Bad habits need giving up before working full-time

 Graduating college means saying goodbye to terrible exams, crazy dreams, and precious moments. It also means that you are old enough to become a full-time worker. Entering the workforce means that you will have to prepare yourself mentally, emotionally, and physically. One of the things you ought to do is giving up unhealthy habits listed below: 

1. 1.     Drinking alcohol in any weekdays. Drinking wine and beer could lead to unwanted headaches, bad concentration, and reduced productivity. You don’t want that; your customers would not satisfied with that; your boss would definitely doesn’t demand that neither. But, of course, you can have a little fun on Saturday evening.
2. 2.     Getting up late. When you are in college, waking up at 9 am or 11 am is ok. Nobody blames you for not showing up at classes. However, when you are a full-time employee, the only morning you can wake up late is the Saturday/ Sunday morning. And don’t try to be absent from work.
3. 3.     Skipping meal. Instant noodles and junk foods cannot continue being your best friends. Instead, try to replace them with healthy meals. Leave your working table for 45 minutes, if you can, to eat outside. But don’t try going shopping during lunch time!
4. 4.     Skipping exercise. Your body needs stretch to cope with stress. Even when you are really busy, try to exercise 3 times a week. Running could be one of the best choices. It’s cheap, convenient, and undemanding.
5. 5.     Complaining. “My boss is mean,” “Life is not fair, at all,” “That woman is totally a bitch” are some thoughts you would be familiar with. Yes, it would be fine saying those. Nevertheless, complaining about your job and colleagues could not make the works done. Instead, trying to use your energy in developing skills and fulfilling the job could be a better choice.

So far, I have only come up with the list of 5 things you need to give up before entering the workforce. In the future, I will probably come back and update the post.

Taking the first full-time job worries me a lot. There are so many things I need to learn, so many problems to think, so many quarrels to calm down. It feels like I haven’t prepared well enough for the job.

However, when the opportunity comes, it would be stupid if I let it go, wouldn’t it?

Hello May 2013. May the Force be with you and me <3.

Don’t live for anybody else

“I will live for myself, not for anybody else.” That’s what my mother said to me on the telephone this morning. It costs her more than 20 years to realize that simple principle.

Since the day my mother got married, she had been trying her best to become a supporting wife, a loving mother, and a caring daughter-in-law. Bitterly, life never went smooth for her.

• Her only son died of cancer. Her only daughter leaves home for college.
• Her married life is cold and lonely. She never gets along with her in-laws.
• Her biological father died unexpectedly, without giving her a chance to say goodbye.

She cared a little about her career. She never built good habits for her own. For more than 20 years, she lived for people around her. I don’t know whether it is a huge sacrifice or a pure foolishness.

Now when her marriage is on the verge of break-up, I hope that she will get herself a little time to figure out what she truly wants to do.

From my mother's life story, I distill a simple lesson: Don't live for other people. Just don't. Your time is too short. In the blink of an eye, you are on the downside of your life. You don’t want to waste your precious time living the life you’ll regret, do you? 

Women don't know what they want. Men never know what they have. - Ronald Oliver.

(PS: I'm freaking out! I haven't received my Mr.thay's email reply for a couple of days. Oh God, please let him be healthy and well.)

My future plan

I am studying GMAT and learning how to write letters of recommendation (LoRs), admission essays, personal statements, letters of purpose, and so on.

Why?

Because I want to earn a 2-year Master degree in Finance aboard. I am thinking about the United States, Canada, and Europe. I want to leave my country in August 2014.

I used to dream about getting an MBA degree. Dream changed. If I keep staying in Vietnam for 3 or more years, hoping to gain experience for MBA, I will not be able to leave. Other responsibilities and expectations need to be handled. 

Now I want to be trained and taught in a specific area. I choose Finance since I want to work for investment banks or become a reliable financial analyst after graduation.

My GPA is low, my TOEFL score is not too high, my estimated GMAT score will not belong to the top 10%, my working experience is unimpressive. Under those conditions, I am not expecting any merit-based scholarship.

I only pray to find a suitable school that is willing to accept me. US, Canada, Europe (except for England, since they can only provide 1-year Master programs) 

Yet, it is still so hard.  

"Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it's always your choice. " - Wayne Dyer