Some decisions that seem like a step backward can actually pave the way for a major step forward.

Some decisions that seem like a step backward actually open up a great opportunity for progress, not only because young people dare to change, but also because they are fortunate enough to find an environment that listens, offers opportunities, and patiently supports each individual in developing their own unique qualities. Perhaps that is also what Dai Nam University always aims to provide for each student: not just a degree, but also the chance to grow and confidently enter life with their true abilities.

Young man Nguyen Dai Duong (on the left) chose to start over and pursue a field of study that aligns with his passion and career aspirations at Dai Nam University.

Dare to start over to find your right path.

Every time he walks into the classroom and looks down at the rows of desks where students are attentively listening, lecturer Nguyen Dai Duong is reminded of himself a few years ago - a freshman who was still bewildered and had many doubts about the future.

Few people know that, before becoming a lecturer in the Department of Korean Language and Culture at Dai Nam University, Dai Duong studied a completely different field. After only a year, he realized that it wasn't the path he truly wanted to pursue.

Stopping meant accepting the need to start over, his family worried, his friends were surprised, and he himself spent many sleepless nights agonizing over a decision that seemed like a step backward.

Lecturer Nguyen Dai Duong from the Department of Korean Language and Culture, Dai Nam University, shared: "Giving up something you've worked so hard to achieve is never easy. But if you continue only because you regret the effort you've put in, you'll probably regret it even more later. I want to study what I truly love and see my future in it."

That decision led Dai Duong to the Korean Language and Culture department at Dai Nam University, where he began a new journey.

The learning and training experiences at Dai Nam University have helped Nguyen Dai Duong mature, become confident, and be ready to enter the working environment.

The most valuable thing a university provides is not just knowledge.

Looking back on his four years of university, Dai Duong believes that what changed him the most wasn't his grades or diploma, but his personal growth. From academic experiences and extracurricular activities to self-improvement, he gradually found the confidence to step out of his comfort zone.

According to Nguyen Dai Duong, "from a bewildered freshman, I was trained to become a more confident version of myself, daring to step out of my comfort zone and seize opportunities. The school not only gave me knowledge but also helped me develop discipline, skills, and self-confidence."

The open and experiential learning environment at Dai Nam University helps students develop their individuality and gradually build their professional skills.

One of the memories he cherishes most is the art competition at the 2023 Hangeul Festival. Being quite reserved, Dai Duong was initially very shy about performing in front of crowds, but the encouragement from his teachers and friends helped him gain the confidence to step onto the stage.

"What I remember most isn't the award, but the feeling of daring to overcome my own limitations for the first time. The teachers were always there to encourage us and give us the confidence to boldly try new things," Nguyen Dai Duong recalled.

It was these experiences that helped Dai Duong realize that what matters is not being like others, but learning in an environment that recognizes and encourages each person to develop their strengths.

Returning to the place that changed my life.

Graduating with honors, Dai Duong worked at HCL Tech Vietnam. The corporate environment provided him with many valuable experiences, but the desire to return to the classroom always remained.

When the Department of Korean Language and Culture recruited practice lecturers, he boldly applied and became a colleague of the very teachers who had taught him.

A young lecturer from the Department of Korean Language and Culture confided, " Yesterday I was sitting in a classroom, today I'm standing on the podium. What worries me most is how to live up to the trust of the Department, the professors, and the students themselves."

The open and experiential learning environment at Dai Nam University helps students develop their individuality and gradually build their professional skills.

Perhaps it's because he's experienced the anxieties of youth himself that Dai Duong always chooses to accompany students rather than create distance between them.

"I don't want students to see a perfect teacher. I want them to know that I've also failed, been confused, and had to start over. If they see that, they will believe that they too can overcome challenges," Nguyen Dai Duong shared.

An environment that provides opportunities will help young people go further.

According to Dr. Tran Hai Duong, Head of the Department of Korean Language and Culture at Dai Nam University, lecturer Nguyen Dai Duong is a prime example of a former student who dared to change and continuously improve himself.

Dr. Tran Hai Duong commented: "What we appreciate about Dai Duong is not only his professional competence, but also his proactive attitude and perseverance. His experiences in the business world combined with his artistic background have created a teaching style that is approachable, creative, and inspiring."

Even today, the young lecturer still carries the Korean proverb "수적천석" (water wears away stone) as a reminder to himself.

Dr. Tran Hai Duong, Head of the Department of Korean Language and Culture, praised lecturer Nguyen Dai Duong as an exemplary former student who embodies the spirit of daring to change, constantly learning and improving himself, helping to strengthen the young workforce contributing to the building and development of the department.

Nguyen Dai Duong shared: "I always tell my students that success doesn't come in a day. The important thing isn't to run faster than others, but to make a little progress each day."

Perhaps the most valuable aspect of Nguyen Dai Duong's story is not just his courage to start over, but also the fact that he found an environment that listens, gives opportunities, and supports each individual to develop their own unique identity.

That is also what Dai Nam University persistently pursues: not only to train students in a profession, but also to help them build real skills, true character, and confidence to enter life with their own value.