Math education valedictorian's journey shaped by his tailor father

Lacking resources for extra lessons, Nguyen Tien Khai's tailor father self-taught mathematics to guide his son, sparking Khai's path to becoming a perfect-score valedictorian.

Tien Khai is one of two valedictorians who graduated from Ho Chi Minh City University of Education this year, achieving a perfect 4.0/4.0 GPA.

He attributes his success to consistent effort in every subject and test, while also balancing academics with leisure, volunteering, and scientific research.

"Not many friends knew my scores. When I was honored and heard the murmurs of awe, I felt both happy and proud", Khai recalled from the graduation ceremony in late 7.

Tien Khai, valedictorian graduating from Ho Chi Minh City University of Education with a 4.0/4.0 GPA. Photo: *Provided by subject*

Khai's passion for math began in elementary school. He shared that his family's modest financial situation prevented him from attending extra classes. Concerned his son might fall behind, his father personally tutored Khai at home.

"My father, a tailor, had to relearn math concepts from textbooks to teach me in an understandable way that matched the classroom instruction", Khai explained.

Driven by his father's efforts, Khai committed to studying and practicing math daily, gradually finding joy in it. During his free time, whether happy or sad, he would often delve into challenging problems to find solutions, rather than watching movies, listening to music, or playing games.

"Solving a difficult problem is exhilarating; once I finished one, I immediately wanted to find the next to tackle. Math was my joy throughout high school", Khai stated.

In 9th grade, he secured first prize in the city-level math competition, subsequently gaining admission to the specialized math class at the High School for the Gifted. In 12th grade, Khai earned a national second prize.

While determined to pursue mathematics, he deliberated between applied math, teaching, or research. Remembering his father's lessons and wanting to impart similar inspiration, Khai ultimately chose Math Education.

Having encountered advanced university-level mathematics during high school, coupled with exploring resources from senior students, he easily excelled in specialized subjects. The most challenging modules involved teaching methods, pedagogical skills, and psychology, requiring Khai to independently hone his communication, delivery, and understanding.

He optimized his lecture time by actively listening, noting emphasized points, asking questions, and interacting to grasp theories. Before each exam, Khai requested past papers to review and familiarize himself with the structure and question types, often studying with friends for mutual support and motivation.

Beyond academics, Khai began engaging in scientific research midway through his first year. Initially, his group brainstormed, discussed, and synthesized results based on their professor's assignments. By their second year, the group authored a short paper published internally within the university.

Building on a numerical analysis topic, Khai's group and their professor developed a calculation method faster than conventional analytical tools. The resulting paper was published in a Q1-ranked journal and secured second prize at the Ministry of Education and Training level in 2024.

Khai also earned a "double" gold medal in the Student Math Olympics, excelling in both algebra and analysis categories, in addition to three silver medals from the competition.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thanh Nhan, a lecturer in the Department of Mathematics and Informatics, was impressed by Khai's exceptional mathematical talent, perseverance, and strong self-study skills. Although he had never previously supervised first-year student research, Professor Nhan made an exception, suggesting Khai form a group and assigning suitable topics.

"With his inherent qualities and perseverance, Khai is poised for significant development, whether he pursues research or teaching", Professor Nhan remarked.

While concluding his four years of university with a perfect academic record, Khai expressed regret for not having invested more in foreign languages. Currently, the 22-year-old holds a VSTEP B2 certificate and aims to enhance his English proficiency and secure a doctoral scholarship in mathematics soon.