The story of the 12-year-old boy – Ta Jai Cheng, who dropped out of school to pursue a career as a gamer, once caused quite a stir in the media.
In 2015, Ta Jai Cheng, at the age of 12, earned 500,000 RMB (about 1.8 billion VND) from gaming competitions. So passionate about this field, he boldly expressed to his parents that he no longer wanted to go to school and wanted to make money by playing games.
“Look, Mom and Dad, now I’m doing livestreams, and I can earn 30,000 RMB (over 100 million VND) a month.”
His parents saw their son so engrossed in gaming and thought that education was just a means to earn money later on. Their son, who was only in fifth grade, was already making a significant amount of money, so they figured it was fine for him to drop out. Seeing the immediate benefits, the parents supported their son’s decision to pursue a gaming career full-time.
Thus, at just 12 years old, Ta Jai Cheng signed a contract with a livestreaming platform and started streaming games. His gaming skills were truly exceptional. Thanks to his gaming talent and being just 12, many veteran gamers sought to collaborate with him. His livestreaming room was always crowded, which made this prodigy feel even more convinced that dropping out was the right choice.
It should be noted that prior to this, Ta Jai Cheng’s academic performance was quite good. Although he was not the top student in class, he was among the better students. However, after he started playing video games in fifth grade, he focused solely on gaming and neglected his studies. His parents had previously advised him that education is essential for the future, and that playing games all day was pointless. However, when he told them he could earn over a hundred million VND a month, and even earn additional commissions from livestreaming games, they no longer insisted that he continue his studies.
Now, ten years have passed, and the boy from back then is now a 22-year-old man. What is his life like now? Many are curious.
Thus, the boy livestreamed games for 12 hours a day. His not-yet-fully-developed body could not withstand such an intense workload. More importantly, since he did not complete elementary school, he not only lacked knowledge but also communication skills. Whenever he lost a game, he would curse and complain, spreading negative energy to his viewers. This made viewers feel uncomfortable and gradually leave his livestream.
A few years later, as livestreaming platforms developed, the platform where Jai Cheng operated gradually lost its viewer base. He switched to several other platforms but was no longer welcomed as before. His popularity slowly faded. The constant switching of platforms meant he had to start over, rebuilding his fanbase and finding ways to increase viewership. His monthly income gradually decreased. After numerous attempts to improve his situation without success, he announced he would stop livestreaming.
After a long period of being a streamer, Ta Jai Cheng had completely neglected his education. He became someone without any academic qualifications. His parents, blinded by the money he earned over the years, failed to notice their son’s issues and did not guide him properly. In the neglect of both himself and his parents, he gradually fell into decline. Moreover, having not received good character education from a young age, he developed an arrogant and rebellious personality. All of this made him feel lost in society.
The story of this male gamer has sparked much debate online, with some asserting that one must study properly to have a future, while others argue that education is not the only path.
Those who support the view that studying properly leads to a better future argue that only through structured and continuous learning, mastering fundamental knowledge, and accumulating knowledge can one develop a core competitive ability. The lack of knowledge is secondary, while deficiencies in communication and social skills are truly harmful. No one wants to befriend an uneducated person who speaks vulgarly. Conversely, everyone wishes to communicate with cultured and educated individuals. Their politeness and demeanor make others feel at ease.
On the other hand, some believe that one can also have a future without formal education. Some estimate that at his peak, combining his basic salary and donations from fans, Jai Cheng could earn hundreds of thousands of RMB each month. Nowadays, many freshly graduated university students earn salaries of 5,000-6,000 RMB a month, which is quite common.
Additionally, others argue that education may not be the only path, but it is certainly the fairest one. Therefore, one should strive to learn, accumulate knowledge, and learn how to behave. Only after finishing school and entering society can one find a solid footing for better development.
According to 163.com