Brian Jeffrey
Trung Hieu, a mathematics student at the Hanoi High School for the Gifted, shares how his high school years transformed his perspective on learning.
Hieu, hailing from Vinh Phuc, entered high school with high confidence but soon found himself struggling with the lessons.
“Teachers assumed all students here would easily grasp the material, so their explanations were brief,” he recounted. The competitive atmosphere further complicated things, with teachers assigning very challenging problems,” he added.
Feeling pressure, Hieu compared himself unfavorably to his peers, which weighed heavily on him.
Ultimately, this competition pushed him to grow, mature, and catch up with his classmates as he adapted to the rigorous academic environment.
His hard work paid off as Hieu achieved significant milestones, participating in the prestigious Road to Olympia TV quiz show and winning multiple awards.
These successes earned him a place at Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST) through a talent enrollment scheme.
However, Hieu soon experienced new challenges at university with its different teaching styles.
“In my first semester, I signed up for 11 credits across three subjects—Analysis, Algebra, and Philosophy—but I was still anxious,” he remembered.
Despite being a maths major, he was shocked to receive a mid-semester score of only 5.5 in maths, which served as a wake-up call for him.
Recognizing the need to revise his study methods, Hieu eventually adapted and excelled in the second semester, taking on 19 credits and achieving A or A+ grades, along with several scholarships.
During the first semester of his third year, however, Hieu faced another existential crisis, feeling uncertain about his future direction while tackling a heavy course load.
“When my family went on a domestic trip, I stayed in the hotel to study for my exams,” he said.
With just eight hours to complete a tricky assignment on Data Structure and Algorithms, he felt overwhelmed, eventually breaking down at 3 am as the deadline approached.
“It was the first time I had cried from studying,” he recalled.
Once he composed himself, Hieu pushed through and submitted his work only 30 minutes before the deadline, learning that pressure could motivate him to perform better.
Throughout his time at HUST, Hieu nurtured aspirations of studying abroad, particularly in an English-speaking country. He eventually applied for master’s and PhD scholarships at the Polytechnic Institute of Paris.
“Researching embedded AI in cybersecurity is a promising field that calls for dedication and hard work, but I’m ready for the challenge. The rigorous curriculum at the institute will prepare me for future achievements,” he expressed.
Now, Hieu embarks on a new adventure in France. After completing his master’s degree in late 2025, he plans to pursue a PhD, taking the next steps in his academic journey.
