Young teacher at Phan Boi Chau High School: 'If your score is too bad, don't go into pedagogy'

(Baonghean) - Four years ago, male student Le Van Tu (born in 1995) - a 12th grade student of A4, Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted gave up the opportunity to go straight to Hanoi Medical University to enroll in Hanoi Pedagogical University after winning the Second Prize in the National Excellent Student Competition. Recently, this bachelor of education became a Chemistry teacher at Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted. Nghe An Newspaper had a conversation with this young teacher, who used to be a talented student.

- Hello Tu, congratulations on being accepted to work at Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted. Is this your biggest goal when deciding to enroll in Hanoi National University of Education?

- Since grade 11, I have won the third prize - National Excellent Student in Chemistry and with this result, I was of course admitted directly to university. In grade 12, I continued to be selected for the national team and won second prize. I also participated in the university entrance exam and scored 27 points with the simple thought that I did not want to be too idle and more than that, I wanted to receive the award from the Provincial People's Committee for students with high scores to support my mother in some way...

With the above results, after finishing grade 12, I have many choices and most of my family, teachers and friends also advise me to apply to Hanoi Medical University because this is a prestigious school with many development opportunities.

When I was young, there was a time when I thought I liked medicine. However, that was just a temporary idea, deep down I always liked teaching. My love for it started to grow in 8th and 9th grade and gradually grew. When I was able to study at Phan Boi Chau High School, I really admired my teachers and my homeroom teacher, Hoang Thanh Phong, was one of the people who inspired me and helped me in the most difficult times.

Teacher Le Van Tu (second from left) at the graduation defense ceremony. Photo: My Ha

I also remember a memory about the former principal, Mr. Dau Van Mui. At that time, around the middle of the 12th grade, he came to class and asked us: Does anyone in your class choose to major in education? In the whole class, only I raised my hand and I asked him: "After finishing school, will we have the opportunity to return to Phan Boi Chau School to teach?"

At that time, the principal did not confirm "yes" or "no" but his answer: Right now you are in a village school and later when you go out to sea you will see that this is just a "small pond". If you choose to major in pedagogy, your opportunities will be many, not just at Phan school. The teacher's answer really helped me realize many things and I think that no matter what major you choose, as long as you are passionate, many other doors will open for you.

- With a solid track record, you clearly have many advantages when coming to the University of Education. But have you ever thought that you have wasted your “opportunity” when it is so easy to become a student of education nowadays?

- Actually, after reading the information about “3,4 points can also enter the teaching profession”, I felt a bit discouraged and sad. I also realized this very clearly in 4 years of studying teaching with my classmates, same course or same faculty. Because, there are very few students who choose teaching because of passion. Many cases are due to “dead ends” or following their parents’ wishes or simply wanting to choose a job that “sounds like an easy job”.

Actually, in my opinion, to be a normal teacher is not difficult, but that would be very ordinary for the teaching profession. Now society seems to not respect it, but I myself think that its status can be as high as many other professions such as doctors, engineers, etc.

In fact, to pursue a teaching career, one must have great perseverance, not only in expertise but also in many other skills. Moreover, to be a teacher who can inspire students is even more difficult. To be a teacher, the most important thing is to love the profession, but if you do not come to the profession for this reason, you will not be able to overcome all difficulties. Or, if you come to the teaching profession to see it as a tool to make money, it will make the profession become trivial and harm society.

A bad teacher, without passion, will have consequences not only for 1 or 2 years but also for many generations, affecting the thinking and perception of students. I also do not support students with very poor grades to register for teacher training. The simple reason is that teachers must have qualifications. If they do not speak up, no one will listen.

- As for Tu, what are your preparations for becoming a teacher? Are you worried about being a teacher at Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted - one of the top high schools in the country?

- Because I studied in a specialized class for 3 years and was in the national team for 2 years, when I entered the Chemistry department at Hanoi National University of Education, I did not encounter many difficulties during my studies. There was even a lot of knowledge that I had learned and practiced over and over again.

However, I am not subjective and every time I am sent by the school to participate in competitions such as the Chemistry Olympiad, I always try my best to achieve the highest prize and graduate with an excellent degree. Since the first year, I have also been a tutor, and in the second year, I went back to my hometown to train the provincial excellent student team for the students in my hometown to gain experience. I also take advantage of the time to learn the lifestyle and teaching style of teachers to gain life experience for myself.

After graduating, I had many plans and luckily at this time I knew that Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted was recruiting Chemistry teachers. When I received this information, I was quite worried. The thing I was most confident about was my expertise, but besides that, I also saw that I had many limitations and shortcomings due to not having much experience in the profession.

When I decided to apply to Phan School, I decided to write a letter, sharing about my dream, my efforts and my desire to contribute to the school.

Although I am only a probationary teacher now, I am very happy and tell myself to try, try really hard. Every time I encounter difficulties, I think about the image of teaching students, guiding students through each exam and watching students grow up.

Maybe teaching is not rich but this is the best thing, the greatest thing and the greatest achievement that only teachers can have.

Thank you and I wish you success soon on the path you have chosen!

My Ha

(Perform)