Certainly, what has been achieved is the result of continuous effort.

The two youngest outstanding young citizens of Ho Chi Minh City in 2023 are both still in junior and senior high school, but their achievements are anything but small.

Huynh Anh Thu (left) and Le Nam Long - Photo: Provided by the interviewee

The phrase "unrelenting effort" was mentioned repeatedly by both students throughout the conversation. This is a New Year 's conversation with Huỳnh Anh Thư (Nguyễn Du Secondary School, Gò Vấp District) and Lê Nam Long (Trần Đại Nghĩa Specialized High School, District 1) from Tuổi Trẻ newspaper.

Be persistent and overcome yourself.

* You're so active in the Youth Union activities, yet your average grades are almost perfect. How did you manage that? - Anh Thu: When I started participating in the Youth Union, I promised my mother that no matter what, I wouldn't neglect my studies. So, even with a packed schedule, I always found ways to complete my assignments and ensure stable academic results. My method was to focus on listening to lectures in class to understand the lessons and grasp the knowledge. At times, when the schedule was quite busy, I would take advantage of every 5 minutes between classes to do homework, and during breaks I would study theory or prepare for new lessons. Usually, evenings were dedicated to Youth Union activities. * When did you realize your special passion for mathematics? - Nam Long : Since second grade, I've been very interested in solving word problems and logic problems. Whenever I encountered difficult problems, I would think more deeply, read the solution guides, find clever ways to solve them, then try them again and review that type of problem more to remember them. That's how my passion for mathematics began, and it continues to this day. * It must have been a process of studying and delving deeply into your favorite subject, right? - Nam Long: Perhaps I have a bit of a knack for mathematics. But I'm sure that behind everything I've achieved is the result of continuous effort. Every day, I spend a lot of time solving problems in math textbooks, finding interesting and challenging problems, learning how to solve them, and researching in the field of mathematics. To both study well and win prizes in exams, I always prepare for lessons in advance, taking advantage of opportunities to do homework or review knowledge right at school. This gives me more time to study math and other science and programming subjects that I love, thereby improving my skills.

Conquer new challenges

* What have you gained from each challenge you've overcome? - Anh Thu : I've come to understand more clearly the meaning of what my grandparents taught me: "Fire tests gold, hardship tests strength." Putting myself in the shoes of others reveals my own capabilities, my ability to endure and face challenges. Through this, I've become more resilient, continued to pursue my dreams, and built trust with my family, teachers, and friends. I've learned many skills through the activities of the Youth Union, and made many wonderful friends who have supported me even after the activities have ended. - Nam Long : At the Asian Math and Science Olympiad (ASMOPSS) in Indonesia, the exam was very difficult for my age group, and my competitors were very talented students from other countries. I won the only gold medal for the Vietnamese team at this competition. Before that, I won first place globally in the Grand Final of the STEM Olympiad International in Paris (France)... I always try my best in every competition. Candidates in international competitions are all excellent, so I need to stay calm, focus, and make the most of my time. I can temporarily skip difficult problems and come back to them later instead of spending too much time on one problem. And I need to check my work very carefully to ensure there are no mistakes. * Is it too mature for you to choose the motto "We may encounter many failures, but we must not let ourselves be defeated"? - Anh Thu : I'm sure everyone makes mistakes and experiences failures. The important thing is to know how to turn mistakes into experience and motivation to keep trying. No matter how many difficulties there are, be steadfast, don't let yourself become weak or give up on your dreams. I always set a goal to turn talent into skill. Having a certain talent will give you an advantage, but success must come from effort and hard work. Everyone has willpower, talent, and many dreams. The key is whether you can maintain your enthusiasm and passion, whether you have a specific plan and persevere with it. * How would you describe your future self? - Nam Long : I want to become a mathematician or a computer engineer. I will strive to find scholarships from prestigious technology universities, study there, and return to contribute something to the country. I will also continue to participate in math and computer science competitions. Simultaneously, I will expand into programming, artificial intelligence, and especially invest time in scientific research.

We must strive even harder to be worthy.

Anh Thu said that since the third grade, she had known about the title of Outstanding Young Citizen of Ho Chi Minh City through her older brother's stories. She secretly planned to achieve this title. She admitted that her journey so far has not only been her own effort but also the great support of her family, teachers, and friends. "I am happy to have reached my dream. This title has great spiritual value, a motivation for me to continue to train myself to be worthy of the trust that everyone has placed in me," Thu shared. Similarly, Nam Long said he was both surprised and very happy to learn that his name was on the list of nominees for Outstanding Young Citizen of Ho Chi Minh City 2023. "That title gives me pride and honor. But it is also a reminder to know that I must try harder, do well in even the smallest things, accumulate knowledge and experience to conquer higher challenges and more difficult exams," Long shared.

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