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 ceremony to welcome 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".

Friends met Lam, some hugged his shoulder, some played with the Bronze Medal that Lam had just won. It was easy to see that Lam received love and sincere affection from his friends.

In the eyes of his friends, Tung Lam is a mischievous, individualistic but very emotional student. Photo: NVCC

Duong Tung Lam's mother was an elementary school teacher and he was "trained" from a young age. However, the boy grew up innocently.

Lam’s mother, teacher Nguyen Thi Hien, said: Since primary school, Lam has been naughty and often makes jokes in class. Many times Lam was chosen to compete in competitions for excellent students, but teachers rarely believed in the results, because choosing Lam was like “playing the lottery”.

Although studying Biology, Lam is quite talented, loves poetry, literature and photography. Photo: NVCC.

Lam's situation is also quite special because his father passed away early when he was in first grade. The mother and son lived together, so Hien had to be both father and mother. In front of her disobedient son, Lam was beaten by his mother regularly, even when "the neighbors were scared and the grandparents tried to stop him". At the age of 15, on the occasion of April 30 and May 1, his friends often went out to play, but Lam was forced by his mother to stay home and practice writing to do well in the semester exams.

In particular, although he never considered himself hard-working, Lam achieved quite high results in exams. During his primary school years, Lam won prizes in English, Math, and even in Young Informatics.

Tung Lam and his homeroom teacher at the International Biology Olympiad. Photo: NVCC

In junior high school, Lam was selected to be in the Russian specialized class, but Lam confessed that in 4 years of junior high school, he only knew one greeting in Russian. Instead, Lam really enjoyed studying Physics and Biology. In addition to the second and third prizes in the city in these two subjects, Lam also won the third prize in the provincial excellent student competition in Biology.

In high school, Lam was admitted to the Biology class at Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted with the 6th position. Although in a specialized environment, Lam was very talented in studying. In grade 11, when he was selected to be in the national excellent student competition team, the homeroom teacher and teachers in the team had many headaches because Lam had a very strong personality.

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 reread a book on Biology and anatomy until one or two in the morning.

"Passing the imperial examinations" 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 Campbell-Reece Biology - a book considered a handbook for students specializing in Biology with nearly 1,300 pages thick at the end of 11th grade, Lam had a basic grasp.

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 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 all 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 was also the first time Nghe An had a student participating 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 his health because the exam intensity was very intense, 2 consecutive days of taking the exam 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 was quite regretful because his exam score was quite high, almost a Silver Medal. And, if he had been luckier, Lam could have changed the color of the medal if it hadn't been for 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 Lam is happiest about is that even though he studies like a "talented" person, even though he "learns and plays", Lam knows that if "he promised, he can do it" and if "he likes it, he will try his best".

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

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