Portrait of valedictorian of Hanoi University of Technology

(Baonghean.vn) -Nguyen Xuan Duc - a student of class 12A2, specializing in IT at Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted, has just won the title of valedictorian of block A at the University of Technology - Vietnam National University, Hanoi with a total score of 28 (Math 9.75; Physics 8.5; Chemistry 9.75.). Xuan Duc is honored to be the first valedictorian of Nghe An in 2013.

The first feeling when meeting him is calmness, confidence and humor. Born into a family where his father works in provincial telecommunications and his mother is a high school teacher. Since childhood, Xuan Duc has been closely supervised and taught by his mother and "influenced" by his father with his curiosity and creativity. His father works in the field of information technology, so Duc was exposed to computers quite early. The software, utilities and information that computers bring have opened up a new horizon of knowledge for Duc and have a strange attraction, urging him to explore.

However, his mother forbade him from using the computer because he was still young and was afraid that it would affect his eyes and his studies. But whenever he saw his father turn on the computer, Duc would ask to get acquainted with it. In return, his father made a "deal": if he got a score of 10, he would be allowed to use the computer for a certain period of time. "Maybe my passion for computers has created the motivation to help me study well since I was young...", Duc shared with a smile.

Nguyen Xuan Duc received an award at the 2013 Youth Informatics Contest.

Therefore, from grade 1 to grade 12, Duc was an excellent student at school; he won the Bronze Medal in the Math Olympiad for Children when he was a 5th grader. In 2010, in the entrance exam to grade 10 high school, Duc was the valedictorian of the IT major at Vinh University, but Duc chose the IT class at Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted to study close to home.

In grade 10, Duc immediately won third prize at the provincial non-professional IT competition for young people; then second prize in the provincial IT competition for young people in grade 11; second prize in the national IT competition for grades 11 and 12; first prize in the IT competition for young people in the postal sector in grade 12... Reviewing for the national excellent student exam for two consecutive years also took Duc a lot of time and effort, but Duc always tried to balance his time, trying to absorb knowledge of the university entrance exam subjects right in class so as not to miss anything; applying IT thinking to review the three subjects of Math, Physics, and Chemistry.

Sharing his study secrets, Duc said: “In my opinion, allocating time reasonably is very important, it greatly determines the results of each person's review. Staying up all night is unnecessary, and cramming too much is also not recommended. The mind also needs time to "absorb" knowledge..." Therefore, despite being busy with reviewing for the national excellent student exam, reviewing for the graduation exam and reviewing for the university entrance exam, Xuan Duc still takes reasonable time to entertain, relax with his favorite sports of shuttlecock and soccer and excellently completes the task of a deputy class monitor.

Ms. Lan Thanh, the homeroom teacher of class 12A2, has a lot of affection for her favorite student: “Xuan Duc is a good, intelligent student and an enthusiastic and energetic class leader. He is good at all subjects, in which Information Technology has an absolute advantage. Duc is not hard-working, but he makes up for it with a scientific learning method, intelligence, and quickness. The result of being the top student in block A of Hanoi University of Technology is very worthy of him…”

For two consecutive years, he was a national excellent student, given priority in university admissions at several universities, but Duc still chose the University of Technology - VNU Hanoi because for him it is his passion, the subject he has studied for three years. Moreover, he also received great support from his family, teachers and friends. Therefore, in this year's university entrance exam, Duc only registered for the entrance exam at one university, the University of Technology - VNU Hanoi, and won the top prize in block A of this school. Xuan Duc shared: "I was quite surprised with the title of valedictorian. During the 4 years of university, I will try my best to achieve the best results, to satisfy my passion. If I have the opportunity, I want to study abroad, to have access to advanced scientific equipment and technology in the world, to contribute to serving my homeland and country...".

Article and photos: Thanh Phuc