Physics Olympiad medals and the 'golden season' of Phan School

(Baonghean.vn) - These days, good news has continuously come to Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted when all students participating in the International Physics, Mathematics and Chemistry Olympiads have achieved high prizes. This is also a record that the school has never had before.

» Nguyen Canh Hoang: Mom! I have gold...

» Nghe An won 1 gold medal, 1 silver medal at the International Physics Olympiad

Many people did not sleep all night, anxiously updating information from Indonesia because, as expected, on Saturday evening (July 22), the results of the International Physics Olympiad will be announced.

Although we were so excited, it was not until nearly 2am that the official news about the award was sent by Mr. Tran Van Nga - Vice Principal of Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted and also a teacher with many years of experience in teaching Physics. And then, the joy exploded when both students of Phan School participating in this exam won the award, in which Tran Huu Binh Minh won the Gold Medal and Phan Tuan Linh won the Silver Medal. The success of the two students of Phan School also contributed significantly to the overall success of the Vietnamese delegation at this year's exam.

Teacher Tran Van Nga and two students of Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted in Indonesia. Photo: NVCC

The happiest to receive the news was probably Tran Huu Binh Minh's family because within just 2 months, Minh had brought home medals twice. However, if the previous time, the Silver Medal of the Asian Physics Olympiad left many regrets, now he has had a perfect exam.

Sharing her feelings, Ms. Vu Thi Hoa Ly - Binh Minh's mother said: "During the exam days, we were quite worried because the exam schedule had changed. After the exam, Minh called home but because he was quiet, he didn't tell us much about the exam, just said so-so. That's why, when we found out he had won the Gold Medal, we were so happy we couldn't speak, and were excited all night."

Tran Huu Binh Minh's success today, in addition to his personal efforts, is greatly contributed by his teacher Tran Van Nga. On his Facebook this morning, after knowing the results, he promptly updated the image of the teacher and student in Indonesia with a very sincere thank you: "Thank you very much, teacher!". Minh's mother also shared and sent her gratitude on her personal page: "Thank you, teacher, you are a virtuous and talented teacher!".

Portrait of Tran Huu Binh Minh - owner of the 2017 International Physics Gold Medal. Photo: NVCC

Witnessing her child's progress, Ms. Hoa Ly confided that Minh had studied with Mr. Nga since middle school and only wished to pass the exam for Phan School's Physics major to join the national team, like Mr. Nguyen Tat Nghia, Mr. Cao Ngoc Thai... Later, thanks to Mr. Nga's guidance and trust, he was able to achieve the success he has today.

As for the family of Phan Tuan Linh - the owner of the Silver Medal at this year's Physics Olympiad - their worries have been relieved for a long time because at the Asian Physics Olympiad in May, Linh "missed the appointment" with the prize.

Ms. Pham Thi Thuy Quynh - Linh's mother said that after Linh and the group of students went to Indonesia, the phone was confiscated by the Organizing Committee, so Linh's communication with her family was interrupted for many days. To find out information about her child, the family updated information daily on the exam website and on teacher Tran Van Nga's Facebook.

Interestingly, even though they were in Vietnam, Phan Tuan Linh's parents knew the good news before their son. Telling more about this, she said: "After midnight, we read the information about the exam results, we were so happy we couldn't sleep. At that time, I picked up the phone to call my son, asking if he knew the exam results yet, but he innocently said "I don't know yet". To surprise him, I didn't tell him about the award. A moment later, Linh called again and said: "Mom, I won the Silver Medal. I'm the only Silver Medalist in the whole team!". That said, Linh was very happy. The boy smiled brightly over the phone. As for her family, even though they didn't have the "gold" yet, this was a wonderful thing, a "miracle".

Phan Tuan Linh (right) - Silver Medalist of the International Physics Olympiad takes a photo with friends at Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted. Photo: NVCC

Phan Tuan Linh was born in Nghia Dan district, his father was a high school Physics teacher, his mother was a nurse at Nghia Hoi commune health station. Although he was intelligent since childhood, in middle school, Linh was not an outstanding boy and his greatest achievement was the Encouragement Prize in Math and Physics at the Provincial Excellent Student Competition. With such a modest "baggage", when they learned that their son's greatest wish was to go to Vinh city to study with Mr. Nga, to study at Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted, his parents were very worried.

However, the boy studying at a "village school" in Nghia Binh commune did not disappoint his parents when he achieved the title of "valedictorian" of Vinh University High School for the Gifted in the 10th grade entrance exam and ranked 3rd in the entrance exam to Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted.

Going to Vinh City to study, Linh rented a house with her uncle's son, who is also a student at Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted. Every day, the two of them cooked, took care of themselves, and studied by themselves. However, in the National Excellent Student Exam, both of them won second prize in Physics.

With this award, Linh continued to excel in the qualifying round and was named in the national team to participate in the Asian Physics Olympiad held in the Russian Federation. However, the exam results did not meet expectations when Linh only received a certificate from the Organizing Committee. Fortunately, thanks to her high score in the team selection exam, Linh continued to be selected to participate in the International Physics Olympiad.

Vietnam Physics Team at the International Physics Olympiad. Photo: NVCC

Failure in the previous exam also made Linh very determined in this exam and did not disappoint everyone's expectations when he brought home a precious silver medal for the country.

The victory of the two students in Physics also concluded a very successful school year of Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted when, for the first time in a school year, the school had 4 students participating in the International and Regional Olympic Competitions and all 4 students achieved high prizes in Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics. The victory also shows that the tradition of studiousness and good study of Nghe An is increasingly being affirmed and promoted by generations of students./.

My Ha