I feel ashamed of the university degree my family celebrates

I just watched a foreign video where various people, both working-age adults and the elderly, were asked: "Does having a university degree change one's fate?" Almost all of those interviewed believed that it does not.

While watching the video, I saw myself reflected in it and felt an urge to share my story. My family is poor, unlike some of our wealthier relatives, and I have been aware of this since I was young. Adults always told us kids that education was the only way out of poverty, so I studied diligently.

For over a decade in schools, I have always excelled academically and attended advanced classes. I then passed the entrance exam to a university in a big city. For my family, this was a spark of hope that felt like winning the lottery. At that time, I was overjoyed, thinking I had finally made my parents proud.

But while I was crammed into a small, uncomfortable rental room costing VND3.5 million (US$140) per month, striving to make a name for myself in the big city, the children of our wealthier relatives back home had already acquired cars and homes. Did they even attend university?

Moreover, during the pandemic, many companies reduced their workforce, and I found myself unemployed. I did not dare stay in my hometown for too long, fearing harsh criticism from my family despite it not being my fault.

Being poor despite having a university degree makes me ashamed of that diploma.

Am I wrong to feel this way?

*This opinion was translated into English with the assistance of AI. Readers’ views are personal and do not necessarily match VnExpress’ viewpoints.