work towards becoming a better version of yourself each day.
Activities in clubs offer immense benefits. You might sometimes feel overwhelmed by the workload and worry it will affect your studies, but if you don't participate, you miss out on opportunities to showcase your strengths and shine. So, get involved in clubs and enjoy the exciting experiences university life has to offer.
5. Earn Multiple Certifications
After graduating from university, you'll need to find a job, but if all you have is a Bachelor's degree, will that be enough to stand out against other qualified candidates? Job opportunities are scarce, and competition is fierce. Without additional skills beyond your major, employers may see you as inexperienced.
In addition to your degree, you should aim to earn various certifications. These certifications will significantly boost your chances during the job application process, showing employers the diverse skill set you possess. There are many certifications worth pursuing, from foreign languages and IT skills to soft skills that will help you improve and land better job opportunities.
In a professional environment, employers expect proof of expertise and skills, and you should be able to provide them. But don’t just earn certifications for the sake of it—strive for them to genuinely enhance your abilities, because that’s where the true value lies.
6. Participate in Volunteer Activities
As a student, not engaging in volunteer activities would be a missed opportunity. While these activities may not provide immediate material benefits, they offer immense learning experiences. Volunteer work often involves helping others, and each time you participate, you'll feel yourself growing and maturing. If you're someone who stays in the comfort of your home, relying on your parents for everything, you’ll never truly grow.
By volunteering, you'll gain valuable life skills because you’ll be the one taking action, finding opportunities, and offering help to those around you. You’re the one providing support, and your teammates are your only resource. For example, during events like "Green Summer," you'll experience hard labor while helping people in need. Through these activities, you’ll better understand the struggles of the less fortunate, learn compassion, and how to serve your community. Volunteering in international teams will allow you to experience other cultures, meet people from all over the world, and gain insight into different countries. You'll realize how vast the world is, how interconnected we all are, and how much more there is to discover. Try volunteering once, and you’ll find it incredibly rewarding.
7. Take on Part-Time Jobs
Many people, especially parents and teachers, believe that students shouldn't take on part-time jobs. They argue that working would interfere with academic performance. However, whether it affects your studies or not depends on how you manage your time. Don't focus solely on earning money when you're a student; instead, treat it as an experience. Most students work part-time to support themselves, and sometimes this can indeed affect their studies. But being a successful student doesn’t mean only studying; it means knowing how to balance. Some students manage to excel in both learning and working, with their studies as the priority, and work as a means to gain experience. You can take a part-time job on campus or even work as an intern for a company if you don’t have much time.
8. Build Physical and Mental Resilience
University is truly a tough environment, especially for those who have clear goals and are determined to work hard toward them. There will be nights when you'll have to stay up until dawn to finish presentations, projects, or essays, which is why you need to have a strong physical health to keep up during these challenging times. Ideally, you shouldn’t stay up late, but realistically, late nights and early mornings are unavoidable. Therefore, make the most of your free time by engaging in physical activities to maintain good health. More importantly, your mental health must be strong as well to prevent stress or even depression. University is a time when you must be self-reliant, especially if you're living away from home. Both your physical and mental well-being are essential to help you face challenges and persevere.
9. Skills for Receiving and Learning from Criticism
In both life and work, you will encounter not only praise but also criticism. Instead of feeling offended or upset when someone criticizes you, transform those comments into valuable lessons for personal growth. Nobody enjoys being criticized, and it’s natural to feel defensive. However, remain calm and open to feedback—reacting impulsively will only worsen the situation. Embrace the idea of being receptive to constructive criticism, as it will encourage others to give you more thoughtful advice. When criticized, resist the urge to blame others or external factors for your shortcomings. Instead, use criticism as a mirror to identify areas of improvement. Accepting feedback and turning it into a tool for self-improvement is a skill. If you struggle with this, it’s something you can practice to enhance both your interactions and your personal development. It will make you feel more at ease when facing challenges.
10. Take Initiative
Opportunities always come to those who take initiative and actively seize them. How many times have you regretted missing out on an opportunity because you didn’t act on it?
- You wanted to join the class committee but hesitated to put yourself forward, and the chance slipped away.
- You had questions about a lesson but didn’t ask your teachers or classmates, only to find yourself stuck later when the lesson became relevant to your practical work.
- You wanted to meet new people at an event but didn’t take the initiative to strike up a conversation, and ended up alone.
- You wanted a great job but didn’t take the initiative to search for one, relying on others to help you, and then ended up with something that wasn’t a perfect fit.
Wouldn’t it be a shame to let these opportunities pass just because you didn’t take charge? Whether it’s in school or at work, always be proactive. Actively seek out opportunities and take the initiative to make them yours.
11. Never Settle for Achieved Success
Everyone is in search of a secret to success that will help them grow. However, some people will naturally find their own path to success, while others may struggle and feel lost. Success comes only to those who work hard and continue to aspire to more in life. If you finish a book and think that’s enough, you’ll never acquire new knowledge or skills. Life, just like work, is full of challenges, and you must find ways to overcome them.
If you’re easily satisfied with what you’ve already achieved, it means you’ve accepted defeat. Always set new goals in life and work towards them. Only then can you truly claim success. Once you’ve achieved your initial goals, aim even higher and keep striving for more, because that’s what true success is about.
12. Set Clear Goals
Before stepping into a new environment, especially university, take some time to set clear goals for what you want to achieve (such as securing a stable job, working at a prestigious company, etc.). This will help you define your direction and set the necessary goals to reach it. For instance, if you aim to graduate with honors, you can set specific targets to become an outstanding student. Typically, most students aim for a passing grade, hoping simply to avoid failing, often due to work commitments or lack of interest in studying.
But remember, "On the road to success, there are no footprints of the lazy." If you want to succeed, you need to put in significant effort and stand out from others. If your class consists mostly of top students, you must do something different to achieve success. Therefore, when you enter university, you should set the goals you wish to accomplish, as this will drive you to work hard to achieve them. If you're already in your second or third year and still lack life goals, it's time to start planning.
13. Create a Detailed Plan
Every task requires a detailed plan for completion, or you'll find yourself in a situation where you only act when it's too late. Time passes quickly, and without a clear plan, you can't expect to perform well in any task. A well-organized schedule allows you to manage and track your progress, ensuring timely completion.
Planning is the process of setting objectives, assessing the current situation, and identifying the actions needed to achieve those goals in the future. It demands logical thinking, creativity, and foresight.
Each day, tackle a small portion of your work as outlined in your plan, and when the deadline approaches, you'll just need to wrap things up. Often, you may feel overwhelmed by a challenging project, but once you start planning and break it down step by step, you'll realize it's not as difficult as it seems, and you'll be able to complete the task with success.
14. Practice Public Speaking
Public speaking is a skill that everyone, whether a student or a professional, must develop. You can't always hide behind others as a support role. To succeed, you need to have confidence in yourself. Step up and speak in front of others.
Public speaking allows individuals to communicate their ideas, thoughts, and information clearly and effectively. A person who can express themselves confidently and persuasively will capture attention and earn respect from their audience. It might sound simple, but for many, it’s a challenging skill to master.
Don't worry about making mistakes or being laughed at. People will only laugh for a moment, and soon after the presentation, they'll forget it. Later, you can go back and improve on what you missed. With each public speaking experience, you'll gain more confidence and composure, which will not only ensure success in university but also in life.
