My daughter has just graduated from high school in Vietnam and is preparing to study in the Netherlands this month. She has been accepted into the Psychology programs at Maastricht University and Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands, and a university in Italy.
I had an educational discussion with her from a young age. When she entered first grade, I analyzed her academic performance and the potential higher education paths she could take. I've always supported her ambition to explore far-reaching opportunities but emphasized the need for thorough preparation.
I advised her to focus on learning English to pass university entrance exams abroad. I ensured she was well-prepared for an independent life away from home, capable of handling the pressures and hardships, and able to work part-time to ease some of the financial burdens on her parents. I made it clear that if she was not prepared and only depended on us, I would not send her abroad.
For children who are unable to be independent, cannot withstand pressure and hardship, and only know how to spend their parents' money, studying abroad will only waste money and yield no positive outcomes.
Thanks to this guidance, my daughter has worked tirelessly from elementary school until now.
Having accompanied her for the past 18 years and seeing that she meets all the conditions to study abroad, I agreed to let her go.
Parents' biggest wish is that their children have the opportunity to study in a good educational environment, live in a healthy environment, and have the best opportunities to develop themselves.
Parents should understand from the beginning that sending their children to study abroad is an investment, and all investments carry risks. No investment guarantees absolute safety and profitability. Therefore, parents should not expect that no matter how much they invest in their children's education, their children must excel. Once you decide to invest, you must accept the possibility of loss or even no return at all.
Should my child study abroad? My answer is yes. However, each person should consider many aspects, develop strategies and methods to educate their children early and work together with their children to build a thoughtful study abroad plan. This approach will create opportunities to help children learn and establish a solid foundation for quickly integrating into the international environment. Parents, remember not to overprotect your children, don't do everything for them; let them walk on their own feet so they can grow and progress. Be smart parents, not babysitters.