Behind the achievements of 2 Physics valedictorians

Persistent in the love of Physics

The love for Physics came to Hoang Thi Hang (class 12A1, Yen Thanh 2 High School, Yen Thanh district) in a very special way, because she loved this subject since... before she had a chance to learn it.

“When I was young, I admired my brother and cousins ​​so much when I saw them achieve high results in Physics competitions. From that admiration, I became curious about this subject and interested in all the phenomena related to Physics around me. Later, when this subject was included in the curriculum, I found it even more interesting.” - Hang confided.

In grades 8 and 9, because she was in the English Team, Hang could not join the Physics Team at the same time. In high school, she studied block A, giving Hang the opportunity to show her passion for this subject. From her achievements in the school's excellent student competition in grade 11, Hang was selected to join the provincial team.

Compared to candidates from specialized schools and selective classes, students from district schools like Hang clearly suffer more disadvantages. Mr. Ngo Dai Hong - the homeroom teacher and also the person who directly trained Hang shared: "Hang has a lower starting point than her friends because she did not have much investment in time and learning conditions. As the eldest sister in a family with a father who is a worker working far away and a mother who is a farmer, during the whole time studying, she still had to help her parents teach and take care of her two younger siblings, and take care of the housework. Meanwhile, we only have 2 months to focus on studying and Physics is a difficult subject, requiring effort and passion."

Teacher Ngo Dai Hong guides Hang (sitting on the left of the teacher) and her friends in the Physics team of Yen Thanh 2 High School to solve the problem. Photo: NVCC

Ask Hang the secret to achieving the highest score in the examprovincial excellent student, she humbly said: “I think the most important key to learning Physics is still to master the knowledge in textbooks and be interested in learning related practical knowledge. I don’t have much time to review, I feel that I have studied both morning and afternoon at school well enough, so in the evening I often spend time on work outside the curriculum. I also feel lucky because my teachers and parents encourage me, never put pressure on me about my performance, so I review with a very comfortable mentality. Perhaps it is the comfort, not cramming that helps me be more creative in solving problems.”

Come back after failure

Having loved Physics since grade 7, Nguyen Minh Quan (class 12A1, Huynh Thuc Khang High School, Vinh City) was placed in the City-level Physics Team in grade 8. In that year's exam, Quan studied hard and was extremely determined. Everyone thought that Quan would achieve high results, and Quan himself was very confident that he would perform well. Therefore, when he learned that he had won the Encouragement Prize, Quan was extremely surprised and disappointed.

Nguyen Minh Quan is one of two candidates who won the top prize in the Provincial Excellent Student Competition for Grade 12 Physics. Photo: Diep Thanh

Quan recalls: “I was very sad, lost my confidence and spent a lot of time thinking about the reasons why my results were so low. I thought that I had not managed my time and emotions well, leading to studying a lot but not effectively and when under pressure, losing my composure and being confused.” The exam results that year made Quan hesitate about the following excellent student exams, but did not make Quan stop loving Physics. He was determined to overcome the limitations he had and participate in the Provincial Excellent Student Exam in grade 12 with a different mindset, a more reasonable study schedule and a more relaxed mentality.

“We started reviewing for the exam at the end of grade 11. In addition to the hours in class, I did my own tests and reviewed at home. Although I studied a lot, I never let myself get tired. When I felt stressed, I would take a break and relax with my friends. During the test, if I encountered a difficult question or lost my composure, I would stop and think for a few minutes to balance my emotions.”

The study schedule is stressful but the atmosphere of the review sessions of the Physics team of Huynh Thuc Khang High School is very comfortable. Photo: NVCC

Sharing about his student, teacher Nguyen Van Tho - the person who trained the team for the provincial level Physics competition for 12th grade students of Huynh Thuc Khang High School said: "Quan is an intelligent, emotional student, showing his talent for Physics since entering 10th grade, always meticulous and scientific in his presentation. Pursuing this exam, Quan and other students had to go through a very busy study schedule with many difficult exercises, but Quan never felt discouraged or negative."

Dedicated teachers

One of the important factors that make upproud achievementHoang Thi Hang and Nguyen Minh Quan are teachers who are dedicated to their work and devoted to their students.

Sharing about his comfortable mentality during the review and exam process, Nguyen Minh Quan confided: “We have never had to experience pressure during each review hour. Teacher Tho is extremely considerate, always humorously comparing difficult exercises to a problem, a necessary challenge in life, don't let it discourage you, let it make you stronger. He also knows how to connect team members so that everyone can support and motivate each other.”

Mr. Nguyen Van Tho (middle) and members of the Physics team of Huynh Thuc Khang High School. Photo: NVCC

Having worked at Huynh Thuc Khang High School for 7 years, having gone through 2 training courses for the team with 2 valedictorians, Mr. Nguyen Van Tho believes that psychology is one of the important factors for students. “The most important thing is to maintain students’ love and passion for the subject. To maintain this, I focus on students’ joy during the review process, not on achievements,” said Mr. Tho.

Sharing the same view, Mr. Ngo Dai Hong - Physics Team teacher of Yen Thanh 2 High School highly appreciates the importance of psychology when taking exams and always tries to create the most comfortable psychology for students throughout the review process. "The students are poor, their parents do not have many conditions to take care of and support them, so during review sessions, in addition to encouraging them with candy and fruit, I also often confide in them, talk closely to encourage them. On the days when the students take the exam in Vinh city, I also propose to the school leaders to go with the group, conveniently taking care of the students."

To the members of the Physics team of Yen Thanh 2 High School, Mr. Ngo Dai Hong is like a second father. Photo: NVCC

The last night beforeexam dayOfficially, after 10:30 p.m., because the hotel's filtered water did not suit them, Hoang Thi Hang and another student from the Biology team felt nauseous and could not eat. Without transportation and not knowing the way, Mr. Hong walked more than 1.5 km to find water and medicine for the students.

Recalling this memory, Hang was moved: “During the exam preparation process, Mr. Hong had many health problems but he never went to the doctor. He told us to wait until the exam was over before he would examine us. But when we had any problems, from health to psychology, he was always anxious, worried, reminded, and advised us. Besides teaching and guiding us, he took care of us like a father and listened and shared with us like a friend. These things helped me have a happy and memorable exam preparation process.”