The 'special' teacher of a Bac Giang male student who won international gold medals twice

Than The Cong (born in 2006) is currently a student at Hanoi University of Science and Technology. Cong is a former student of Bac Giang High School for the Gifted, and has been passionate about Physics since grade 8. Cong has won the gold medal at the 2024 Asian and International Physics Olympiad and was awarded the Second Class Labor Medal. Cong is currently one of the young people nominated for the Outstanding Young Vietnamese Faces Award 2024.

Cong said that in the journey he has gone through since high school, reaping academic achievements, going to university… there is no moment when I regret. All the choices, up to this point, have been right for me and the luckiest thing is that I have had "great teachers".

Cong said that his grandmother was a Physics teacher and had nurtured his love for this subject from an early age. When he was little, she often asked him questions about everyday phenomena such as why there are rainbows, why water freezes...

When he was older, in 8th grade, Cong met a very dedicated Physics teacher - Mr. Nguyen Van Doa - a teacher at Bac Giang High School for the Gifted. He was the one who ignited in Cong the "fire" of passion for Physics. He shared the physical phenomena around us, the practical applications of the subject in life that made Cong very interested.

"The more I study, the more I love it and constantly explore the phenomena around me. When learning about lightning, car models, airplanes... and applying Physics knowledge to achieve the highest efficiency, I feel that this subject has many practical applications and is really useful if you understand it well," The Cong said.

The Cong shared with reporters. Photo: Le Anh Dung

The 19-year-old boy said that back then, whenever he encountered a difficult problem, the teacher was ready to help him regardless of day or night. There were also times when the teacher and student got tense when debating about problems encountered during the exam preparation process.

"Most of those times, the teacher already knew what was right, but he was still willing to listen to me express my opinion, so that I could realize what was right. After each time like that, I would remember it longer. The teacher also often reminded me about not doing the test carefully, not reading the questions carefully, leading to regrettable mistakes. I feel like I have matured since I have been studying with him," Cong said.

Besides his grandmother and his Physics teacher, for Cong, the first and most influential "teacher" in his life is his mother.

Cong said he always felt lucky because his mother respected him but was also quite strict with him. "When I was in middle school, I often neglected my studies and played video games without my mother's permission. At that time, when my mother confiscated my computer and I heard her explain the importance of studying for my future, I started to promise myself to study seriously and not let my mother worry too much," Cong recalled.

After officially becoming a student in the Physics class of Bac Giang High School for the Gifted, Cong set a goal of becoming a national excellent student and was always accompanied by his mother on every step of the way.

The Cong with his mother, grandparents and younger sister. Photo: Provided by the character.

To keep her son physically and mentally healthy, his mother always cooks delicious food, sometimes goes jogging with Cong, and is always ready to listen to his problems in his studies, relationships with classmates, and how to behave with teachers...

When he became an official member of the International Olympic team, Cong studied in Hanoi and occasionally received food from his mother in Bac Giang. These were dishes that his mother cooked herself to nourish her son because she was worried that he would lose weight from studying too much. Especially during his studies, when Cong needed more materials or encountered any problems, his mother was always there to support him.

“I often confide in my mother and feel really lucky to have a mother who always loves me with all her heart. What I have today is largely thanks to my mother’s efforts,” Cong confided.

Cong said that in the near future, he plans to study Physics in the US or Singapore. He will temporarily defer his program at Hanoi University of Science and Technology. Currently, Cong has applied for scholarships to study abroad at several universities and is waiting for the results. His number one hope is to get into MIT University in the US.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/nguoi-thay-dac-biet-sau-thanh-cong-cua-nam-sinh-2-lan-gianh-hcv-quoc-te-2377201.html