From working evenings to pay his way through college to securing his first full-time job, M is already planning his next chapter.
For M, college meant more than attending classes. It also meant working evenings to cover his daily expenses and school supplies. Despite juggling work and studies, he consistently maintained excellent grades. This year, he graduated and secured a full-time job at a mattress manufacturing company, earning around $310 a month. Now, he has his sights set on a university degree.
M grew up in Bình Dương, the youngest of three brothers in a family where money was tight. Both his parents are over sixty. His mother is unable to work, while his father works on a rubber plantation, which only employs him eight months of the year. Knowing the financial burden that a college education would place on his family, M was determined to earn his own way through college.
Alongside his classes, he worked at Vạn Xuân Mattress Company. The income helped cover fuel, meals, and school supplies, while giving him practical experience for his future career. Even with evenings spent working, he never let his grades slip. But the constant pressure to perform in school and at work took a toll.
In his final year, M was approved for a scholarship from the Getting Ready for Work program from our partner, Saigon Children’s Charity in Vietnam. It covered his tuition for the last two semesters and the fees for his English graduation exam. The support eased some of the financial pressure, but it also gave him something equally important: encouragement to keep going.
“The scholarship gave students like me a valuable opportunity to grow and continue our education. Knowing that someone believed in me gave me the motivation to push through difficult times and feel more confident about my future,” he says.
M has now graduated with strong academic results and joined Asia Mattress Manufacturing Joint Stock Company in Hoc Mon. His job allows him to build on his experience while developing his communication skills, sense of responsibility, and professional confidence.
Balancing work and study was not always easy, but M feels he has grown through the experience. His next goal is to pursue a university degree.
“Sometimes, juggling school and work can be challenging, but I feel myself growing and improving every day. I’ll keep doing my best to live up to the trust the scholarship program has placed in me,” he says.
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