A group of people posing outside in front of a building. Some are in costumes, including a person in a straw hat and robe. Another person is dressed in a red outfit holding a large red heart. They're all smiling and surrounded by autumn leaves.

The Journey to My First Achievement

From childhood to now, deciding to study abroad has been the most important decision of my life. I was just a little girl stumbling from Hanoi to Saigon, struggling to make friends, and not knowing a word of English. Now, I’ve achieved my dream of studying abroad and have been in Finland for 5 months.

With Tet (Lunar New Year) approaching in Vietnam, and the new year almost here, I can’t help but reflect on the past year’s journey. It was tough and challenging, but it was also filled with many “firsts.”

To study abroad, I cried my eyes out five times, begging my dad to let me go. I think any loving parent would hesitate to send their child to a foreign country at such a young age, especially during high school. My dad was the same, especially since I’m his “precious daughter.” At first, he was very worried about my plans. But for me, studying abroad in high school was a chance to learn more, experience the world, and access top-tier education in Finland, preparing me for university. My burning desire paid off, and after a month of convincing, I got my dad’s approval with a promise not to fail any exams.

The first thing I did after getting his approval was to quit 10th grade and focus entirely on preparing to study abroad. I joined a one-year Finnish language course organized by Finest Future. With relentless effort, I received a B1 Finnish certificate after just six months. During those six months, I studied online with native Finnish teachers who were incredibly supportive and understanding of the difficulties we faced learning Finnish. This motivated me even more. Studying with international students also improved my English significantly. Self-studying at home taught me discipline, which I still use every day now. Looking back, I’ll never forget that time because it taught me so much and gave me precious time with my family.

A group of six people smiling outdoors in front of a café. There are three adults and three children. Motorbikes are parked nearby, and the café has outdoor seating with umbrellas. Trees line the street.

Next, I chose my school through Zoom sessions where principals introduced their schools, and we had virtual school tours. The school wasn’t big, but it was very modern with beautiful facilities, quite different from schools in Vietnam. Learning about the school’s strengths and focus areas helped me choose the right one. After selecting my school, I quickly prepared my application, made a motivation video, wrote letters, and gathered other documents for the visa process. I prepared everything in 2-3 months. Despite some visa issues, I started studying in August 2022 and by August 2023, I was in Finland.

A man in a blue polo shirt and a woman in a green hoodie posing together indoors with luggage and shops in the background. The woman is smiling and making a peace sign.

Picked-up by my Principal – Simo

This journey was full of luck and help from many people, but it wasn’t easy. I wish I had more information about the school and the Finnish language course back then, so I wouldn’t have spent a month convincing my dad, “saving my tears,” and not missed a year of 10th grade, even though I knew about this program since mid-9th grade.

Fortunately, Finest Future is now organizing a very large Virtual Education Summit 2024, bringing together all high schools and students who have studied or are studying in Finland. It offers the chance to experience a Finnish class, see school tours, and many other experiences. If you’re interested in studying abroad for free from high school, don’t miss the VES24 program this time. If I were you, I’d regret not joining it.

A collage of photos from 2007 and 2023. Images include children smiling, groups posing, awards being held, and casual selfies. Decorative elements like flowers and text reading "2007" and "2023" are featured.