My cousin wants his son to skip university to help with family's durian farm

Last month, I returned to my hometown for a wedding, and my cousin asked me whether he should let his youngest son go to college or not.

My cousin has now become a wealthy individual after several successful durian harvests. Ten years ago, he was growing oranges and grapefruits, earning just enough to support his family. Back then, he was adamant about borrowing money and cutting costs to support his child's education.

At that time, he firmly believed that education was the way to rise up and escape poverty. Yet he now seems hesitant about sending his child to university, preferring instead to keep him home to help care for the durian orchard.

When I asked about my nephew's academic performance, I learned he was doing quite well. Although he may not get into a top university, he has the potential to attend a decent one.

But my cousin said: "Why waste money on education when they might not find a job after graduation? There are hardly any jobs for them in this village." I find it amusing that people can change their views so quickly.

He then said Bill Gates did not go to college and still became a billionaire. "It all depends on how hard you work," he added.

For years I have heard many people mention how tech billionaires Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg dropped out or never attended college and still became rich.

But most of them fail to notice that Gates was born to relatively prominent parents: his mother, Mary Gates, was a respected businesswoman and his father, William H. Gates, was a successful lawyer.

And most notably, Gates dropped out of Harvard University, one of the top universities in the U.S.

Returning to the discussion with my cousin, I told him that he only found some success after spending half his life farming and asked whether he wanted his son to take just as long.

I told him that since his finances are now stable, it would be better to let his child attend university to experience the world and meet new friends. At least if his durian orchard suffers a bad harvest, his son will have a degree and the experience needed to find a job. My cousin was somewhat convinced by my reasoning.

In my opinion, higher education offers a fantastic experience that not everyone has the opportunity to pursue. It only becomes useless if students skip classes and neglect their studies. The most valuable aspect is forming connections with friends who can help you in the future.

What is your viewpoint on this matter?

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