This week, Phung Hieu Diep, commonly known as Hieu, graduated with a degree in Mathematics from Evergreen Valley College in California. Hieu achieved a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) and was named the valedictorian of his class, all at the age of 12.

Sharing his learning method, Hieu stated: "When I don't understand something, I focus intensely, ask questions, and learn from my mistakes." His advanced academic journey began in third grade when he realized he was ready for more challenging material than multiplication tables and asked his father for more difficult classes.

The young prodigy started with a pre-calculus class at Berkeley Community College, then accelerated rapidly. By the age of 10, Hieu left middle school to transition to college studies. Due to age restrictions limiting the number of courses he could register for at a single institution, Hieu enrolled in courses at 6 different colleges to piece together a full-time schedule.

Before graduation, Hieu shared his plans to pursue another degree at the college, aiming to transfer to the University of California, Berkeley – his father's alma mater – and then pursue medical school. He expressed a strong desire to become an infectious disease specialist. "I chose to pursue this field based on my research experience concerning disease outbreaks at pangasius fish farms," Hieu explained, adding that the idea came from a trip to his parents' homeland.

His research focuses on harmful bacteria. Hieu's idea sparked when he overheard local farmers discussing fish diseases, prompting him to seek solutions to help. This research is set to be published in a scientific journal, and Hieu will also present his findings in Washington, D.C. next month.

Phung Hieu Diep at Evergreen Valley College, U.S. Photo: Evergreen Valley College Fanpage

Despite his exceptional academic achievements, Hieu maintains he is a normal 12-year-old kid. Outside of his studies, he often calls friends via Discord and Google Chat, and plays favorite games such as Minecraft and Roblox. He also stays in touch with elementary school friends and regularly attends Taekwondo classes three times a week.

The Vietnamese-American student shared that he sometimes finds it challenging to integrate with older college peers due to cultural and generational differences, but he has still made many new friends. Alongside his studies, Hieu's next two major goals are to become more proficient in Vietnamese and to achieve a Taekwondo black belt.

Hieu stated that one of the most valuable lessons he learned was from Doctor Jose Cabrera at San Jose College, regarding the concept of "effective effort." The 12-year-old valedictorian expressed: "Many people mistakenly believe that learning should always be easy. I want to convey that encountering difficulties is completely normal because it is part of the knowledge acquisition process. The important thing is to know when to seek help."

Reflecting on his journey, Hieu summarizes his experience as "amazing," because he has been able to delve deeply into math and his favorite subjects. Hieu believes this journey is just the beginning, and he will continue to learn endlessly.

By Khanh Linh (Based on reports from ABC7 News and Evergreen Valley College)