Female students from a district school share skills to make studying easy and effective.

Golden tips

Ho Thi Hong Anh's family home is isolated, located at the end of Hamlet 5, Hung My Commune, Hung Nguyen District. The road leading to Anh's house is only a little over 2 meters wide, a bumpy dirt path with grass and gravel, running along a vast field.

As the eldest sister in the family, Hong Anh became independent early on and took on household chores to help her parents. Photo: Diep Thanh

Ánh is the eldest of two siblings. Perhaps that's why her independence was honed from a very young age. Since the third grade, Ánh has been completely self-reliant in her studies, managing her time and books independently. Outside of school hours, Ánh is aware of her role as an older sister, so she proactively does housework and looks after her younger siblings to help her parents.

12 years of winning the titleexcellent studentsConsistently ranking among the top students in her class is a compelling testament to Ánh's independence and self-learning abilities. During the preparation for the high school graduation exam, Ánh once again demonstrated her self-reliance skills to the fullest, from choosing her major and school to selecting her teachers and managing her study time.

“From grades 1 to 11, I didn't take any extra classes beyond the school curriculum, but in 12th grade, because I wanted to improve my knowledge in the subjects I was taking, I enrolled in extra classes in Math and Literature. I hope to find teachers who have an engaging and guiding teaching method, rather than passively cramming knowledge,” Anh said.

Right after the high school graduation exam, Hong Anh began to conquer a new foreign language. Photo: Diep Thanh

Commenting on Anh's study methods, Ms. Pham Thi Tra My - homeroom teacher of class 12A7 - said: "With her high level of concentration, Hong Anh doesn't need too much time to study but still has a very solid and consistent foundation of knowledge in all subjects. For subjects that require memorization, Anh focuses to memorize the lesson in class. In addition, Anh always proactively connects with teachers and friends to discuss difficult exercises and actively seeks out different types of practice questions."

Learning from senior students, consulting friends, and browsing forums, Ánh chose to study Literature with a teacher in Hưng Châu commune (Hưng Nguyên district), 10 km from her home, while also enrolling in an online Math course. While studying Math online at home saved Ánh a lot of time and effort, studying Literature required great determination. The 10 km journey, with its many complex intersections, long stretches of dike roads full of potholes, and many unlit fields, was a major obstacle for many, especially on rainy, windy, and cold nights. But this petite student persevered, never missing a single class.

"During this period, while waiting for the results of my university application, I'm studying Chinese because I believe that in the future, I will need more than one foreign language, and early preparation will help me feel more confident when I enter university," Anh confided.

Thanks to her preparation habits, Anh almost never felt stuck, discouraged, or stressed before exams and difficult subjects. She shared: “From my preparation, I know how to use my time effectively, stay calmer in difficult situations, and easily find solutions to problems. Thanks to good preparation, even with subjects that aren't my strengths like Math or subjects that require a lot of memorization, I'm still able to do well.”History"Geography, I didn't have much difficulty passing either. Studying and preparing for the exams went smoothly, without stress."

A joyful learning journey

Hong Anh's study corner is surprisingly compact and simple, and has remained almost unchanged for the past 12 years. Her current desk and chair were bought for her by her parents when she started first grade; the lamp and clock are also old-fashioned and were manufactured a long time ago. On the wall next to it are scribbled drawings from kindergarten, and above them are certificates from her elementary school days… With these details, without prior introduction, many would believe this is the study corner of an elementary school student. Since the high school graduation exam, this study corner has been tidied up, and the old textbooks were donated to a student in a later year.

Hong Anh believes that studying is important, but along the learning journey, it's necessary to balance time for personal hobbies, maintaining good health, and building relationships. Photo: Diep Thanh

Ánh smiled brightly when asked about her intention to change her study desk: “This study corner may be old and cramped, but to me, it’s lovely and familiar, helping me accumulate knowledge every day, and I still cherish it very much.” On a desk and chair about 60 cm wide, tucked into the space between the wardrobe and the wall, Ánh carefully practiced her first Chinese characters.

"Excellent academic achievements"Although she excels in all subjects, Hong Anh is very humble and doesn't like to show off in front of others. This female student is also loved and trusted by all her classmates because she is always ready to help and tutor her friends enthusiastically throughout the learning and exam preparation process. Furthermore, in extracurricular activities at school and in class, Anh is always the most enthusiastic participant, fulfilling her responsibilities no matter what role she plays," Ms. Pham Thi Tra My further shared about her young student.

Hong Anh with her homeroom teacher and friends before graduation day. Photo: Provided by the subject.

By using her time effectively, even in the final months leading up to exams, Anh still maintained a scientific schedule, avoiding late nights and still having time for sports, recreation, and household chores every day. “During my high school years, what I regret most is that the Covid-19 pandemic reduced the time I spent with friends at school. For us students, connecting and interacting with friends and teachers to create memories is just as important as studying,” Hong Anh confided.

When asked about her desired career in the future, Anh shared:"I haven't yet envisioned the specifics of my job, but I always hope it will be one that gives me the opportunity to travel to many places around the world, experience diverse cultures, and accumulate a wealth of valuable knowledge."