The title of valedictorian came as a surprise to 23-year-old Lam Tien from Dong Thap Province. He received the honor during the ceremony recognizing outstanding graduates at Ho Chi Minh City University of Pedagogy on 11/7.

Tien said he hadn't received prior notice from the university and assumed the top honor would go to someone else.

"When the emcee announced my name as valedictorian, I was stunned," Tien recounted. "Then, joy and emotion washed over me. The surprise and the enthusiastic cheers from my fellow graduates doubled the feeling. This is the culmination of a long journey filled with setbacks, uncertainty, and striving for every small improvement."

Lam Tien, the 2025 valedictorian of Ho Chi Minh City University of Pedagogy. Photo: Courtesy of the subject

Lam Tien, the 2025 valedictorian of Ho Chi Minh City University of Pedagogy. Photo: Courtesy of the subject

As a child, Tien excelled in school and often helped his classmates with their studies. The joy he felt in assisting others and the image of teachers patiently guiding their students inspired his dream of becoming an educator.

After graduating high school in 2020, he applied exclusively to education programs at Ho Chi Minh City University of Pedagogy and was accepted into the math education program.

"Although math wasn't my specialization, I took advanced classes in high school and did well, so I thought I had an aptitude for it," Tien explained. "But I struggled to keep up with the specialized math courses in university."

Seeing his classmates actively participate while he struggled to understand the lectures, Tien realized math education wasn't the right fit. After one semester, he researched other education programs and found elementary education more appealing. He spent three months preparing for the 2021 high school graduation exam and was accepted into the program with a score of 25.65.

"I felt very uncertain when I decided to retake the exam and kept it a secret from my parents," Tien said. "I was hesitant because this field requires a genuine love for children, but I decided to pursue it, believing I would find my way."

Tien with his family at the graduation ceremony on 11/7. Photo: Courtesy of the subject

Tien with his family at the graduation ceremony on 11/7. Photo: Courtesy of the subject

In his first year of elementary education, Tien found the curriculum focused primarily on social sciences, with fewer and less demanding natural science courses. With the support of his professors, he gained confidence and began to excel, discovering an affinity for social sciences.

Initially, Tien's goal was simply to graduate on time. However, inspired by a classmate, he began studying more diligently, taking detailed notes, and regularly discussing course material with his peers. They made it a habit to arrive early for every class, sit in the front row, and participate actively. For group projects and presentations, Tien took the lead, managing timelines and coordinating tasks.

He established a principle of never waiting until the last minute to complete assignments. If a professor assigned work in the morning, Tien would tackle it that afternoon or the next day, leaving remaining time for revisions and proofreading. "I've maintained that principle to this day, and I believe it's a key to my success. My grades on group and individual assignments have never been below 9," he stated.

For final exams, whether essays or oral presentations, Tien focused on the material emphasized by his professors. For essay-based exams, he applied the same approach as he did for group projects.

He also actively participated in extracurricular activities, mostly involving elementary school students, such as organizing play activities, reading sessions, and science introductions. These experiences helped him understand children's psychology and how to interact with them effectively.

Tien's biggest challenge came during his second internship, a 2.5-month placement at Lam Son Primary School in District 6 (former), Ho Chi Minh City. Typically, student teachers begin leading classes in the second week under the supervision of a mentor teacher. However, on his first day, Tien and his peers were assigned to teach the following day. Despite feeling unprepared, he quickly developed a lesson plan and interactive activities, confident in his preparation.

"The next day, I stood at the podium with my mentor teacher observing intently," Tien recalled. "Nervous and under pressure, I stumbled over my words and made repeated mistakes with terminology. I was very disappointed in myself."

For over two months, he juggled teaching with organizing extracurricular activities. Initially, he found his mentor teacher demanding and strict, setting higher expectations compared to other groups. At times, Tien felt so stressed that he dreaded going to class, counting down the days until the internship ended. However, he persevered, diligently noting his mentor's feedback to improve. By the final weeks, his teaching earned praise and encouragement.

"I later realized her strictness was meant to prepare us for the realities and pressures of teaching, emphasizing the importance of being thorough and detail-oriented. I'm grateful for her guidance," Tien shared.

Tien with his students during his internship in April. Photo: Courtesy of the subject

Tien with his students during his internship in April. Photo: Courtesy of the subject

Dr. Le Chan Duc, a lecturer at Ho Chi Minh City University of Pedagogy, who worked with Tien on several courses and supervised his thesis, described him as a driven, hardworking student with strong self-learning and research abilities. He encouraged Tien to pursue graduate studies after graduation.

"He's a perfectionist, very meticulous in everything he does," Dr. Duc shared. "Once, after I reviewed his work, Tien volunteered to retype his and his classmates' assignments to create study materials for the class."

Tien acknowledges graduate studies as a future possibility, but his immediate focus is on gaining teaching experience. He is about to start as an elementary school teacher at a private school in Ho Chi Minh City. He believes teaching requires constant innovation and emphasizes the importance of nurturing students' moral character alongside academic instruction.

"In elementary education, building strong connections with parents is crucial, and that's something I'm mindful of due to my lack of experience," Tien admitted. "I still have much to learn from real-world practice."

Le Nguyen