NGUYEN VAN VIET DUNG
I am a student with a deep passion for Mathematics, research and social impact projects. Throughout my life, I have always strived to find the intersection to connect academic knowledge and community values. For me, leadership is not only about leading but also about being responsible for the people around me. Whether approaching music or maintaining the cultural customs of the Vietnamese people in every family, I always try to balance reason and emotion. In the future, I hope to continue pursuing the path where Mathematics and technology become tools to help people live better and easier, to create solutions that are both accurate and help enrich human values in each person's soul.
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The early years – When numbers become companions
I was born and raised in Hanoi - where the streets were bustling and the lights never went out. My family lived in a small apartment on Le Van Luong Street. My mother was a high school literature teacher at Chu Van An High School (one of the most prestigious high schools in Hanoi), and my father was a mechanical engineer who often had to travel abroad for work.
Since I was a toddler, I have had a special hobby, which was counting numbers. When I was only 1.5 years old, every time my father drove me on the road, I always looked attentively at the traffic lights. When the green light turned on, I counted "one, two, three", then switched to yellow light, red light, without a single mistake, I knew how to count numbers from then on. My father said that whoever stopped at the red light and saw that scene burst out laughing with delight, unable face to believe that child who could not even speak fluently could count numbers so well.
ABOUT ME
Perfect Count
The Begin
When I was just a little, my whole family went to my maternal hometown in Hung Yen. That was the first time I received lucky money from my grandparents and aunts and uncles. While everyone was still chatting, I quietly sat down, counted each lucky money, and calculated the exact total to be 1,350,000 VND. My aunts and uncles looked at me with surprised eyes, and my mother smiled and said: “No need to bother teaching him Math”. And that was also the first moment my mother believed that Math would be the path to help me train my thinking and open up a bright future.
The Lego Story
Perfect Assemble
Once, my father returned from Malaysia after a long business trip. He brought back a giant Lego set as a gift that I had only seen on TV before. When I opened the box, I was so excited speechless. My parents thought I would just play with a few pieces and then get bored, but no. In just one day, I assembled the complex model exactly as described in the instruction manual without any help from anyone. When seeing the finished product, the whole family was stunned, and I was very "proud" because I had created a "construction" by myself.
From that day on, Lego became a part of my childhood. I had a whole corner dedicated to dozens of Lego models of all kinds, mainly ships, spaceships, and even the Petronas Twin Towers - a symbol that my father specially brought back from Malaysia. Hours of playing with Lego trained my spatial thinking and observation skills, laying the foundation for my passion for problem solving later.
The Bookshelf
Perfect Reader
My family has a large bookshelf, which contains the passions of both my father and mother. My father loved Mathematics, while my mother loved Literature and History. When I started reading, I was often attracted by the colorful pages and interesting stories. One day, I accidentally found the book "A Brief History of Vietnam". In it, there was a passage about the Battle of Bach Dang in 1288, when Tran Hung Dao commanded our army and people to use sharp wooden stakes to defeat the Yuan-Mongol army. I read this passage over and over again until I knew it by heart. In my young mind, the image of the river full of wooden stakes seemed to come alive. My mother saw that I loved history, so she bought me more books like "Romance of the Three Kingdoms". Even though I was young, I patiently read each page, fascinated by the military tactics and intelligence of characters like Zhuge Liang and Cao Cao. From then on, I not only loved Mathematics but was also good at History, to the point that in class, I always ranked first in History tests, something that few of my Math classmates had.
The First Math Lesson
Perfect Logic
When I was at kindergarten, my mother decided to let me take a Math thinking class at a famous center in Ba Dinh district for the simple reason that she wanted me to practice my logic skills early. My teacher was actually also my grandpa Mr. Vinh, a teacher famous for his creative teaching methods. In the first lesson, he gave a problem about the shortest path between two points on the map. While my classmates were struggling, I quickly found the answer and explained it clearly. So then I gradually achieved some imaginary medals every time I did well on tests.
The chess and The Chinese chess
Perfect teacher
Around this time, my father bought me a chess and Chinese chess set. At first, I played just for fun, but the more I played, the more I was fascinated with the tactics and thinking in each move. I taught myself through books and videos, and gradually became the one to teach my younger brother Tuan - who was only 3 years old at the time - the basic moves. When Tuan made his first moves, I felt as proud as if I had won a difficult game. Through teaching, I realized that imparting knowledge is as important as learning by myself, and that was the first time I experienced the feeling of being a mentor.
Since I started primary school, I was able to do mental arithmetic quickly and my logical thinking seemed to be quite outstanding compared to my peers. My homeroom teacher often gave me more advanced exercises and called me “the class prodigy”. I once participated in the Golden Bell program to answer questions and surpassed hundreds of students to win the championship. Looking at the happiness on my parents’ faces at that time, I realized that every effort was worth it not only for the results but also for the joy of my loved ones. I often played billiards with my father whenever he was free to practice concentration and patience. Playing soccer with my classmates also helped me learn team spirit and coordination. I also had the opportunity to participate in academic exams to win scholarships to study advanced classes as well as to be ranked among the best students of the school. I especially love the Lunar New Year atmosphere like any Vietnamese child. Participating in Tet activities with friends, such as making banh chung and decorating the classroom, also helped me to absorb cultural values and community ties.
At the same time, I often composed poems with my mother every night, creating close memories and helping me practice my creativity. Looking back, I realized that knowledge is only truly meaningful when shared and connected with others.
"From a boy counting traffic lights, assembling Lego pieces precisely, to winning a scholarship and becoming the pride of my family, I learned that patience and effort will bring results. The love of my family is the biggest motivation, and understanding history and culture helps me to deeply understand myself and my homeland. This is a journey from small numbers to big dreams, I think so, and I know that this is just the beginning."
The Journey of Self-Discovery in Secondary School
Secondary school was a journey that marked the first step of maturity in my life - where I began to discover myself, face challenges and find opportunities that opened up through my own efforts. It was not only years of hard study but also a journey of forming courage, building independent thinking and nurturing important life values. Here, I made bold choices, tried things outside my comfort zone, had memorable failures and also milestones that marked turning points.
The First Camp
Perfect Act
Since studying at Star Hanoi Primary School, I have been outstanding with my ability to do quick mental calculations and logical thinking. After that, my family decided to send me to Newton Inter-level School, which has a full scholarship policy and an educational environment that combines domestic and international education. I attended the Kangaroo Math Summer Camp, where I learned a lot about Math and realized that Math is not only about theory but also helps connect people.
The First Encounter
Perfect Handling
At Newton, I received a full scholarship and participated in many extracurricular activities. I also had the opportunity to attend the STEM Olympiad in the Netherlands, which was partially sponsored by the school. I always strived not only in my studies but also in my research projects. One of my memorable successes was winning second prize in an environmental research project.
However, I faced a big challenge when I did not win a prize in the City-level Math Competition, a result that made me very disappointed. However, this failure helped me grow and learn that failure is not the end, but a lesson to become stronger. I returned to compete the following year and won second place, which was my highest personal achievement.
I also did something that made my family proud: I applied for a full scholarship for my younger brother, giving him the opportunity to study at Newton. This not only made me happy but also taught me that the value of success is when you can share the opportunity with your loved ones. Although I passed the Ams high school entrance exam with a high score, I decided to stay at Newton because of the comprehensive educational environment here, which helped me develop not only in knowledge but also in life skills and personality.
The Love of Family Music & Ancestor Worship Through the Craft of Incense Making
My Music Story
In the 6th and 7th grade, I started to get acquainted with the guitar. At first, it was just simple notes, but over time, I felt that I could not leave this guitar. My mother, a music lover, often played and sang with me. We spent late evenings, sometimes from 11pm to 12am, when everyone was asleep, only the sound of the guitar and my mother and I singing. At those times, the space was so peaceful, only music and family affection were the only things that existed. Sometimes, my younger brother also joined in, singing familiar folk songs, making the evening even warmer. I also tried to practice playing the bass, once again, music connected us together. Although I am not an artist, the time spent with my guitar and family has helped me feel more deeply the power of music, not only as a personal joy but also as a means to maintain family affection, to make everything closer and warmer.
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My Incense Story
Uncle Ngo Ba Luc, my mother's brother-in-law, has a deep love for traditional Vietnamese culture, especially the culture of ancestor worship. He is dedicated to the craft of making clean incense in Choa Village, Bac Ninh, a renowned village known for producing incense from entirely natural materials. Through his guidance, I not only learned the art of incense-making but also gained an appreciation for the rituals and values of ancestor worship that have been passed down through generations. Joining him in the village, I experienced the patience and meticulousness required in each step of the process. He always emphasized that this profession is more than just a job; it’s a way to preserve tradition and connect with our roots. His stories about worship customs helped me realize that these values will always remain at the heart of Vietnamese culture