lifelong learning - a journey called Happiness

I.

Among the authors who won the prize of the "Literary Composition on Workers and Trade Unions" Contest for the period 2021 - 2023 launched by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, Lao Dong Newspaper is the implementing unit with a special author. That is writer Dang Huynh Thai. When participating in the contest, the author was 85 years old. Holding the novel Northeast Coal Basin in hand, all members of the jury were surprised by the broken literature (the way of speaking of writer Duong Huong - a member of the Final Round Council) as well as the modern, machant way of writing of a writer at the age of a week.

I have met and interviewed him how he still has enough writing power to continuously produce such massive works? Writer Dang Huynh Thai said: Writing in a week brings me great joy. I have written short stories for a number of characters and have found this to be a very rich genre. The more I write, the younger I get and more excited. That is the reason why I always love life and actively participate in literary and artistic events when possible.

There is one reason he emphasized, which is: I constantly study, access knowledge, and equip myself with more knowledge. I always think that studying is a lifelong journey - the journey of happiness".

Also in this contest, there is another special author. That is young writer Nguyen Phuong Thuy, author of the short story "Sold in the Land". Nguyen Phuong Thuy has been a person with a particularly severe disability for 26 years. At the age of 12, she suffered from a serious illness and has been bedridden and unable to walk. During 2 years of running for treatment, she received great support and encouragement from her family. The 6th grade student started writing again in a lying on her back position, with poor health.

Overcoming adversity, Nguyen Phuong Thuy read books and newspapers, started writing poetry and participated in many literary competitions. She took the pen name Vien Nguyet Ai, currently a member of the Phu Tho Provincial Literature and Arts Association. At the "Literary Composition Contest on the theme of workers and trade unions", the work "S half-faces in the earth" by Nguyen Phuong Thuy entered the Final round, causing emotion to the judges.

Two stories about an older writer and a disabled author who is no longer able to walk in a writing contest about workers and trade unions are great sources of inspiration for reading, learning or more broadly, the fire of inspiration for everyone to overcome adversity, cultivate and update knowledge.

II.

Right in the opening of the article Lifetime Studying, General Secretary To Lam commented: Studying for life to dare to think, dare to speak, dare to do, dare to take responsibility, dare to sacrifice for the common good, to become a useful person for society. This is a truth.

A society with people who stop studying will quickly fall behind, especially in the digital age. Changes in technology and methods of information transmission have changed very quickly. The development of human knowledge is like a high-speed train that learning for life is the ticket for each person to step onto that train, so that no one gets stuck behind.

It can be said that studying is the foundation of personal and social development. If in the past, studying was often only associated with time in school, today, knowledge is constantly changing, forcing people to constantly improve and renew themselves. Lifelong learning not only helps people improve themselves but is also the key to helping them adapt to changes in the labor market, technology and globalization trends.

According to a report by the World Economic Forum (WEF), it is estimated that within the next 10 years, 50% of the current workforce will need to be retrained to keep up with technological changes. Many traditional professions are at risk of disappearing, while new fields that require higher skills will appear. This poses an urgent need to constantly study and update knowledge to avoid falling behind.

lifelong learning has values for self-development. Continuous learning helps people practice critical thinking, flexibility and creativity. In an era where knowledge changes day by day, an open mindset and the ability to absorb new things are the keys to helping each individual develop sustainably.

Lifelong learning not only helps expand knowledge but also helps improve professional skills, thereby improving competitiveness in the labor market. A person with a spirit of continuous learning will always have the opportunity to promote, expand the network of relationships and create greater value for his organization.

Society is increasingly complex and volatile, learners can continuously adapt to changes and challenges. Accumulating new knowledge and skills helps individuals increase confidence, reducing pressure when facing changes in life.

Not only that, lifelong learning, when becoming a trend, a learning society will create momentum for social development. A country with a workforce eager to learn and continuously improve knowledge will be highly competitive in the international market. In addition, popularizing the spirit of lifelong learning also contributes to building a society of progress, civilization and sustainable development.

In the knowledge, knowledge and skills economy, knowledge and skills are core factors that determine labor productivity and national competitiveness. Countries with policies to encourage lifelong learning often have a strong developed economy, high innovation capacity and are able to adapt easily to changes in the world.

Education and learning are important tools to help narrow the gap between rich and poor, reduce social inequality. When each individual has the opportunity to access knowledge and improve their skills, they will have better conditions to find a suitable job, improve their income and improve their quality of life.

III.

In recent years, the Trade Union organization has had many solutions to promote learning, motivate workers and laborers to constantly explore and create. From learning, they contribute new ideas, create improved products and services, thereby promoting economic and cultural development.

Among the 95 outstanding workers who are Party members who have just been honored by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, most of them are examples of exploration, discovery and creating initiatives that benefit businesses and the country.

We can mention the worker Nguyen Viet Thai (born in 1983). Originally from a soldier with a strong will, ready to accept all tasks assigned by superiors, after completing his military service, Mr. Thai overcame all difficulties to study the Electricity Intermediate classes and returned to work as a worker at Tam Duong Tea Development Investment Joint Stock Company, Lai Chau.

As a direct production worker at a tea factory, applying the knowledge he has learned, Mr. Thai has researched, upgraded and improved equipment, machinery and electrical systems. In particular, he can proficiently carry out the winding of the engine when the production process has an incident. When a sudden power outage caused a power outage, causing the engine to burn and not be able to operate, he wrapped the engine back at the factory to help the production line quickly return to operation.

From the ability to handle this incident, each year the company has reduced costs by 20 - 30 million VND. From practical production labor, with passion and enthusiasm, Mr. Nguyen Viet Thai has had 2 initiatives that meet OCOP standards, including: "Solution to improve the technology of conveyor belt transferring to tea processing system shaping" and "Solution for product development model of Tam Duong Tea Development Investment Joint Stock Company". In particular, the "Solution to improve the technology of conveyor belt transfer to tea with a shaping machine system" has created a replacement device with 2 production workers, reducing costs for the company by 120 million VND/year.

Or the story of Mr. Trinh Xuan Hao, Head of the Electricity Department - FPU Dai Hung 01 is operated by the Domestic Petroleum Management Branch (PVEP-POC). Mr. Hao has been working at PVEP-POC since 2007 as an electrician. With a spirit of learning, after 5 years, he was appointed Head of the Electricity Department. From the position and responsibility of a Party member and Party Cell member, in addition to encouraging employees to promote innovative initiatives, Mr. Trinh Xuan Hao also constantly researches and actively improves at work.

Actively respond to and participate in the movement to practice thrift and fight waste; participate in professional courses, self-study to improve knowledge to serve practical work. In addition, Mr. Hao is always conscious of summarizing and drawing experience from his work process to further improve his expertise.

One of Mr. Hao's initiatives is "Converting the 6.6KV power cable from the RGT-B gas turbine generator to the RGT-A" to solve the cost-saving problem. The result is about 453,600 USD... Every time I complete a safe shift, every time an initiative is successfully applied, I feel more in love with my job. Not only because of income, but also because I feel like I am contributing something meaningful to the Oil and Gas industry, to the Fatherland, Mr. Hao confided.

Lifelong learning is not only a trend but also an important factor in helping people develop themselves and contribute to society. In the context of a constantly changing world, maintaining a continuous learning spirit will help each person expand opportunities, improve capacity and have a more meaningful life. A society that values lifelong learning will also be a society with sustainable development, progress and rich in knowledge. Therefore, each of us should consider studying not as a task, but as a lifelong journey to discover, mature and contribute.

As writer Dang Huynh Thai said, lifelong learning is a journey called: Happiness.