The top-scoring student in the provincial Geography competition for 12th grade dreams of attending Hanoi Pedagogical University.

Even now, Thùy Linh still vividly remembers the moment she received the results of the provincial-level excellent student competition. Although she had somewhat predicted her score, she was still surprised to learn that she had become the top scorer.

Thuy Linh's achievement is not only a source of pride for her family, teachers, and friends, but also a well-deserved reward for her tireless efforts during months of diligent preparation.

Thuy Linh - top scorer in Geography at the provincial-level Grade 12 excellent student competition.

Thuy Linh's family lives in Loc Ha commune; her parents are self-employed, so their lives are still quite difficult. Witnessing her parents' hardships, she quickly realized that education is the most sustainable path to changing her life. Therefore, from a young age, Thuy Linh cultivated a spirit of self-discipline and diligence in her studies. For many years, Thuy Linh consistently achieved the title of excellent student, highly praised by her teachers for her serious study habits and determination to succeed.

Thùy Linh's love for Geography began in 9th grade, when her teacher gave her the opportunity to be part of the gifted student team. For her, Geography is not just about textbooks or maps with many symbols, but also a vivid story about nature, people, the development of different regions, and the socio-economic issues happening every day. This close connection between textbook knowledge and real-life situations has nurtured her passion and determination to pursue this subject.

Thùy Linh's journey to conquer the exam was fraught with challenges. In 10th grade, she won second prize in the provincial geography competition for gifted students. However, a failure due to carelessness in the 11th-grade provincial competition for gifted students inevitably put pressure on Linh, but it also provided a moment of reflection, allowing her to adjust her study methods and become more determined in her final year of high school.

Self-study is the method that helps Thuy Linh accumulate solid knowledge and cultivate independent thinking to achieve high academic results.

Thuy Linh said: “The most effective learning method I applied was to firmly grasp the basic knowledge in textbooks, while proactively updating new information through news programs, newspapers, and social media to broaden my understanding and increase my ability to relate it to real-world situations. In the peak weeks before the exam, there were times when I only slept 3-4 hours a day, taking advantage of every spare moment to review and systematize my knowledge.”

Commenting on this year's provincial-level excellent student exam, Thùy Linh said the questions weren't too difficult, closely following the 12th-grade Geography curriculum, mainly testing students' ability to grasp fundamental knowledge and apply it flexibly. However, the questions included new points that required candidates to constantly update their practical knowledge. In particular, the section related to the service sector was explored in depth, linked to the current socio-economic development context, requiring students not only to memorize but also to understand the essence, analyze, and relate it to real-world situations. According to Thùy Linh, regularly following current events, reading newspapers, and researching information on social media platforms helped her confidently handle these novel questions.

The 12th grade Geography team from Mai Thuc Loan High School had all three students win awards, including one first prize (top scorer), one third prize, and one consolation prize. ( *Photo: The Geography team and their teacher* ).

Commenting on her student, Ms. Tran Thi Thanh Vinh – the homeroom teacher of the Geography gifted student team – said: “Thuy Linh is a student with excellent memorization skills, diligent, hardworking, and always serious about her studies. She has a high self-learning ability and knows how to learn from her failures. It is her perseverance and determination that helped her break through to achieve the top position.”

Besides the support of her teachers, Thùy Linh's success is also due to the silent encouragement from her family, where she has always received a solid foundation on her academic journey. Ms. Phạm Thị Thùa – Thùy Linh's mother – said emotionally: “Regarding our daughter's studies, we couldn't help much other than always working hard, creating the best conditions, and constantly encouraging and motivating her. Fortunately, from a young age, Linh has always had a high level of self-discipline in her studies, a clear desire for progress, and a serious attitude towards learning. We are very reassured and proud of her academic achievements .”

Having gone through an exam filled with mixed emotions, Thùy Linh continues her journey of accumulating knowledge, preparing for the final important exam of her student life. For her, the excellent result in the provincial-level excellent student competition is a stepping stone to pursuing her dream of becoming a student in the Geography Department at Hanoi Pedagogical University.

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