1. Reference Essay 4

2. Reference Essay 5
It is a blessing for anyone born with a natural beauty, good health, and a sharp mind. But how can we make the most of these gifts in real life? We must learn how to turn these advantages into opportunities, creating conditions for growth. Life doesn't give or take anything away from us freely. Therefore, knowing when to seize the moment can lead to valuable and meaningful outcomes. As life teaches us: “Living is not about waiting.”
We all have the right to live and pursue happiness, which means we must be decisive, proactive, and actively shape our own destiny. Moreover, we must always strive to learn and dare to transform ourselves. You must live a life full of meaning, contributing to the world. Don’t waste any time. Living is about giving back. Always make an effort to learn and improve yourself each day. With time, you will accumulate an immense amount of knowledge about society and life itself. Always stay aware of the issues around you and continue developing yourself. Strive to achieve meaningful and valuable things in your life. Be more proactive, create new things, and excel in the areas you choose to pursue.
“Living is not about waiting” is a great piece of advice, encouraging us to be more active in our lives. We should not wait because our destiny is shaped by our own actions. Every one of us must strive to change our lives, be more proactive, and create the best possible outcomes for ourselves.
However, we should not rely on others for help. We cannot succumb to the challenges life throws at us. Therefore, we must always be the ones to decide our future.
Constantly work on developing yourself every day, enhancing your knowledge and wisdom. This is an essential part of education, helping us grow deeply and effectively. Always plan your life with clear goals, making decisions that shape your path and destiny in life.
Yet, I believe that this saying only holds true to an extent. Sometimes in life, we can’t rush things. There are times when we must wait. As the saying goes, “Waiting is happiness” – sometimes, the things we wait for bring us unexpected joy.
Everyone says: "Living is not about waiting"! But can we really live without waiting? I once read in a book: “Not waiting is not human!”
Hundreds of thousands of students wait for years to take exams, spending 12 years or more preparing for a couple of stressful and uncertain days. Parents also wait anxiously for their children throughout these years. Going to the exams, facing traffic jams, and waiting patiently to avoid unfortunate events, waiting out of concern for ourselves and those around us.
In family life, there are times when parents get angry and scold their children. Instead of running away, children sit quietly, waiting for the anger to pass, and talk with their parents. Conversely, when children speak out of anger, parents wait for them to calm down and sit with them. Waiting is about mutual respect!
Those in love, separated by distance and wars, endure the wait. Women at home tirelessly raise their children, waiting for peace and the return of loved ones. Waiting symbolizes sacrifice, and it is love.

3. Reference Article #6
In society, everyone has their own perspective and approach to life. Some believe that living means not waiting, while others argue that it’s important to live slowly. So, how should one live to avoid wasting time or living aimlessly?
Time is something we can never get back once it has passed. Therefore, we should live with passion and work hard. However, it’s important to remember that we only get one chance at life, so we must enjoy the beauty and joy life brings, live slowly, and love more. These two seemingly opposite opinions actually complement each other to form a more complete meaning: We should strive to work hard and live well to become valuable members of society, but at the same time, we must know how to balance our time and enjoy all the joys that life offers. As society develops, people must work harder to improve their lives. To achieve this, we must work diligently and not be lazy, dependent, or expect others to do things for us. However, after hours of hard work, we also need to make time for ourselves, to live with our passions and personal interests, and to enjoy life. Imagine how dull life would be if everyone only worked like machines, without joy or sorrow. It would be equally terrible if people focused only on play and their own desires without striving to contribute to society’s growth. Each opinion has its own validity, but the most meaningful life comes from combining both perspectives so they can support each other. These two viewpoints help us understand the core value of life and teach us how to balance our lives, so we can contribute while staying happy. Unfortunately, many people today place too much importance on themselves, prioritizing personal benefits and focusing too much on personal hobbies, neglecting their professional efforts.
On the other hand, there are also those who are so work-driven, constantly laboring like machines, only to realize too late that the beautiful moments of life have slipped away. We need to learn to balance work and enjoying life to find peace and happiness within ourselves.

4. Sample Paper No. 7

5. Reference Example 1
The modern era of industrialization and modernization demands constant personal growth and self-improvement to avoid falling behind. This has led to a faster-paced life, where individuals are swept along with the flow of time. Living quickly, not waiting for anything, has become the choice of many global citizens. However, some believe that we should "slow down", especially in a world full of traps and temptations.
"Living without waiting" means living fully, contributing, and looking toward the future. Most young people today live this way, enjoying each moment of life. With their energetic nature, curiosity, and desire to explore, living fast offers them numerous opportunities for self-improvement, expanding knowledge, and engaging with diverse cultures. This lifestyle embodies confidence, appreciation for the present, constant striving, and a spirit of giving back. Historically, during the New Poetry era, the Self-Strength Literary Group, including figures like Xuân Diệu and Huy Cận, promoted the idea of living fast and fully through poems like "Vội vàng" and "Tràng Giang"... In modern times, young icons like Lê Hà Trúc, a passionate traveler, and designer-model Hoàng Ku, with their sophisticated sense of style, exemplify the live-fast approach.
On the opposite end, some argue that in today’s chaotic and fast-paced world, slowing down is necessary to truly experience life. Living calmly, without rushing, allows individuals to observe and reflect on their existence, much like the sages of ancient times. Slow living is believed to help people feel more at peace, be closer to nature, and nourish their souls with refined pleasures...
In reality, living without waiting is a natural consequence of the modern world. The rapid pace of human change, the continuous flow of events, and the constant innovation in science mean that if we don't keep up, we will inevitably be left behind. Therefore, it’s crucial to live in a way that aligns with the times. However, it’s easy to confuse "living without waiting" with rushing through life recklessly. A rushed lifestyle can lead to selfishness or a loss of one’s identity in the crowd. This can manifest in situations where couples live together before marriage, resulting in unwanted pregnancies without the means to raise a child, or when people prioritize wealth and fame at the expense of family...
In today’s world, slowing down is seen as a form of therapy for the soul. Adding a plant to your home, tending to it daily, greeting the sunrise with soothing music and a light breakfast — these are examples of slow living, of enjoying life. These moments of stillness help us regain balance, retreat into our own world, and relax to recharge for the work ahead.

6. Reference Article 2
Human beings are granted life by the divine, and along with life comes individuality—a unique personality, thoughts, and perspective. No two people are identical, not even identical twins. This is why everyone has their own view on how life should be lived. Some believe that 'living means not waiting,' while others suggest that we should slow down. So, have we ever wondered whether we should slow down or live life 'hastily'?
The phrase 'living means not waiting' is a popular viewpoint among today's youth. It embodies the fast-paced, full-throttle attitude towards life, racing against time to experience it all. We don't allow ourselves to linger in the past or get lost in the present but instead dream of a bright future, striving for fulfillment and avoiding regrets. This is because time is linear—it is a river that carries everything away permanently: youth, faith, happiness, and the most precious things in life.
However, there are still many who choose to live slowly. They advocate for enjoying life at a relaxed pace, savoring each moment without haste. The idea is that if we rush, we might miss out on seeing the true value of life. We may overlook it or only understand it vaguely.
'To be or not to be. That is the question.' This famous line reflects the dilemma of how one should live.
Just as money has two sides, society often presents contrasting perspectives. This duality is a fundamental aspect of existence. Living fast or slow may seem like opposites, but both styles also have their own nuances.
Currently, many people embrace the 'living means not waiting' mentality. This approach is not wrong and is even widely supported. As society becomes more advanced, individuals must race against time and technology to meet the demands of an 'industrialized, modernized' world. This idea isn't new; poet Xuân Diệu also encouraged living quickly with the following lines:
'Hurry up, rush on!'
or:
'Hurry, the evening's coming.'
Yet, this hurried lifestyle can sometimes lead to anxiety, as some individuals lose themselves in a 'money-driven, corrupt society.' Rushing is about seizing opportunities, not exploiting others as stepping stones for our haste. Some individuals rush so much that they forget who they are, neglect their roots, and abandon their humanity. They focus solely on themselves, leaving no time for family meals or connections. They fail to realize that others wait for them at home, and their absence brings sadness. What’s the point of rushing like this? When we close our eyes for the final time, will we feel fulfilled?
Perhaps this is why people often advise others to slow down. Slowing down helps us notice the world around us, understand what we need, and love others differently. Compared to the frantic pace of life, slowing down allows us to catch up. Einstein’s theory of relativity suggests that time can appear irrelevant at the speed of light, but in reality, this is impossible. If we cannot beat time, let’s turn it into a force for doing remarkable things. Human beings have emotions; we are not machines, and we need rest. Slowing down helps us relax, appreciate the beauty of the world, and have time to enjoy a warm family meal, share happiness with loved ones, and reflect on our own growth. Slowing down helps us know ourselves better, see what we lack, and improve.
However, we must not use this as an excuse to justify laziness or inefficiency. Some people mistake slowing down as a reason to procrastinate. Such individuals deserve criticism for turning the idea of slowing down into an excuse for stagnation, which hinders personal and societal progress.
Therefore, we must understand the dual nature of things in life. We should live with urgency to make the most of our youth and opportunities, but at the same time, learn to slow down to avoid descending into despair. We must balance both thoughts, using them wisely to cultivate personal growth. Let's live in such a way that when we pass away, others mourn, but we can smile knowing we lived well.

7. Reference article 3
How are you experiencing your life? Have you given your all and enjoyed it to the fullest? When discussing how people should live, some say that life is about not waiting, while others suggest living slowly. Living without waiting means being passionate, working hard, and making the most of time to create the best material value for life. However, we only have one life to live, so aside from dedicating time to contributing, we must also savor the joy and beauty that life brings, live slowly, and love more. Though these two views seem opposing, they complement each other, encouraging people to become good citizens and create good values for themselves, making life more worthwhile. However, living fast does not mean being absorbed in work and indifferent to the surrounding life. Similarly, living slowly does not mean procrastinating, indulging, or letting things happen without action. These two aspects need to be balanced to help people optimize life. Achieving this balance requires great effort and striving. Imagine how dull life would be if everyone only worked like machines, knowing neither joy nor sorrow. How terrible would it be if people focused only on personal pleasures, hobbies, and passions without working hard to advance society? We only live once, so we must manage time wisely, work intelligently, and enjoy the beauty that life offers.
No one can live our life for us, and time lost can never be regained. Create for yourself a life that is happy and meaningful.

