Graduating Late — On My Own Terms
From the very first days of my journey at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), I was obsessed with the idea of “graduating on time.” I worked tirelessly to complete the entire curriculum within four years. And... I did it. After successfully defending my graduation thesis in June 2022, I officially completed the 143rd and final credit of my undergraduate program.
At my university, there are usually two graduation ceremonies each year, in April and November. If I had followed the usual path, I would have attended the ceremony in November and graduated “on time.” But then, I suddenly stopped and thought, Wait a minute... is there something I’ve overlooked? That question eventually led me to make the decision to graduate late, simply because I felt I wasn't ready yet.
HCMUT campus — credit: HumansOfFilm
What Does It Mean to Graduate “On Time”?
According to the curriculum, students who complete their studies and receive their degrees within four years are considered to have graduated on time. Most students strive toward this goal, and the reality is that only around 65% or slightly more manage to achieve it each year. In my department, Computer Science, the figure might be even lower. Regardless, this has become the common benchmark by which most people measure themselves.
After struggling through four years at HCMUT, following twelve years of school before that, I realized that I had spent almost my entire life running and running, chasing a standard that everyone else had set.
I started asking myself, “Why do I have to graduate on time?” Eventually, I came up with my own definition: the right time to graduate is when I genuinely feel ready to do so.
“Everyone has their own clock.”
How I Managed to Graduate Late
At HCMUT, after completing the curriculum, I was allowed to register for additional courses to maintain my student status. So I registered for a course and deliberately chose not to attend, earning myself another zero on my transcript—even though it wouldn't affect my overall GPA.
The university has since introduced new regulations, so it seems people can no longer stubbornly refuse to graduate the way I did.
Still, this was simply a personal choice based on my own way of thinking. I wouldn't encourage anyone to follow in my footsteps without first understanding their own reasons for postponing graduation. After all, graduating early is still the better option for most people.
Why Did I Choose to Graduate Late?
As I mentioned earlier, after so many years of constantly running and chasing deadlines, I was exhausted. I needed a break to rediscover myself and become more prepared before letting go of the “student” label and stepping into the world of adulthood.
Here are some of the things I did during that period.
Investing in My Health
The first thing I did was have all four of my wisdom teeth removed. They had been tormenting me for years, and getting rid of them felt like lifting a huge weight off my shoulders. My body suddenly felt so much lighter. Honestly, it was such a relief! :)))
After a general health checkup classified my health status as Grade III, I also started paying more attention to my diet and exercise. I tried to make time for swimming every week. As for going jogging every morning, though, I still haven't managed to stick with that habit to this day. =))
Anyone who jogs at Phu Tho Stadium, hit me up! :))) — credit: HumansOfFilm
Making Time for Family and Relationships
Back then, both my parents' physical health and emotional well-being weren't in the best shape. On top of that, after years of juggling work and study, I could count the number of times I'd visited home each year on one hand.
So I decided to dedicate a considerable amount of time to being closer to my family.
As for friendships, I started trying to reconnect with people I had neglected over the years. I'd let those relationships fade simply because I hadn't made an effort to stay in touch.
But apparently, I'm not particularly good at maintaining relationships. These days, there aren't many people left around me... pretty terrible, huh? :)
Finding My Market Value
I started working relatively early. By my second year of university, I had already entered the world of software development. After working for nearly two years, I wanted to discover my market value.
Part of me also wanted to prove something to myself: Could I land a good position without a university degree?
After going through several experiences and challenges, I was fortunate enough to receive a few promising opportunities for positions requiring three years of experience.
And... I turned them down.
I had my own reasons for doing so, although some people might say I was foolish. Or perhaps I simply wasn't ready to take on a new challenge at that point. =)))
Exploring and Experiencing Life
Looking back, I spent five years in elementary school, four years in middle school, and three years in high school doing little more than studying.
My four years at university were even more demanding. I had to work while studying, constantly pushing myself to keep up with deadlines, sometimes staying awake until four or five in the morning.
So... where had my youth gone all this time? Hmm.
Eventually, I began a journey to explore my inner world while experiencing more of the world outside.
Beyond technology, I started learning about psychology and finance. I wanted to dive deeper into my inner world to understand who I was, what I wanted, and how the world around me worked. Through blogging, I hoped to keep improving myself along this journey of personal growth.
I started going on trips to explore mountains and beaches, meeting new people and discovering their interesting stories. I wanted to experience the colorful world I seemed to have neglected over the years—and reclaim what I had come to call my “youth.”
Photo taken at Kong, Da Lat — credit: @anhkolamgidauanhthe
I really don't want to look back someday and find myself regretting anything I could have done differently...
If only I never had to utter those two words: “if only.”
Making the Most of Student Benefits
This was another reason I decided to postpone graduation. For developers like me, a university email address ending in
@edu is practically a powerful voucher for all kinds of services, whether for work or entertainment.With my student account, I could keep enjoying unlimited Google Drive storage, Spotify Premium, GitHub Pro, and a whole range of other free perks, including AWS certification exam benefits, $200 in DigitalOcean server credits, $100 in Microsoft Azure credits, free domain registration, and countless other services and tools I hadn't even had time to explore fully.
If you know of any other student perks worth checking out, feel free to share them in the comments below! ^^
HCMUT Is Always Here for You
Eventually, I found the right time to officially graduate: the end of April 2023.
Just one more week, and I would leave the “student” label behind and begin a new chapter of my life. I had no idea where this journey would take me, but I figured I'd just keep moving forward. Somewhere along the way, there would surely be another path or a new door waiting for me to discover.
Finally, I'd like to send a message to my fellow HCMUT students who haven't managed to graduate on time, as well as to all university students who are working hard on their academic journeys.
As long as you keep striving and moving forward, I believe the world around you will eventually create opportunities for you to achieve your goals. HCMUT will always be ready to let us graduate in our fifth year, sixth year, or even later.
Just move at your own pace. Take your time. Good things lie ahead.
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Saigon, April 13, 2023