Rushing a bachelor’s degree in 3 years, I struggle to find work

By Nam Ha   February 10, 2026 | 12:44 am PT Google Get VnExpress first in Google Search info See more of the news you trust. Make VnExpress a preferred source to prioritise our updates in your Google search results
Rushing a bachelor’s degree in 3 years, I struggle to find work
Some people struggle to find a job after graduating early. Illustration photo by Pexels
I regret spending all my time studying to graduate in three years instead of four, rather than going out to experience the world, work part-time or learn practical skills.

Back when I was a student, my family had high expectations of me and forced me to pursue a career that my father could not achieve. I ended up failing, then switched to a major that my father promised would set me up for a comfortable government job.

During my years in university, I was also not allowed to work part-time and told to only focus on graduating as fast as possible.

In the summer, instead of resting or working, I went to class to earn credits. Most weeks, I only had one or two evenings off. As a result, I finished the program in just three years and jumped into the job market.

The shock came when I realized I lacked soft skills. On top of that, the job I was aiming for required a license to practice law. So I could only take odd jobs to earn money, but I often lasted just a month or two because I lacked the skills and the right expertise.

I regret not using my free time during university to experience the world, work part-time to save money or learn skills like content writing, video editing, sales or marketing. Instead, I spent all my time outside of school playing games through the night.

Since graduating in 2024, my life has changed a lot. I tried learning graphic design and spirituality to build an online channel offering fortune-telling services. That brought me a stable income until early 2025, and I also gained a broader view of the world.

In 2025, I threw myself into psychology and built another channel focused on self-development. Spending a long time alone helped me reflect and realize many things. Through books, newspapers and experiences, I found my own drive and came to understand myself better than ever.

I feel like I have been dwelling on the past and drowning in peer and family pressure for so long that I forgot to spend time understanding myself and moving forward.

I have just started new plans, which I am determined to see through even if my family might disapprove or make things difficult for me.

*This opinion was submitted by a reader. Readers’ views are personal and do not necessarily match VnExpress’ viewpoints.

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