The roundabout path to the podium for a valedictorian.
Some people travel very far to find where they belong. For Phan Quoc Hung, from earning a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree with honors to graduating as valedictorian from Vinh University with a perfect GPA of 4.00/4.00, it was a courageous journey of starting over to pursue a career in teaching – where he found happiness in inspiring and instilling a love of Chemistry in his students.
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Thanh Phuc - Khanh Ly /Present:Hong Toai• 4/7/2026
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Some people travel very far to find where they belong. For Phan Quoc Hung, from earning a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree with honors to graduating as valedictorian from Vinh University with a perfect GPA of 4.00/4.00, it was a courageous journey of starting over to pursue a career in teaching – where he found happiness in inspiring and instilling a love of Chemistry in his students.
After five years of studying at Hanoi University of Pharmacy, Phan Quoc Hung (born in 1999) graduated with honors, received scholarships for many consecutive years, and had the opportunity to work in a well-paying field, even continuing his research and teaching career at the university level. But instead of continuing on the path already laid out for him, Hung returned to Nghe An and applied to the Chemistry Education program at Vinh University to start over from the first year.
In the eyes of many, Phan Quoc Hung's decision was an inexplicable, even "foolish," choice. But for Hung, it wasn't an impulsive decision made after months of deliberation, but the result of years of struggling between what he could do and what he truly wanted to do.
Born into a family with a teaching tradition—his father a former lecturer at Vinh University and his mother a former lecturer at Nghe An College of Education—Hung grew up in an environment familiar with lectures, lesson plans, and stories about the teaching profession. However, his father did not want his son to continue following the family's "beaten path."
Mr. Phan Quoc Huy recounted that, with ten members of his family working as teachers, he always hoped his son would step out of his "comfort zone" and try his hand at a new field. Therefore, after winning second prize in the National Chemistry Olympiad and graduating from Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted, Hung was guided towards Hanoi University of Pharmacy – one of the most prestigious universities at the time. With his outstanding academic abilities, he quickly adapted, consistently achieved high grades, and completed his university program with honors.
However, it was during his time at university that a chance opportunity helped Hung see more clearly the path he wanted to take. While still a freshman at the University of Pharmacy, Hung was invited by the Board of Directors of Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted to assist in training the national team of outstanding students in Chemistry. Initially, Hung simply thought that as a former student with some experience, he could share it with younger students and earn some extra income to cover his student living expenses.
Without formal teaching training and never having imagined becoming a teacher, this pharmacy student supports and mentors gifted students with the mindset of an older brother. But what remains with him is the feeling of happiness seeing his students understand the lessons, enthusiastically discuss them, and improve day by day. "I only thought of myself as an older brother sharing knowledge with them. But the more I teach, the more I feel confident, able to be myself, to contribute, and to spread my love for chemistry," Hung shared. It was these sessions of mentoring gifted students that planted another dream in him, quietly but persistently.
In his second year of university, Hung first expressed to his father that he wasn't really suited to a career in pharmacy. His father was visibly surprised. "I just encouraged him to finish university and retake the entrance exam later. Honestly, I thought it was just encouragement to give him more motivation to complete his studies," Mr. Phan Quoc Huy recalled.
However, those words from years ago became a promise to himself. After receiving his Bachelor of Pharmacy degree with honors, instead of applying for jobs like many of his classmates, he quietly prepared for another university entrance exam. This time, his goal was the Chemistry Education program at Vinh University - the cradle of teacher training in Nghe An province.
"Initially, I objected because I thought my son already had a good degree and shouldn't waste a few more years starting over. But he told me that if he studied education, he would do well and become a good teacher. Seeing his determination, the family had no choice but to support him," Hung's father recalled.
Some people believe that Hung has taken too long a detour only to return to the profession his family has always been involved in. But for this young man born in 1999, it wasn't a meaningless cycle. His five years studying pharmacy were not wasted; that time gave him a solid scientific foundation, systematic research methods, and above all, the certainty to affirm that he is making this choice again out of passion, not emotion.
Sometimes, you have to travel the entire road to discover your true destination. For Phan Quoc Hung, that destination is the classroom – where he believes he can contribute the most and where he can live each day with the passion that was kindled from his first experiences supporting and mentoring gifted students.
While retaking the university entrance exam was a decision that surprised many, the way Phan Quoc Hung chose to walk this new path surprised his friends and teachers even more.
Hung didn't view his time at Vinh University as simply a period to earn another teaching degree. From the moment he enrolled, he put himself through a rigorous study schedule: completing his undergraduate program in a shortened timeframe while simultaneously pursuing a master's degree in Organic Chemistry.
Alongside that, there were regular days spent returning to Phan Boi Chau Specialized High School to work as a teaching assistant, supporting and training the national team of outstanding students. For many, that workload would likely be overwhelming.
But Hung never considered it a burden. Besides his studies, Hung actively participated in scientific research and served as the class's Youth Union Secretary. "I don't set too many goals for myself. I just think that whatever I do, I have to do it seriously and try my best," Hung shared.
Hung's classmates still remember him as an older student, six years his senior, who never distanced himself from them. Benefiting from his five years at Hanoi University of Pharmacy, Hung quickly adapted to the new environment. Even more valuable was that he didn't keep his experience to himself. From helping his classmates develop study outlines and explaining difficult concepts to tutoring them before exams, Hung was always there when the class needed him.
Associate Professor Dr. Le Duc Giang - Head of the Chemistry Department, School of Education - Vinh University, said that what impressed him most about Hung was not his already outstanding academic record before entering the university, but rather his intense passion for the teaching profession, his focus, and his determination to achieve his goals.
The greatest pressure came in the summer of 2024, when Hung entered weeks with almost no days off. In a short period of time, he had to complete nine modules of his undergraduate program and four modules of his master's program in organic chemistry at Vinh University.
During the day, he attended classes; in the evenings, he studied and researched; and on weekends, he returned to Phan Boi Chau Specialized High School to support the team. His schedule was so packed that many around him worried he wouldn't be able to keep up. But looking back on that time, he just smiled lightly: "I never thought of it as pressure. Since I chose this path, I have to find a way to balance it and keep going."
Three years passed faster than expected. Hung completed his undergraduate program a year early with a perfect GPA of 4.00/4.00, becoming the valedictorian of Vinh University in 2026. Prior to that, in April 2026, he also successfully defended his master's thesis in Organic Chemistry with a GPA of 3.83/4.00.
For many, these are milestones to be very proud of. But for Hung, what makes him feel most secure is that the promise he made to his father years ago is gradually becoming a reality.
He's not just retaking the course to earn another teaching degree; he's gradually preparing himself to be a true teacher – someone with strong expertise, who understands his students, and who has the confidence to stand on the podium and teach based on his own abilities.
In Phan Quoc Hung's memory, the 2025 National Student Chemistry Olympiad in Ho Chi Minh City, where Hung represented Vinh University students, was the most memorable not because of his first-place win, but because of the moment he entered the exam room and realized that among the contestants there were six very familiar faces. These were all his "students," younger generations whom Hung had directly mentored as an assistant teacher for the Chemistry team at Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted.
After a few years, those former students had become students at many of the country's top universities. They met their mentor again in a very special circumstance: rivals entering an academic competition. Before this unexpected and exciting "clash," Hung told his "juniors": "In any competition, there are winners and losers. It's a blessing if I lose to you, because only when the students surpass the teacher can the teacher truly be proud."
However, in the end, Hung surpassed many excellent contestants to win first prize in the National Student Chemistry Olympiad. This victory not only affirmed the professional competence of the young man who had studied Pharmacy before switching to Education, but also boosted his confidence, making him believe that his decision to start over was the right one. When talking about the competition, Hung hardly mentions the prize. What he talks about more is the joy of seeing his former students, whom he had diligently mentored years ago, grow up and confidently stand alongside students from major universities across the country. Perhaps that is the kind of happiness that only those who truly love teaching can feel.
Throughout his 8 years as a teaching assistant, Hung, along with the teachers at Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted, has mentored approximately 50 students who have won national awards, many of whom have gone on to achieve success in international competitions. The chemistry teachers at Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted acknowledge Hung's quiet contributions to the team's training.
According to the teachers, the most valuable qualities of a young teaching assistant are not only a solid professional foundation but also dedication, a sense of responsibility, and the ability to inspire students.
Today, Phan Quoc Hung has achieved what many young people dream of: a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree with honors, a Master's degree, the title of valedictorian of Vinh University with a perfect GPA, and numerous prestigious academic awards. But if asked what he looks forward to most, the answer remains unchanged: To stand on the podium, to be called "teacher" in the truest sense of the word.
That journey was quite a long one, but perhaps that's why every step back was worthwhile. Because after all the degrees, awards, and academic milestones, what Phan Quoc Hung chose was not a profession to make a living, but a teaching career to dedicate himself to and inspire future generations of students.
