Meet the male student from Dong Nai who just conquered the weekly contest of Road to Olympia

Bao Nam (far right) takes a photo with the contestants in the Week 2 - February - Quarter I of the 26th year of the Road to Olympia program. Photo: NVCC

Breaking the school record

On December 7, when the Week 2 - February - Quarter 1 of the 26th year of the Road to Olympia program was broadcast, the name Pham Bao Nam suddenly attracted the attention of the audience, especially the audience from Dong Nai . Although he is an English major, Nam has very good knowledge in natural subjects. He performed excellently in the questions and led in all 4 rounds, winning very convincingly.

Portrait of the laurel wreath owner from Dong Nai. Photo: NVCC

Bao Nam shared that he has a special passion for the program Road to Olympia, so he has watched and learned the questions and knowledge asked in the program since his middle school years.

“I really enjoy watching the show Road to Olympia. I write down interesting questions and look up unfamiliar knowledge. By the time I was in 10th grade, when I took the qualifying round at school, I had a pretty good foundation in all subjects,” Nam said.

Mr. Vu Thanh Binh, the Physics teacher who taught Bao Nam, commented: “In class, Nam is a very outstanding student. He has a wide range of knowledge and good thinking ability. Nam's scores are always among the highest in the class.”

Since the first days of grade 10, Nam has determined the goal of becoming the school's representative to enter the Olympia playground. He participated in the Trang Luong intellectual competition organized by the school, tried his best to win the championship and officially received a ticket to the program. What is special is that Nam excelled to become the Trang Luong champion right from grade 10, surpassing even his seniors.

Bao Nam won the Trang Luong Intelligence Contest. Photo: NVCC

However, the regulations of the Road to Olympia program only accept 11th grade candidates, which means that even though Nam is qualified and has a place to compete, he still has to wait another year. That "postponement" period became the motivation for Nam to study more deeply, expand his knowledge, and most importantly, practice calmness, the decisive factor that helped him win the weekly competition of Road to Olympia.

No quick review, no "cramming" of knowledge before the exam day, Nam just practiced quick reflexes and kept his mind alert. Bao Nam shared: "When I first started, I felt a little nervous because it was the first time I faced opponents from other provinces and cities. But when it came to the Warm-up round, I had an advantage from the start, so I became more confident, and as time went on, I felt more and more comfortable."

The most exciting part was the Obstacle Course. When the first image appeared, along with two hints: “bamboo shoots” and “green”, Nam pressed the bell to answer immediately. It was a somewhat reckless decision, but according to Nam, it was completely correct, because just a second later, his opponent pressed the bell, and the situation could have been completely reversed. The correct answer in this part helped him increase the gap significantly, and from there, he maintained a steady mentality until the end of the competition.

The only strategy was in the Finish line, because he was in the lead, Nam chose the safest option, he chose 3 questions worth 20 points to limit the risk. And in the end, Bao Nam excellently won the laurel wreath.

Bao Nam's family went to Hanoi to cheer for him. Photo: NVCC

As the only contestant from the South in the competition that day, Nam did not have the advantage of supporters, but he had his family by his side, his parents and younger sister proactively arranged all their work to fly to Hanoi to accompany him during the two days of filming. "I know my parents worry a lot about me. When sitting in the audience, they must have been as nervous as I was on stage" - Nam said.

Dream of becoming a "fire-bearer"

During the journey to prepare for the Olympia arena, what kept Bao Nam in a good mood was the environment and the people around him every day. Nam said he loved Luong The Vinh school not only because it was the “cradle” that helped him grow up, but also because the teachers and friends were always by his side, encouraging him and giving him more confidence.

Teachers and friends at Luong The Vinh High School for the Gifted are always a source of motivation for Bao Nam. Photo: NVCC

When learning that Bao Nam won the laurel wreath and broke the school record, Ms. Nguyen Thi Diep, the homeroom teacher who accompanied and followed his entire journey, happily shared that she realized that Nam was a student with persistent determination and a clear direction. Nam had prepared for the Road to Olympia competition since middle school and always persevered in practicing and expanding his knowledge every day. Despite the great pressure, Nam still maintained a serious spirit and constantly improved.

"When I learned that Nam won the weekly round with 335 points and broke the record of previous Luong The Vinh representatives, I was truly touched and proud. I felt overwhelmed with joy because his many years of efforts had been duly rewarded. To me, this achievement is not just a score but a testament to Nam's determination and courage" - Ms. Diep shared.

Bao Nam listens attentively in a class at school. Photo: Minh Hanh

During his 2 years at school, Bao Nam always felt grateful to the teachers for their patience and dedication. From then on, a dream was "kindled" in the heart of the young student: to become a teacher and return to Luong The Vinh High School for the Gifted to teach, inspiring the next generation of students of the school.

Hearing her student express her dream on television, Ms. Nguyen Thi Diep could not hide her emotions: "When I heard Nam share his dream of becoming a teacher because of his admiration for teachers, I was very moved. Besides his love for the profession, he also has a wide range of knowledge and a mature mindset. With that, I believe that in the future, Nam can absolutely become an inspirational teacher for many students."

Bao Nam is an active student in class. Photo: Minh Hanh

335 points is just the score of a weekly competition, but for Pham Bao Nam, it is a milestone marking a long journey of perseverance, effort and passion for learning.

There are still monthly, quarterly, final, and other competitions ahead with even greater pressure. But whatever the outcome, Nam has achieved his dream and proven that hard work and study will be rewarded.

And I believe that many years later, when standing on the podium, in front of eager faces, Nam will remember the moment he won at the age of 16, and then continue to inspire students who are nurturing the same dream as him today.

Minh Hanh

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/bao-dong-nai-gen-z---chuyen-nguoi-tre/202512/gap-go-nam-sinh-dong-nai-vua-chinh-phuc-cuoc-thi-tuan-cua-duong-len-dinh-olympia-5a92845/