The male student who won the Bronze Medal at the International Biology Olympiad was once threatened with being kicked out of the team.

Threatened to be kicked out of the team.

Duong Tung Lam is different from many students who have won international awards because he is quite open, active and very playful. This male student was also very confident in speaking at the welcoming ceremony for students who won Bronze Medals at the International Biology Olympiad held at Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted, although he honestly shared that "the speech was only prepared more than 30 minutes in advance".

Bạn bè gặp Lâm, người ôm vai bá cổ, người đùa nghịch tấm Huy chương Đồng mà Lâm vừa đạt được. Dễ nhận ra, ở Lâm, em nhận được sự yêu quý và tình cảm chân thành từ bạn bè.

Trong mắt bạn bè, Tùng Lâm là một học sinh tinh nghịch, cá tính nhưng rất tình cảm. Ảnh: NVCC

Dương Tùng Lâm có mẹ làm giáo viên tiểu học và được “rèn” từ nhỏ. Thế nhưng, cậu bé trưởng thành một cách hồn nhiên.

Mẹ của Lâm, cô giáo Nguyễn Thị Hiền kể rằng: Từ năm tiểu học, Lâm đã nghịch và thường làm trò trong lớp. Nhiều lần Lâm được chọn đi thi học sinh giỏi nhưng các thầy, cô ít khi tin tưởng vào kết quả, bởi chọn Lâm như “đánh xổ số”.

Mặc dù học Sinh học nhưng Lâm khá đa tài, thích thơ, văn học và nhiếp ảnh. Ảnh: NVCC.

Hoàn cảnh Lâm cũng khá đặc biệt bởi bố Lâm mất sớm khi em mới vào lớp 1. Hai mẹ con sống với nhau nên chị Hiền phải vừa là bố, vừa là mẹ. Trước cậu con ngỗ nghịch, Lâm bị mẹ cho ăn đòn thường xuyên, kể cả khi “hàng xóm thì run mà ông bà thì can”. 15 tuổi, dịp lễ 30/4, 1/5 các bạn bè thường đi chơi, Lâm lại bị mẹ bắt ở nhà, luyện chữ để thi học kỳ cho tốt.

Đặc biệt, tuy chưa bao giờ nhận mình là chăm chỉ nhưng Lâm đi thi đạt kết quả khá cao. Những năm còn học tiểu học, Lâm vừa có giải Tiếng Anh, vừa có giải Toán và cả giải Tin học trẻ.

Tùng Lâm cùng cô giáo chủ nhiệm tại Kỳ thi Olympic Sinh học Quốc tế. Ảnh: NVCC

Lên THCS, Lâm được chọn vào lớp chuyên Nga, nhưng Lâm thú nhận, 4 năm THCS, em chỉ thuộc một câu xin chào bằng Tiếng Nga. Thay vào đó, Lâm rất thích học Vật lý và Sinh học. Ngoài giải Nhì, giải Ba thành phố ở hai môn thi này, Lâm cũng đã đạt giải Ba học sinh giỏi tỉnh môn Sinh học.

Vào THPT, Lâm trúng tuyển vào lớp chuyên Sinh học ở Trường THPT chuyên Phan Bội Châu với vị trí thứ 6. Dù ở một môi trường chuyên nhưng Lâm học rất tài tử. Lớp 11, khi được chọn vào đội tuyển thi học sinh giỏi quốc gia, cô giáo chủ nhiệm và các thầy cô trong đội tuyển không ít lần đau đầu vì Lâm rất cá tính.

Lam also said: Each team has its own exam review room, but I rarely study with my friends. Once, the teacher even threatened to kick me out of the team if I didn't study seriously...

"Passing the exam" from a promise

Lam’s mother added that in first grade, when many of his classmates were still unable to read fluently, Lam had already read the entire Encyclopedia of Knowledge for Children. Moreover, Lam read it so carefully that the book was “torn” and his mother had to buy another copy to keep.

Lam is a student who is inclined towards natural sciences but likes to read poetry and knows many poems by heart. As for Biology, Lam has a special passion and can read and re-read a book on Biology and anatomy until one or two in the morning.

"Passing the exam" is the dream that Duong Tung Lam always tries to achieve. Photo - MH.

Lam was good at Biology thanks to reading books. Like the book Cambell-Reece Biology - a book considered a handbook for students specializing in Biology, nearly 1,300 pages thick, by the end of grade 11, Lam had grasped the basics.

By grade 12, Lam had almost memorized every chapter and every section. Duong Tung Lam also said: Other students often have to write a lot and calculate a lot, but I usually read by heart and memorize it in my head. Then, I will draw the information in pictures according to the diagram...

Duong Tung Lam loves reading books and has a very special memory. Photo: MH.

Friends and teachers are well aware of Lam’s “talent”. Therefore, of course, this male student is not always successful. The first “shock” was when Lam failed the second round of selection for the national team in grade 11 and Lam considered that a lesson for himself.

After this event, because of a promise to a schoolmate, Lam began to study hard and seriously. By grade 12, Lam had made a miracle when he brought the first prize in Biology for Phan Boi Chau High School for the first time in the National Excellent Student Competition and was selected for the national team to participate in the International Biology Olympiad.

This is also the first time Nghe An has had a student take part in this exam. But with his carefree nature, Lam came to this exam quite innocently and gently. Many times, Lam's mother and teacher were very worried because for more than 2 months of focusing on studying for the exam in Hanoi, if there was an event in class or at school, the boy would rush home as if he wanted to "grab" all the memories.

In Hungary, Lam's biggest pressure was on his health because the exam intensity was very intense, with two consecutive days of exams from 8am to 10pm. Meanwhile, because of his taste, during the exam days, Lam only had one menu: chocolate and water. At the end of the exam, Lam felt quite regretful because his score was quite high, almost a Silver Medal. And, if he had been luckier, Lam could have changed the color of the medal if he hadn't made some unfortunate mistakes.

The joy of Tung Lam and his friends at the welcoming and congratulatory ceremony. Photo: DA

With this big playground, Lam also got to look back at himself. And the thing that Lam is happiest about is that even though he studies like a "talented" person, even though he "learns and plays", Lam knows that if "I promise, I will do it" and if "I like it, I will try my best".

In our story, Lam also shared some very interesting things such as the time he made a “promise” with his classmate. Therefore, besides thanking the school, family, and homeroom teacher, Lam also wanted to thank his “special” friend who encouraged, believed in Lam, and supported Lam, even in the most difficult times.

Lam is currently enrolled in medical school, which is also the dream that Lam has been striving for for many years to become a good doctor, a useful person for society.