'Don't call me a prodigy'

GD&TĐ - Dinh Cao Son, a 12th-grade Chemistry student from Ha Tinh Specialized High School, is one of three Vietnamese students who won a gold medal at the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) in Switzerland.

Dinh Cao Son returned to a warm welcome from his teachers and friends.

In addition, Son was the highest-scoring contestant from the Vietnamese team, ranking 7th among nearly 350 students from 89 countries and territories.

The journey to the International Chemistry Olympiad Gold Medal

Before attending IchO this year, Dinh Cao Son already had an outstanding academic record. From grade 9 until now, he has consistently won first prize in provincial-level chemistry competitions for gifted students.

In 10th grade, Son was the top-scoring student in the Chemistry entrance exam at Ha Tinh Specialized High School; the top scorer in the provincial Chemistry competition for 10th-grade students; second-place winner in the national Chemistry competition for 11th-grade students; top scorer in the national Chemistry competition for 12th-grade students; and top scorer in the national Chemistry team selection exam. These outstanding results from various competitions served as a springboard, giving the student from Ha Tinh Specialized High School the confidence to conquer the challenges of Chemistry in international competitions.

The results from the competition motivate me to strive even harder, to surpass myself and conquer new challenges. I am very happy and proud to have contributed my best and brought high achievements to the Vietnamese team at an international competition. But through the competition and interacting with international friends, I realize that my knowledge is just a tiny grain of salt in the ocean. - Dinh Cao Son

Dinh Cao Son said that he and his teammates had gone through more than 100 theoretical and practical lessons under the dedicated guidance of leading professors and doctors. When selected as one of the four students to represent Vietnam at the IchO 2023 competition in Switzerland, the male student told himself that he needed to strive to "bring something back to the homeland."

This was Son's first time going abroad to test his skills in an international exam, so he was quite anxious and nervous. Besides clothes and study books, Son's luggage also included instant noodles, in case he didn't like the food in Switzerland.

“What made me happiest during my time in Switzerland was making friends and interacting with and learning from people all over the world . Interacting with friends who were also my competitors in the competition made me a little nervous because they were all very talented. However, I told myself to try my best to overcome these psychological barriers,” Sơn said.

Son assessed this year's exam as more difficult than in previous years, especially the theoretical part. The questions covered many modern scientific issues such as environmental protection and renewable energy. Regarding the practical part, this was the first time after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic that the organizers included a practical section in the exam. For Son, this was a challenging but interesting part of the exam, allowing him to fully showcase his abilities.

“The thorough guidance from the teachers in the team helped me and my teammates achieve good results in the practical part. My experience while taking the exams is to always make the most of the allotted time to complete the task, review the answers, and make sure I'm confident in each step. I don't set overly high goals, but I always demand that I put in my best effort,” Son shared.

Leaders of Ha Tinh province and the Department of Education and Training presented flowers to congratulate Dinh Cao Son on his achievement.

With solid knowledge and a determined spirit for his country, Dinh Cao Son performed well in the practical section, achieving a score of 87% and a total score of 82.14/100. After two days of intense competition with over 300 contestants from 89 countries and territories worldwide, Dinh Cao Son won an impressive Gold Medal, leading the Vietnamese delegation and ranking 7th globally.

The achievements of Son and his teammates (3 Gold Medals, 1 Silver Medal) also contributed to helping the Vietnamese delegation maintain its position in the top ranks of the IChO competition, ranking 3rd overall in terms of the number of Gold Medals.

Recalling the moment his name was called on the list of winners, Son said he was overwhelmed with joy and even surprised. Although there were still some regrets, Son was very satisfied with his exam performance.

“To achieve what I have today, I had to put in a lot of effort. Besides that, I am always grateful to my teachers, family, and friends who have supported and followed my every step in conquering Chemistry. IChO 2023 in Switzerland became a memorable journey, a dream come true for me. And I want to express my most sincere gratitude to my loved ones,” the male student proudly shared.

Mr. Nguyen Cong Hoan - Principal of Ha Tinh Specialized High School - could not hide his joy, saying: "Dinh Cao Son's gold medal at the International Chemistry Olympiad is truly a priceless gift that he has given to his family, school, the education sector, his homeland, and the country. This glory comes from his talent, intelligence, determination, and aspiration to conquer the pinnacle of knowledge."

This achievement is also the result of the dedication, commitment, and creativity of the teachers at Ha Tinh Specialized High School – those who have accompanied me on the arduous journey of conquering the pinnacle of knowledge. It is known that this is the second consecutive year that Ha Tinh Specialized High School has won an international Gold Medal in Chemistry.

Secretary of the Ha Tinh Provincial Party Committee Hoang Trung Dung converses with Dinh Cao Son at the meeting.

The humble champion

Returning from Switzerland after the competition, Dinh Cao Son said that since receiving the award, he had been eagerly anticipating going home to share his joy with his teachers, friends, and especially his family. Son is the eldest son in a family of two brothers. His parents work as freelancers in Ha Tinh city, and despite the hardships of life, Son and his brother have always been given the best possible conditions for their studies. For Son, his family is his first school of thought, teaching him the will to strive for success in life.

With consistently high scores in exams, many people still call Dinh Cao Son a "child prodigy" in Chemistry. But the owner of this nickname doesn't like being called that at all. Because behind those medals are days of hard work and relentless effort. Son's success is the "sweet fruit" of his diligent studies, along with the support and guidance of his teachers and the encouragement of his family and friends.

“To achieve success, you need not only effort, but also passion and perseverance. Chemistry is a science that requires critical thinking, creativity, and practical application, not something mechanical, rigid, or purely theoretical; it combines knowledge with other natural sciences such as Mathematics, Physics, and Biology... Therefore, to excel in Chemistry, you must excel in other natural sciences. Regardless of the subject, besides interest, diligent practice is also essential,” Sơn revealed.

Since being introduced to Chemistry (in 8th grade), Son has been very interested in the subject. Dinh Cao Son shared that he was very curious about the experiments that his teachers performed in class. The more he studied, the more passionate he became and discovered that he had many aptitudes for Chemistry.

Son's passion for Chemistry grew stronger, bringing him closer to his dreams and aspirations in his studies. After achieving the top score in the provincial Chemistry competition in 9th grade and becoming a student in the Chemistry specialized class at Ha Tinh High School for Gifted Students with the highest entrance exam score, Son was able to receive further training, develop his skills, and participate in national and international Chemistry competitions.

The male student shared that, throughout his 12 years of high school, he met many teachers who influenced, inspired, and fueled his passion for chemistry, from elementary school to high school. It was these great teachers in his life who ignited the passion that enabled Dinh Cao Son to achieve many high accomplishments in his journey to conquer the subject of Chemistry.

Commenting on his "favorite" student, Mr. Hoang Van Nam - homeroom teacher of the Chemistry team at Ha Tinh Specialized High School - said: "Along with his talent in Chemistry, what impresses me most about Dinh Cao Son is his willpower. In his studies as well as in life, he always sets specific plans and is determined to achieve them. He also has very good life skills. I believe that with his personal qualities and skills, Dinh Cao Son will make great strides and achieve success in the future."

Speaking about his classmate, Nguyen Tran Tan Hai (class president of the 12th grade Chemistry class at Ha Tinh High School for Gifted Students) excitedly said: “In class, Son is very kind, enthusiastic with his friends, and also very eager to learn. Since 10th grade, when we were still unfamiliar with the new environment, he had been diligently researching and studying subject materials from teachers and senior students. In his studies, Son is always excellent but always humble and never hesitates to share with his classmates. We weren't too surprised by Son's results because before the exam, everyone believed that Son would bring home a Gold Medal in the International Chemistry Olympiad for the Vietnamese team.”

The outstanding results of Dinh Cao Son at the 2023 International Chemistry Olympiad affirm the efforts and hard work of the student himself, the team of teachers and leaders, and Ha Tinh Specialized High School. This also reflects the efforts of the Education sector, confirming the correctness of the strategy to identify and nurture talented students, helping Ha Tinh's education sector achieve a prominent position in the overall development of education nationwide. - Mr. Le Ngoc Chau (Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ha Tinh Province)

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/dung-goi-em-la-than-dong-post651756.html