From game addict to knowledge transmitter

From a student who was once immersed in the virtual world , he has surpassed himself to become the creator of the intellectual playground Olympia RĐ, bringing the light of knowledge to students across the country.

Tran Hong Tam's youth was a series of contradictions: talented but misguided, loving technology but falling into games. Once an excellent student in natural sciences, especially Math and Computer Science, Tam passed the entrance exam to Hue National School, the dream school of many students in the Central region. But it was during those years, when the world of games began to expand its appeal, that Tam gradually slipped away from the steady rhythm of studying.

"There was a time when the game characters even appeared in my dreams," he recounted with a slight smile. For Tam at that time, games were not only entertainment, but also a place to assert himself in a world that he could control. He used to think that he was sober enough to maintain the boundary between entertainment and study. But reality showed that the boundary was thinner than he thought.

Mr. Tam is always enthusiastic in supporting students when they need help.

It wasn't until grade 12, when facing the exam that would decide his life, that Tam woke up. "I realized that if I didn't stop, all my previous efforts would go up in smoke," he shared. And he stopped. Although it was late, it was enough to turn things around. Tam passed the entrance exam to the University of Information Technology, part of Ho Chi Minh City National University, the dream school of children who love programming. But giving up games has never been easy. When he became a student, had his own computer and was free to choose his own way of life, he fell into the old vortex. The virtual battles that lasted all night, the missed lecture hours, all seemed to drag him back to the quagmire of the past.

Fortunately, the courage and aspiration in that student never disappeared. When entering the specialized stage, realizing that his friends were getting further and further, while he was stuck in the same place, Tam was forced to make a serious choice. He "said no to games", this time definitely. And from here, a new chapter opened. Tam started participating in science and technology competitions, mass activities, and volunteering. Small technology projects gradually became his passion. Recognition from teachers, friends, and businesses came to him since he was still in school. But among the myriad of choices in big cities, he unexpectedly chose to... return.

"When I was young, I made my parents sad because I loved games. So when I had the chance, I wanted to come back to make up for it. But most of all, I think the land where I grew up is still a technology depression. I want to do something for my homeland," he said softly, his eyes filled with determination.

In 2015, Tran Hong Tam became an information technology officer at the Quang Tri Province Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities. He not only took on professional work but also became a brother and a teacher close to the ethnic minority students here. He understood those game-loving boys, because he himself used to be one of them. And it was also from that empathy that he opened up new directions for them: not prohibiting, but inspiring a passion for learning through technology. One of his most memorable milestones was the birth of the Olympia RĐ software - a system for organizing knowledge competitions for students, designed based on the model of the TV show "Road to Olympia". The software started from a request from a school that needed to organize a playground for students. With his knowledge and passion, he devoted all his efforts to programming, testing, and editing continuously for nearly a year.

"There were times when my shoulders and neck were so tired that I had to erase everything and start over. But I didn't allow myself to give up," he said. And the reward for that perseverance was that the software worked smoothly and was warmly received. From an internal competition, the software spread to more than 30 schools across the country, including Hue National School, where he used to study. Notably, in 2021, Olympia RD was chosen as the main software to organize the final round of the "My Fatherland's Border" competition chaired by the Central Propaganda Department.

Now, Tran Hong Tam is respected by many colleagues at the Quang Tri Province Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities. It was also at that school that he met his life partner and together they nurture generations of students in the highlands every day.

There was a time when people asked him if he regretted not working in big companies with high income and modern environment? He just smiled: "I have never regretted. Everyone has their own way to succeed. For me, success is to live a useful life, to see my students step into the light with the software I wrote". Perhaps, no great title is needed to talk about him. Because of his quiet dedication and the lasting impressions he left, it is the best introduction!

Source: https://cand.com.vn/doi-song/tu-con-nghien-game-tro-thanh-nguoi-truyen-lua-tri-thuc-i768884/