Hieu is a student in the K67 class of the Talented Mathematics Bachelor's Program at the University of Natural Sciences - Vietnam National University, Hanoi. Graduating with a GPA of 3.95/4.0, Hieu became the valedictorian of the university this year. Prior to that, Hieu won a scholarship for the master's program at Sorbonne Paris Nord University (France) to continue pursuing theoretical mathematics research.

The joy of learning mathematics

Since childhood, Hieu liked to crack difficult math problems. He studied mathematics simply because he found joy in it and kept diligently pursuing it.

That passion followed Hieu throughout primary school, then secondary and high school at Hanoi - Amsterdam High School for the Gifted. During this time, Hieu attended many school, city, and national competitions. However, those results were not why he stayed long term with mathematics.

"At one point, I realized mathematics brought me a lot of things. I want to continue walking on this path and later contribute to mathematics," Hieu said.

Having won the Second Prize in the national excellent student competition in Mathematics in the 12th grade, Hieu chose to study at the University of Natural Sciences.

Four years of following the talented program, which is famously difficult, with times when assignments piled up and there was not enough time to complete them, were actually a positive pressure for Hieu.

"Doing what I love, I always have motivation and feel those efforts are worth it," Hieu said.

He said the most important thing is to maintain an optimistic spirit and good physical condition.

"In class, I am not the smartest person. But I spend a lot of time on what I truly want to do. I think self-confidence and persistent effort are even more important than intelligence traits," Hieu said.

To train his thinking, he often thought about math problems anytime, anywhere. He also maintained a methodical lifestyle routine to keep his mind alert.

Hieu said that his greatest luck during his student years was studying in an inspiring learning environment.

"My teachers are very dedicated, and my friends are all talented and highly resilient. Because the class has only six students, everyone is very connected, frequently exchanging knowledge, doing big assignments together, and supporting one another in learning. Looking at my friends, I feel I need to try even harder. That is my greatest source of inspiration in studying," Hieu said.

The dream of becoming a lecturer

From the the first year, Hieu participated in research with professors and doctorates in the field. According to Hieu, this is familiar to students in the talented class, because the majority identify pursuing the academic path when entering the university. These activities are the first bricks that help students approach problem-posing, research thinking, and working methods.

In the third year, Hieu began deep research into complex analysis, a field Hieu especially loved after taking a module at the end of the second year.

During the learning process, Hieu was always encouraged by teachers to study abroad to access a high-quality research environment and expand his academic network.

Last summer, Hieu was one of the few students selected to participate in a research exchange program at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). These experiences made Hieu even more determined to go further on the path of deep research.

He chose France because it has a long-standing tradition in mathematics and has many academic connections with generations of lecturers and students of the University of Natural Sciences.

To prepare his application, Hieu spent nearly a year perfecting his CV, personal statement, and recommendation letters from lecturers who used to guide his research.

Gieu said the most important factor is not listing a huge number of achievements but clearly showing what one wants to do in the future.

"The more specifically you present your study plan and research orientation, the higher the probability of acceptance because the committee will see that the applicant is truly serious about the chosen path," Hieu said.

At the end of March this year, Hieu received the news of winning the master's scholarship at Sorbonne Paris Nord University.

Thuy Nga