The boy is passionate about learning mathematics.

(Baonghean) - In Hoa Binh town, Tuong Duong district, if you ask about Nguyen Huu Thong, a 5th grade student at Hoa Binh Town Primary School, many people know him. His name is associated with numerous high academic awards and he is a role model for overcoming difficulties to excel in his studies. Last school year, Thong proudly won first prize in the district-level Children's Mathematics competition and third prize in the provincial-level Children's Mathematics competition.

Thông (second from the left) at the exchange and awards ceremony for the team participating in the 2014 Children's Mathematics Competition.

Arriving at his house one afternoon in early June, the sun of this land, often called the "furnace of Indochina," seemed to pierce through the cement roof above the two boys engrossed in a game of Chinese chess. Seeing strangers, the two boys looked up in surprise, greeting us awkwardly. Based on what their homeroom teacher had told me about him, I quickly guessed which of the two boys, Thong, was – a slender boy with slightly pale skin, who timidly poured us some water.

After chatting with Thong for a while, his grandmother returned from gardening. When I asked about Thong, her face suddenly froze, her eyes filled with deep sadness, and she said choked with emotion: "Thong has been unfortunate, lacking family affection since he was a child. When he was one year old, his mother died in an accident. His father, originally from Hue, came here alone to work and started a family. After his mother's death, his father returned to Hue to start his own family, so Thong has lived with me ever since." Thong and his grandmother live in a small, two-room house. It's bearable in winter, but in summer, the heat under the cement roof seems even more intense.

Facing difficult family circumstances, and to compensate for her grandson's loss, Mrs. Lien showered him with love and affection. Besides her meager salary, she diligently tended her vegetable garden daily to earn extra income so her grandson could buy books and pay for school fees. Despite the hardships of their lives, Mrs. Lien still managed to save up enough money to buy Thong a used computer, knowing that he loved learning computer skills and solving math problems online.

Her homeroom teacher said: "Thong is an introverted and emotional person, but she's a little more shy than her peers. Unlike other students who, in addition to school, also attend extra classes with teachers and receive tutoring from siblings and parents at home, Thong is different. After school, she studies on her own at home. Despite this, Thong learns very quickly, especially in science subjects. Throughout the past five years, she has consistently been an all-around excellent student in her class and school. Her friends and teachers all love her because she is not only well-behaved and academically gifted, but she also helps other students in her class and school to improve."

When asked about the secret to his self-study success, Thong shyly shared: "I really enjoy science subjects, especially math. Besides paying close attention in class and thoroughly understanding definitions and formulas, when I encounter a difficult problem at home, I usually look for multiple solutions and choose the quickest one. I also access the internet to solve math problems online and collect various types of problems." Listening to him enthusiastically describe his study methods, I realized that difficulties and lack of resources are nothing compared to the perseverance and passion he has for learning.

Leaving Thong's house as dusk was falling, my feet moved, but my mind was still haunted by Thong's words before we said goodbye to the two of them: "I want to become a math teacher someday, but I'm afraid that when my grandmother gets old and frail, who will be there to take care of me, and will I still be able to go to school like my friends?"

Nguyen Thanh

Tuong Duong District Party Committee