This post is based on the author's personal experience, having gone through a crisis due to academic failure, but subsequently changing their perspective on learning and ultimately achieving positive results.

You will also receive some suggestions for the question "how to study well".

This article was written by Hai Ho , CEO of Vogel German Vocational Training Center. You can follow Hai Ho on his personal Facebook page.

Catching fish climbing trees.

First, I must emphasize that for an average person, everyone's potential is the same, so it's difficult to say whether someone is smarter or less intelligent than you. So why is it that some people get a perfect 10 in math while others only get a 4?

The reason is that, although we generally have similar abilities, each person is blessed with different talents in specific areas. Some are good at memorization and logic, so they excel in science subjects like math and physics. Others are more inclined towards emotional thinking, sensitive to sound or images, and therefore better suited to arts-related subjects; these students are more likely to succeed in those fields. Still others are drawn to social issues, have a natural inclination towards management, and are therefore better suited to history, social sciences, and so on.

Therefore, you need to choose your strengths, develop yourself based on those strengths, and achieve good grades in relevant subjects. This will also help you avoid feeling inferior because you think you are less academically inclined than your classmates.

To be fair, our school system has a system for evaluating students' abilities; students are given too much to study in certain subjects (and are also tested too much), and those who can't keep up are labeled as "poor students." This label of "poor student" can be a straitjacket preventing you from succeeding in life later on.

Listening to biased comments from others about yourself or about a particular issue.

Those who constantly criticize you for being "incompetent" in certain areas are often your friends, teachers, neighbors, or even family members. Hearing these words can gradually lead you to believe you are truly incompetent, creating a label of "inadequate" within yourself. But the truth is, if you believe you're not incompetent at something, then you naturally won't be incompetent at it. Trust me.

Back in high school, I heard my friends saying that learning English was very difficult, and that created a negative feeling in my mind that I COULDN'T LEARN ENGLISH. As a result, I was practically clueless about English throughout my high school years. After going to university, I discovered that English, and languages in general, are among the easiest things for me to learn.

So, why shouldn't you listen to biased comments about yourself or about a particular issue from others?

- Because do they have the competence to give reliable feedback?

- Are their comments meant to help you, or to make you like them?

Have you ever heard the idiom "carving a plow in the middle of the road"? That's right, listening to others will lead you astray.

Listening to negative comments about yourself or a problem inadvertently attaches a bad label to that problem, preventing you from improving. The best approach is to stop listening until you experience it yourself.

How many bad labels do you currently have?

Now that you have some free time, try to list how many negative labels you've created for yourself, or how many others have given you.

I can give you a few suggestions in case you don't know where to start.

- Poor at math

- I always get a zero in English; it's as common as buying a loaf of bread or a carton of milk.

- I'm clumsy at everything.

- I always lose to that guy in this area...

....................

Okay, done. You've figured it out, remember to write it down on paper too.

Is it possible that you're bad at something (or more broadly, weak at something) because you keep thinking that way, even if you've tried to do it well but still failed? You'll never be good at it again simply because you give up too soon and think you're incompetent. What should you do?

- Reverse the labels you just wrote. For example, if you wrote "Poor at math," change it to "I am good at math."

Ignore gossip to avoid getting new negative labels on yourself.

- Spend time with people who are good at what you want to be good at.

Choose a method that suits you.

There are many methods available online, however, no one can tell you which one is best suited for you, so you need to choose for yourself.

For example, if I were to ask you now, "What are the directions of Laos, Cambodia, China, and Thailand relative to Vietnam?"

You could probably list them all: Laos is to the west, Thailand to the southwest, China to the north... right?

Do you know why you remember it so well? It's not because it's close to Vietnam, but because when you think about the answer, you already have a MAP in your head, so you rely on that map to recall it. Because our brains naturally absorb visual, auditory, and tactile information, you'll remember a picture better than a list like the one below.

You see, without images, and just a table like that, it's very difficult to remember. Even if you're lucky enough to have a good memory and learn incredibly quickly, knowledge in the form of a list like that won't stick in your head for long.

The example above is just an illustration of the idea that you should find the right method that best suits you. If you don't have any ideas, search online and try different methods until you find the one that works best for you.

Here's a little tip for you: transform the dry knowledge in books into sources of information that your brain enjoys, such as sound, images, sensations, taste, emotions, and smells (corresponding to your five senses).

If possible, choose a good teacher.

Sadly, many people today only deserve the title of "teacher" or "instructor," rather than truly deserving the title of "Teacher." This is because their responsibility is only to impart knowledge to you according to their contract with the school; they are not responsible for shaping you into a good person while you are still in school. Therefore, if possible, find a teacher you respect, someone with the qualities from whom you can learn valuable lessons.

Finally, try to think positively about every problem.

The world changes the way you think it does. Think positively about every problem, and find solutions when you encounter difficulties, not excuses. For example, if you break your leg, don't think of it as bad luck. Think of the time you spend in a cast as an ideal time to reflect on future tasks, review past actions, or simply enjoy a wonderful rest.

Life always gives you warning signs before something bad happens. For example, if you don't study hard and get poor grades, that's a sign that you're going to fail your university entrance exam. So you need to be alert and recognize these warning signs so you can change yourself before it happens.

I wish you all the best in your studies.

Hai Ho - Vocational training in Germany (Vogel)