Perhaps the phase of graduating from university and standing in the middle of a host of career path choices is the most difficult period in anyone's life. Some don't want to follow the major they studied or jobs that their families want to and are ready to face challenges ahead by drafting career paths themselves. Along with the determination to fulfill their dreams, a large number of these people have succeeded by determining the right direction for themselves.

Van Thi Tuong Vy, residing in Son Tra District, instructs her students to learn drawing at her drawing class named Nhi Nho. Photo: DAN TAM

1. Having graduated from Ho Chi Minh City-based RMIT University in 2013, Hoang Thi Ngoc Mai returned to Da Nang to apply for jobs at some companies and businesses yet was rejected since she had no work experience. While waiting for a suitable job, Mai applied to English centres in tandem with studying for a Master's degree in Accounting at the University of Economics- the University of Danang.

During those days of working and going to university at the same time, Mai had tried to sell fashion goods online and then fell in love with this job. Therefore, this young strong girl decided to register a stall at the Helio fair in 2018. Currently, she is the owner of the secondhand clothing store named Rinny's Store in Hai Chau District.

According to Mai, fashion sellers not only have to grasp market trends rapidly but also need to have an aesthetic style as well as a friendly attitude towards customers. Her fashion store at its peak can bring revenue up to VND 50-60 million /month. However, Mai currently sells mainly online owing to the impact of the pandemic so she earns VND 12-15 million per month

2. In 2017, Mr Dao Huy Tung, residing in Hoa Tho Tay Ward, Cam Le District decided to start his business of growing straw mushrooms with high determination. For the time being, he is the owner of 8 mushroom rooms bringing a profit of about VND 32-35 million per month. To gain this success, he had experienced countless difficulties and failures at many jobs.

Mr Tuan had spent a lot of time learning and studying techniques of growing straw mushrooms to have a current stable mushroom growing process. There were months he lost about VND 20-25 million since the incubation does not produce mushrooms to harvest. Every time he made a mistake, he has written down, learned from that and improve it for the next time. For the time being, he grows and harvests straw mushrooms to supply the market twice every month.

While people choose to grow high-yield and easy-to-grow mushrooms such as oyster mushrooms, he chooses the difficult-to-grow mushroom as straw mushrooms because it depends a lot on temperature, humidity, light, oxygen in the mushroom growing room.

Thanks to his fresh straw mushrooms accompanied by being delivered early, his mushrooms are always "sold out". The reason why he is enthusiastic about his job like that comes from his want that people can eat clean and fresh mushrooms planted and supplied by his own hands at a reasonable price.

As shared by him, he plans to expand his mushroom farm to be able to cooperate with preschools and primary schools to organize visits and picnics at the mushroom farm for students so that they know the process of mushroom production as well as make their dishes from nutrient-rich mushrooms.

3. After graduating from university and teaching drawing at preschools and primary schools locally, Van Thi Tuong Vy, residing in Son Tra District decided to quit her job to open a drawing class at home named Nhi Nho. Having been operating for more than 7 years now, Vy's drawing class has attracted more parents sending their children here to develop their abilities.

According to her, learning to draw helps children to observe well, think creatively, and maybe it will be a place to incubate future talents of painting. Therefore, she often teaches them in a way that encourages creativity and keeps them excited when learning to draw. Vy wants to open a drawing class to contribute to satisfying children's passion as well as sparking creativity and imagination in painting.

Every week, Vy's drawing class teaches continuously from Tuesday to Sunday with more than 100 children aged 4 and over attending when having no pandemic.

All in all, for Mai, Tung, Vy or anyone who are pursuing their dream, it seems that success, happiness for them is simply doing what they want, what makes them comfortable to grasp energy and joy from that choice.

Reporting by ĐAN TAM- Translating by T.VY