Nguyen Huu Tien Hung and head teacher Vu Thi Len after returning from the International Chemistry Olympiad - Photo: HA QUAN
Entering the 10th grade chemistry class at Bac Ninh High School for the Gifted, still wearing the familiar white uniform, the only difference being the addition of a bright gold chemistry medal on his chest, Nguyen Huu Tien Hung received a big round of applause from more than 30 students and his homeroom teacher.
Meeting new faces, still excited after being admitted to the specialized class, Hung started the conversation to "ignite" the passion for chemistry with his own story.
Secret to winning Olympic gold medal
Tien Hung said he has loved chemistry since 8th grade, his passion stemmed from simple reactions like blowing into a solution to precipitate, blowing more dissolves the precipitate.
In 9th grade, her older sister and her friends, former students of Bac Ninh High School for the Gifted, "ignited" her passion for chemistry with stories about chemistry and its applications in life...
Seeing the periodic table of chemical elements, Hung said it was like "the multiplication table in mathematics", the basic knowledge to study combustion reactions, analyze compounds and advanced chemistry knowledge later.
Speaking to 10th graders, Hung hopes that they will outline effective review strategies in parallel with learning new knowledge. “To study chemistry well, in addition to mastering theory, you need to do specialized exercises and expand the types of questions. You can watch videos about chemical reactions on YouTube for entertainment, practice thinking, and understand the difference between knowledge in books and reality,” Hung said.
When asked if the International Olympic exam was difficult, Hung said it was difficult, new, and strange, so he needed to be calm, plan out the solution, and implement the steps coherently and logically. With the practice exercise, Hung recalled the first day of learning how to put the solution into a test tube. It looked simple but it took him several times to do it correctly and accurately.
“Chemical experiments are very interesting but also quite difficult, requiring precision and meticulousness. We just have to follow the correct procedure, not rush or skip steps, to limit incidents and ensure safety for ourselves and others,” the male student noted.
Nguyen Huu Tien Hung answers many difficult questions about chemistry for 10th grade chemistry students at Bac Ninh High School for the Gifted - Photo: HA QUAN
Dream of becoming a doctor to save people
Hung lingered a bit to talk more about the time he was selected to be on the Vietnamese team to compete in the International Chemistry Olympiad. He was very happy to represent the country in a foreign competition, but he was also under pressure and worried, so he set goals and started studying early.
Before flying to Saudi Arabia, I had two months to study in Hanoi. Taking advantage of my day off, I took the bus to Hoan Kiem Lake to explore the cuisine and atmosphere of the capital.
“When I went to Saudi Arabia, I was a bit self-conscious because my friends from Austria, Switzerland, Japan, and Korea were all taller than me. But they were very friendly and open, some even took the initiative to shake hands and hug to get to know me.
Our Vietnamese team brought key chains with images of women wearing ao dai, conical hats, and bamboo dragonflies as gifts. Everyone liked them and wanted to visit Vietnam to explore. I even made new friends on Instagram,” Hung said excitedly.
Accompanying Hung to Saudi Arabia, Ms. Vu Thi Len - head of the 12th grade chemistry team, Bac Ninh High School for the Gifted - said that the two teachers and students changed from nervous and worried to overwhelmed and happy.
“When Hung’s name was announced, both teacher and student burst into tears. That night I barely slept, just replying to messages from Vietnam,” said Ms. Len.
According to Ms. Len, since grade 10, Hung has shown determination in studying, is willing to learn new knowledge and often ranks first in competitions.
However, Hung still needed time at first to gain confidence, overcome weaknesses in organic chemistry, and balance strengths and weaknesses.
According to Tien Hung, he learned a lot from former Bac Ninh gifted student Nguyen Kim Giang - the gold medalist of the 2023 Chemistry Olympiad in Switzerland. Kim Giang is a senior who gives him motivation and experience.
Following the advice, Hung studied by subject, did not stay up late, woke up early to read the lesson before class. In addition to listening to lectures, he read more documents, articles, and researched English.
In his spare time, Hung watches Ted-ed videos online that simply explain the causes of diseases, or the development of common diseases.
“I really enjoy watching short videos about how to cure diseases and how the human body works. Our body is very interesting because humans are complex machines, masterpieces of nature.
I hope to become a medical student to become a doctor to treat and save people. I know it will take many more years of study, but my parents and teachers are always there to encourage and support me,” Hung confided.
According to the Department of Education and Training of Bac Ninh province, the province always aims to improve the quality of key education. In the coming years, the department will propose and advise competent authorities to invest, support and train teachers; attract excellent students graduating from teacher training colleges to the locality; have better policies for excellent students...
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/chang-trai-vang-olympic-hoa-hoc-quoc-te-mo-thanh-bac-si-20240804111153219.htm
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