1. Sample Essay 4
The most important lesson I learned from reading the story of King Midas' wish is that we must strive and work hard to achieve our own desires. We shouldn't depend on others, as relying on them will only lead to fleeting and easily lost results.
Success is rarely a gift from fate or others; it stems from our own efforts. In this vast world, no two paths are the same, and everyone has their own unique way to success. Some work tirelessly, like busy bees, accumulating their achievements day by day; others take risks, facing challenges head-on to chase their dreams; some are naturally gifted, and they nurture and develop their talents for success. But fundamentally, success is always about relentless effort, constantly improving oneself. As I've read and heard, 'Success comes only when we push ourselves to the limit and never stop improving.'
Success is something we all want to achieve. But to reach it, we must fulfill two conditions: putting in our best effort and continuously improving ourselves. Effort means pushing ourselves to the extreme, staying persistent, and never backing down due to failure. 'Never stop improving' means striving to become the best version of ourselves. We must train, enrich ourselves, and never settle for mediocrity. Once we meet both conditions, success will come knocking, whether soon or later. To master ourselves, we must always push forward and improve.
Success is not easy. Whether we achieve it depends on how well we seize opportunities in life. Success might come unexpectedly, sometimes even starting from a failure. If we let worry and failure drag us down, we risk losing the chance to achieve our goals and dreams. Success will not smile upon those who refuse to change for the better, and we cannot hold on to it for long if we become complacent with what we have.
Life is colorful and ever-changing, and each person must take control of their own thoughts, decisions, and actions, as well as the outcomes that follow. We must keep pushing ourselves to improve. Look around you at the role models, like teacher Nguyen Ngoc Ky, who, despite lacking arms, used his feet to write beautifully. Or the great artist Leonardo da Vinci, who spent countless hours practicing drawing perfect eggs to improve his skills, and now the world marvels at his priceless paintings. Consider the sweat of athletes who train relentlessly from a young age to win gold and silver medals for their country. They have all succeeded in their chosen paths.
But don’t turn the pursuit of success into a tragedy. Striving for glory doesn’t mean disregarding everything else to get what you want. You must rely on your own strength, your inner power, and continual self-improvement. Never resort to underhanded tactics to achieve success. Even when you're at the top, everything will feel unstable and fleeting if it is not built on genuine effort. Success, like life, only lasts when it is earned through hard work and practical actions. 'Success comes only when we push ourselves to the limit and never stop improving.' This statement provides clear guidance on how to achieve success. In today’s society, many young people have distorted views of success. They choose paths that may seem ridiculous to others because, to them, being noticed by others is success. More and more, we see self-proclaimed 'hot boys and hot girls' engaging in outrageous acts to stay in the spotlight, which negatively influences the youth. Therefore, the message about success serves as a profound wake-up call for us all.
Achieving success is something we all desire, so we should set the right goals and push ourselves to improve every day. We should also share the methods we use to reach success in life.

2. Sample Essay 5
'The Wish of King Midas' is a fairy tale that I really like. The story is about a king who is obsessed with gold. He sits on a magnificent golden throne, enjoys the finest food, and is surrounded by beautiful women. His treasure vaults are filled to the brim with gold and jewels.
One day, the god Dionysus appears and grants King Midas one wish. Driven by greed, Midas quickly asks: - 'Grant that everything I touch turns to gold!' The god agrees with a smile. The king tests his wish by snapping off a branch, which turns to gold. He picks an apple, and it too turns into gold. He believes there is no one happier than him! As Midas sits down to eat, he realizes the terrifying result of his wish. Everything he touches, including food and drink, turns to gold. Starving and thirsty, he begs the god for mercy, asking to reverse his wish so that he can live. Dionysus appears again and advises him: - 'Go to the Pactolus River, bathe in its waters, and the magic will disappear, cleansing you of your greed.' Midas follows the god’s advice and is freed from the dreadful gift he had longed for. It is then that he understands that happiness cannot be achieved through greed.
This fairy tale, like many others, tells of encounters with gods, fairies, and miracles, which many of us have heard in stories. King Midas also meets a god, Dionysus, who grants him a very strange wish. Let's listen to the king's request:
- 'Grant that everything I touch turns to gold.'
- 'I grant you your wish. You will have plenty of gold.'
King Midas is thrilled. He tests the wish by snapping off a branch, which instantly turns to gold. He picks an apple, and it too turns to gold. His eyes shine with excitement. Who wouldn't want all the gold in the world?
However, when King Midas sits down to a feast, he realizes the horror of his wish. Starving and thirsty, he can no longer eat or drink. Everything he touches, whether a plate, cup, or food, turns into gold. Who can survive by eating gold?
King Midas desperately begs Dionysus to undo his wish. After hearing the god's advice, he runs to the Pactolus River, immerses himself in the water, and the magic vanishes. It is then that he learns: 'Happiness cannot be built on greed.'
The tale of 'The Wish of King Midas' mocks and ridicules those who are consumed by the desire for gold. The god teaches King Midas a lesson he will never forget.
Through this fairy tale, we learn that gold and wealth don't guarantee happiness. Happiness cannot be built on greed. Greed is the root of all evil. That's why I love this fairy tale.

3. Sample Essay 1
You have read the story 'The Wish of King Midas,' a Greek myth. Every myth imparts valuable life lessons, and 'The Wish of King Midas' is no exception. This tale teaches us about greed and the consequences that come with it.
The story centers around a king who, as the ruler of a prosperous kingdom, has everything he could want. However, when the god Dionysus appears, the king makes a selfish wish: he desires that everything he touches turns into gold. This wish reveals the king's deep greed. Rather than wishing for the well-being of his people, he desires wealth for himself. Dionysus grants the king's wish, but the king soon realizes the curse it brings. At first, he is thrilled as everything he touches turns to gold, but when he touches food, it too turns to gold. Unable to eat, the king becomes hungry and desperate. He begs the god to undo the wish, asking only to survive. Dionysus advises the king to bathe in the Pactolus River, which will undo the spell and cleanse him of his greed. The king follows the advice and is freed from his wish.
After this experience, King Midas learns that happiness cannot be built on greed. True happiness comes from appreciating the simple things around us. Greed blinds us, and we often pay a heavy price for it.
This myth is full of magical and fantastical elements, but it carries profound lessons that resonate deeply with readers.

4. Sample Essay 2
The Wish of King Midas is a Greek myth that reflects human greed and serves as a lesson about it.
The story tells of King Midas, a powerful ruler of a wealthy kingdom who has everything—money, power, and status. Despite all these, he is not satisfied and craves more. When the god Dionysus offers him a wish, the king asks for everything he touches to turn to gold. This wish clearly highlights the king's greed, and the god grants it. At first, the king is delighted with his new power, but soon he begins to panic as food turns to gold when he touches it, and he can no longer eat. Realizing the cost of his greed, the king begs Dionysus to take back the wish. He learns that wealth cannot bring happiness. This story humorously critiques the king’s insatiable greed, showing that it can never be fulfilled, and the king must pay dearly for his actions. The author uses this tale to impart a lesson to many through one person, employing elements of fantasy and exaggeration to deepen the meaning. These artistic elements are common in myths, but in this case, they make the message even more powerful.
Through this, readers understand the important lesson that greed makes people blind and cannot bring true joy; instead, it often comes with a heavy price.

5. Sample Essay 3
Mythology is a genre that incorporates many mystical and imaginative elements. 'The Wish of King Midas' is a short story that is full of these elements, while also conveying a deep lesson about human greed.
The story revolves around King Midas, a man who possesses everything, yet is still not content with what he has. As a ruler of a prosperous and peaceful kingdom, he still craves more. When granted a wish by a god, instead of wishing for the well-being of his people, he asks for everything he touches to turn into gold. Though he already has everything, he cannot resist the allure of wealth. His wish is granted, and everything he touches turns into gold. However, the joy is short-lived when he discovers that he cannot eat, as the food he touches also turns to gold. In desperation, he begs the god to take back the wish. In doing so, he learns that wealth does not bring true happiness.
The mystical elements of the story bring it to life and help to clearly define the character of the king. Through the use of artistic elements and the story's content, readers can take away valuable lessons. In particular, the price the king has to pay for his greed teaches us that greed does not benefit anyone. In conclusion, the author skillfully uses artistic elements at the right moments to create a profound and meaningful story.

