Recently, at the degree conferment ceremony of Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST), before thousands of students, Phuong Van Huy, valedictorian of the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, delivered an emotional speech about his parents.

"I still vividly remember my parents toiling daily, leaving home before the morning mist cleared and returning after sunset. Their sweat paid for my tuition, allowing me to attend school and pursue dreams they never dared to dream. 

Though they couldn’t teach me advanced math, they taught me the greatest lesson of life - about diligence, sacrifice, and the value of knowledge," Huy shared.

Their sweat paid for my tuition, allowing me to attend school and pursue dreams they never dared to dream. Though they couldn’t teach me advanced math, they taught me the greatest lesson of life - about diligence, sacrifice, and the value of knowledge," Huy shared.

Huy, a San Chi ethnic member, was born and raised in the revolutionary stronghold of ATK Dinh Hoa (Thai Nguyen). During high school, he studied at Thai Nguyen Ethnic Boarding School, where he consecutively won second prize in provincial academic competitions for three years.

From a shy, timid student, Huy began dreaming of "broader horizons." In 2021, he was admitted to HUST through a talent-based selection process.

However, the journey at the nation’s leading technical university was not easy. In his early days, Huy was overwhelmed by the vast amount of knowledge and the intelligence and dynamism of his peers, many of whom were from specialized schools, among the top in their provinces, or national award winners. Huy admitted he was "not particularly brilliant" and had never been exposed to subjects like Calculus or Algebra before.

"In my first Calculus class, I barely understood anything. Due to Covid-19, we studied online. Lecture slides were packed with information, and the teacher moved to the next slide after just two minutes. I had to spend an entire week reviewing materials, watching videos, and studying to grasp the content," Huy recalled.

Facing the immense knowledge load and rigorous exams at the university, Huy just set modest goals: graduating on time, earning a good degree, and securing a stable job to support his family.

However, during this period, Huy felt fortunate to meet teachers who not only imparted knowledge but also "ignited passion," sparking his enthusiasm for his field. Additionally, he had friends who "stayed up all night studying," shared instant noodles, tackled tough problems, and encouraged each other before exams.

"Gradually, I learned how to study and stand firm in the high-pressure environment at the university," Huy said.

During his studies, Huy independently sought out foreign materials and bought specialized books for deeper learning. When encountering difficult formulas, he insisted on proving them from scratch, determined to understand their roots rather than accepting them as correct without verification. As a result, he finished his freshman year with an average score of 3.69/4.0.

In his third year, Huy began participating in scientific research at a laboratory focusing on "Integrating renewable energy into the power grid." From there, the San Chi student realized that the joy of learning lay not only in high grades but also in applying knowledge to real-world problems.

"Scientific research helped me better understand the theories I studied. If I previously learned to pass exams, now I learn to understand and apply knowledge to solve practical issues," Huy said.

Huy’s four years at university were filled with relentless effort, little leisure, and nearly all his time devoted to studying and research. "I knew I wasn’t brilliant, so I compensated with hard work," Huy said.’

Upon learning he was one of the 10 HUST’s valedictorians, Huy felt "both surprised and pressured," as it was not only an honor but also a responsibility to keep striving.

Throughout his time at the university, Huy admitted there were moments of frustration and disappointment. But his parents were his motivation and source of strength to overcome those challenges.

"Though they only knew I was studying in Hanoi and were unaware of my major or future career, my parents always believed in me. They gave me the confidence that with effort, I could achieve anything," Huy said.

After graduation, Huy plans to pursue a master’s degree at Hanoi University of Science and Technology and later seek opportunities for research abroad. In the near future, he will balance studying and working to cover expenses and gain practical experience.

Thuy Nga