Have you ever asked yourself, “Why am I sitting here, in this lecture hall, pursuing this major?” Amidst the overwhelming assignments, deadlines, and exam pressures, do you ever feel lost, studying simply because you “have to,” without really knowing what you want? If the answer is yes, you are not alone. This is a common struggle for many Vietnamese students, especially in engineering fields – where we have incredibly bright minds technically, yet often lack confidence when stepping onto the global stage.
The core issue, as profoundly shared by Mr. Anthony Nguyen, CEO & Founder of AXA Engineers, during a workshop on the 2025 training program at HUTECH University, lies in the fact that many students cannot answer the fundamental question: “Why did you choose this major?”
The Missing “Big Why” – When Motivation Comes from Outside
The unfortunate reality is that many young people choose their field of study not out of genuine passion or interest. Their decision is often influenced by external factors: family concerns about a stable job, pressure about the “future,” or simply choosing a “hot” major without truly understanding it.
When lacking a “Big Why” – a sufficiently large reason, a powerful driving force originating from within – learning easily becomes a race for grades. Students focus on how to pass exams and achieve high scores, rather than truly digging deep, connecting theory with practice, and seeing the practical value of their knowledge. The inevitable consequences are a deficiency in linking theory and practice, a lack of self-confidence in their abilities, and struggling to demonstrate their worth to potential employers or in international work environments.
Current training programs, while providing necessary specialized knowledge and skills, sometimes overlook the most crucial element: igniting the flame of passion and helping students answer the “Why?”. We are training skilled technicians, but are we nurturing truly passionate, creative, and proactive engineers?
The Power of Intrinsic Motivation: Not Just Good Grades, But Sustainable Success
Intrinsic motivation is not a vague concept. It is the most powerful source of energy that pushes us to overcome difficulties, persevere towards goals, and continuously learn. A notable study from MIT revealed that students with clear intrinsic motivation are up to 60% more likely to complete their academic programs and are three times more successful in their careers compared to those lacking this element.
When you learn because you want to learn, because you are curious, because you see the meaning in what you are doing, you cease to be a passive learner waiting for knowledge to be “poured” into you. You will proactively explore, ask questions, experiment, and not fear failure. This is the foundation for becoming someone who is not only technically proficient but also confident, creative, and ready to compete in the challenging global job market.
How can you find and nurture your own “Big Why”?
Mr. Anthony Nguyen proposed two crucial pillars, focusing on developing students’ mindset and intrinsic motivation before delving deep into specialized knowledge. These are valuable insights that not only universities like HUTECH can consider, but that each student can also apply themselves.
Discovering and Defining Your Personal “Big Why”
This is the foundational step to transition from passive to active learning. One effective approach is to actively seek role models and inspiration. Universities can play a positive role by organizing more sharing sessions and workshops featuring successful individuals in the field and alumni with inspiring stories.
Listening to their journeys, understanding the challenges they overcame, and discovering what kept their passion alive helps students visualize the path ahead and their own potential more clearly. Concurrently, students themselves should proactively read books and articles, and follow experts and positive influencers in their field of interest to broaden their horizons and find resonance. Alongside this, the process of self-reflection and asking questions is indispensable. Take serious time to ponder: What aspects of this major genuinely excite you, even if it’s just a small detail? What value do you aspire to create for society through the knowledge and skills you will acquire? Try to envision yourself in 5-10 years – what kind of person do you want to be, what kind of work will you be doing? And are there specific problems in life that you hope to contribute to solving using your specialized knowledge?
Finally, connect your current studies with larger goals, which could be long-term personal objectives or core values you hold dear. When you see this clear link, learning automatically becomes more meaningful and motivating.
At AXA Engineers, this method is also effectively applied to their team members. Encouraging everyone to define clear goals has helped them become more proactive in continuous learning, enhancing their expertise, and boldly seeking creative solutions. Clearly, when you know your destination, you will naturally find the path to get there.
The “Learn – Practice – Share” Model
Knowledge truly becomes yours when you can apply it proficiently and convey it to others in an understandable way. Instead of passively absorbing theoretical knowledge, this model promotes a dynamic and in-depth learning cycle. The process begins with:
- Learn: Actively acquire foundational knowledge from lectures, books, and study materials.
- Practice: Apply what you’ve learned through exercises, real-world projects, experiments, or simulated scenarios. This step is crucial in transforming theory into practical skills.
- Share: Students are encouraged to share what they have learned and practiced through presentations, group discussions, writing articles, participating in talk shows, or even teaching their peers.
So, why is “Sharing” so important? Firstly, it helps deepen understanding. To explain a complex issue clearly to someone else, you must master that knowledge deeply and systematically. This process pushes you to proactively research more thoroughly, filling in your own knowledge gaps.
Secondly, sharing is a golden opportunity to enhance essential soft skills. Preparing content, structuring the presentation, and delivering it directly significantly hones communication abilities, develops coherent logical thinking, perfects engaging presentation skills, and crucially, builds confidence when speaking in public – extremely important traits in a professional work environment.
Lastly, the sharing process helps you better prepare for real-world application. It compels you to systematize the knowledge you’ve acquired and think thoroughly about how to apply it effectively and creatively to solve practical problems. This “Learn – Practice – Share” model truly breaks the mold of traditional passive learning, transforming each student into a proactive, confident individual who takes ownership of their journey in acquiring knowledge and achieving holistic self-development.
The Journey to Finding Your Motivation is Yours to Take
Learning environments may vary, and educational programs may evolve, but the key factor that determines your success and holistic growth is your intrinsic motivation. Discovering your “Big Why” is not always easy, it is a journey of self-exploration that requires patience and honesty with yourself.
Start by asking yourself “Why?” Seek inspiration from those who have gone before you. Be bold in applying the “Learn – Practice – Share” model to transform knowledge into skills and confidence. When you find a reason strong enough to fuel your passion, you won’t just be a great student, you will be someone who creates value, walks confidently in your career, and is ready to take on global challenges.
Once again, we sincerely appreciate the faculty members of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HUTECH) for providing AXA Engineers, through the insights shared by CEO Anthony Nguyen, the opportunity to contribute our perspectives and passionate input to the development of the 2025 academic program. We firmly believe that strong collaboration between academia and industry, along with a focus on fostering intrinsic motivation in students, will be the key to cultivating exceptional Vietnamese engineers—ready to meet the demands of both the domestic and international job markets.
