The story of 12-year-old Za Gai Thanh quitting school mid-way to chase a gaming career once stirred up public debate.
In 2015, 12-year-old Za Gai Thanh earned 500,000 yuan (around 1.8 billion VND) from gaming competitions. Loving the game so much, he boldly told his parents he didn’t want to go to school anymore and wanted to make money by playing games.
“Mom, Dad, look, now I do livestreams and can make 30,000 yuan a month (over 100 million VND).”
His parents saw their son so focused on gaming and figured that since school was just a way to make money later, and he was already earning a big amount in fifth grade, it was okay to stop schooling. Seeing the immediate benefits, they supported his decision to quit school and focus on gaming.
So, at just 12 years old, Za Gai Thanh signed a contract with a livestream platform and started streaming games. His gaming skills were truly impressive. Thanks to his talent and young age, many veteran gamers wanted to collaborate with him. His livestream room was always packed with viewers, making the prodigy gamer feel confident his choice to quit school was the right one.
It’s worth noting that before this, Za Gai Thanh’s academic performance was quite good. He wasn’t top of the class but was among the better students. However, after discovering video games in fifth grade, he focused solely on gaming and neglected his studies. His parents tried to advise him that education was the key to the future and that playing games all day wouldn’t help. But when he told them he could make over 100 million VND a month, plus commissions from livestreaming, they stopped insisting on school.
Now, ten years later, the boy is a 22-year-old man. Many wonder how his life is going today.
He kept livestreaming games for 12 hours a day. His still-developing body couldn’t handle such a workload. More importantly, not finishing elementary school left him lacking knowledge and social skills. Whenever he lost a game, he would curse and complain, spreading negative energy to viewers. This made audiences uncomfortable and they gradually stopped watching his streams.
A few years later, as livestream platforms evolved, the one Za Gai Thanh used lost viewers. He switched to other platforms but wasn’t welcomed as before. His fame faded. Constantly changing platforms meant starting over to rebuild fans and boost views. His monthly income dropped. After many attempts without improvement, he announced he would stop livestreaming.
After a long time as a streamer, Za Gai Thanh completely neglected his education. He became uneducated. His parents, blinded by the money he made over the years, failed to notice his problems or guide him properly. With both himself and his parents neglecting responsibilities, he gradually fell into a downward spiral. Also, lacking proper upbringing, he developed an arrogant and rebellious personality. All this made him feel isolated in society.
His story sparked much debate online. Some say proper education is essential for the future, while others argue school isn’t the only path.
Supporters of formal education believe that only through consistent, solid learning and mastering basic knowledge can one build the core competitive skills needed. Lack of knowledge is secondary, poor communication and social skills are the real problem. No one wants to be friends with someone uneducated who speaks rudely. On the other hand, everyone prefers to interact with cultured, educated people. Their politeness and demeanor make others feel comfortable.
The opposing view says you can succeed without school. Some estimate that at his peak, combining base salary and fan donations, Za Gai Thanh earned hundreds of thousands of yuan monthly. Today, many fresh university grads earn just 5,000 to 6,000 yuan a month.
Others add that while school may not be the only path, it’s definitely the fairest one. So it’s best to study hard, gain knowledge, and learn social skills. After finishing school, entering society with a solid foundation helps you develop better.
From 163.com
