Study to contribute your strength to your homeland and your people.

(Baonghean.vn) – This was the pledge of the youth of Nghe An, expressed by Phan Thi Minh Tram, a student from Phan Boi Chau Specialized High School, on behalf of the youth at the ceremony commemorating the 150th anniversary of the birth of the patriot Phan Boi Chau and the awarding of the Certificate of Special National Monument status.

Phan Boi Chau was an outstanding son, embodying and crystallizing the traditions of his homeland, and became a symbol of the soul and character of the people of Nghe An. He was a man who always yearned to find a path to national liberation; for the purpose of saving the country, he bravely stepped outside the "Confucian gate and the courtyard"; he set aside political differences and strived to improve himself on the path to finding the truth. He was a man who changed early on, broadened his horizons, and became the core of the pioneering generation that led the Vietnamese nation to integrate into the awakening Asian wave of the early 20th century. He was a great writer, poet, and cultural figure with immortal works and poems that resonate with today's young generation.

For Phan Boi Chau, learning only truly has meaning when it is linked to the destiny of the nation and its people. (Photo: Archival material)

Phan Bội Châu is an exemplary figure of studiousness and academic excellence. From a young age, he was renowned for his exceptional learning: at six years old he memorized the Three Character Classic; at seven he could read and understand the Analects; and at thirteen, he passed the district-level examination with the highest score...

Born and raised amidst national turmoil and loss, Phan Bội Châu soon realized: "The country is dead, living on is a disgrace / Where are the wise and virtuous? Learning is in vain."

Therefore, after passing the imperial examination in 1900, instead of pursuing his dream of academic achievement, Phan Boi Chau chose the revolutionary path with a yearning for freedom and independence, as a voluntary act of shouldering the responsibility of the nation, a man full of ambition and determination.

Comrade Nguyen Xuan Duong congratulates Nguyen Canh Hoang - the first student to bring home a Gold Medal from the International Mathematical Olympiad for Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted. Photo: My Ha.

And thus, Phan Boi Chau delivered a meaningful message about the mission of learning.

For Phan Boi Chau, learning only truly takes meaning when it is linked to the destiny of the nation and its people. Learning is not only for self-improvement and fame, but also for contributing one's strength to the homeland and the nation. Phan Boi Chau's message remains relevant today, serving as a guiding light for us on our educational journey, helping us conquer the heights of knowledge.

Phan Bội Châu is also an exemplary figure of patriotic fervor and selfless dedication and sacrifice for the independence and freedom of the nation. Today's young generation knows Phan Bội Châu not only through his heroic historical accounts but also through the literary works he left behind. These works are considered a precious legacy of national literature. They are poems that breathe the spirit of the times, brimming with the passion and fervor of a man who throughout his life was filled with anxieties for the people and the nation, inspiring countless young people to take to the streets for national independence. Just as he admonished: "Forge hearts of iron to move mountains and fill oceans / Pour hot blood to wash away the stain of slavery."

Comrades Nguyen Van Trung - Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment, Nguyen Dac Vinh - Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, and Nguyen Xuan Duong - Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, presented Certificates of Merit to 5 students who won international awards in the 2016-2017 academic year. Photo: Thanh Cuong

From its early days, the specialized high school in Nghe An province has had the honor of bearing the name of Phan Boi Chau – a great patriot, thinker, and cultural figure of the nation. That name is imbued with the pride, trust, and expectations of the Party Committee, government, and people of Nghe An, entrusted to generations of teachers and students of Phan Boi Chau Specialized High School, with the desire to preserve and pass on the flame of the spirit of learning and revolution that the renowned Phan Boi Chau ignited more than a century ago.

Generations of teachers, staff, and students at Phan Boi Chau Specialized High School have consistently strived to achieve excellence, gradually establishing high standards in teaching and learning, building the Phan Boi Chau School brand – a shining example in the national education system.

Teachers and students of Phan Boi Chau Specialized High School welcome Party and State leaders on their visit. (Archival photo)

The school's glorious yet challenging journey has passed, and the hopeful days ahead are always fueled by the image and spirit of Phan Boi Chau – an outstanding son of the nation.

Today, in the solemn and sacred atmosphere of commemorating the 150th anniversary of the birth of the patriot Phan Boi Chau and receiving the Certificate of Special National Monument status, we feel even more honored and proud to have studied, cultivated, and grown up in a school named after him.

The youth of Phan Boi Chau Specialized High School in particular, and the youth of Nghe An in general, have been, are, and will continue to unite and strive to achieve new heights; worthy of representing the spirit and soul of Nghe An; demonstrating their passion, enthusiasm, and desire to reach out to the wider world to keep up with the times, just as Phan Boi Chau wished all those years ago.

Thanh Son

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