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| Le Hoang Anh Thu (standing at the far right) at the Commendation Ceremony for students winning high prizes in the National Exam |
Diligence and Critical Thinking: The Key to Excelling in History
In the National Exam for Selecting Excellent Students in High Schools for the 2024-2025 academic year, the Provincial team competing in History won two First Prizes. One of them was awarded to Le Hoang Anh Thu, a 12th-grade student specializing in History and Geography at Quoc Hoc Hue High School for the Gifted. She hails from Binh Tien Commune, Huong Tra Town. Recalling the moment when she got the results, Anh Thu still feels emotional: “When receiving the envelope containing results, I was too nervous to open it. My hands were shaking as I dialed my father’s number, asking him to come pick me up and take me home. I wanted my parents - my strongest support system - by my side in case the outcome wasn’t what I had hoped for. But then, the incredible moment I had been waiting for arrived. I checked it several times to make sure it was really my candidate number. It felt like a dream - I burst into tears of joy.”
Anh Thu shared that she did not consider herself exceptionally intelligent; everything she has achieved is the result of diligence and perseverance. In the period leading up to the exam, there were days when she slept only three hours and even forgot to eat at times. “Motivation and discipline are essential for self-study. I always create daily and weekly schedules, note my goals down, and stick them all over my room as reminders to keep pushing forward. Stress and pressure are inevitable in every competition. However, I made sure to maintain my health and stay mentally strong before entering this important exam,” said Anh Thu.
For Anh Thu, “diligence” and “critical thinking” are the key factors in mastering history. Simply memorizing facts is not enough to excel in history, but at the same time, mastering the subject requires memorization. Therefore, it is crucial to think about different issues in a critical way, deeply understand historical events, and connect them to various aspects of life. Anh Thu often reads aloud to reinforce her learning and then explains the material to herself as if she were teaching. Additionally, practicing writing and working through exam questions have greatly assisted her in retaining knowledge, managing her time effectively, and developing deeper analytical thinking.
The female student winning First Prize in History in the National Exam shares her secrets: “I often review what I have learned daily and monthly. I use mind maps to memorize and deeply understand historical events. Self-testing is also very important - I regularly quiz my teammates in the Provincial team competing in History, and we help each other review. At home, my father is my companion in going over my knowledge”. She also emphasized the importance of note-taking in retaining information. “I always try to take neat and beautiful notes, writing down what I have learned on A4 sheets and compiling them into a booklet.”
A Passion for History
Anh Thu was born and raised in Binh Tien Commune, a remote mountainous area of Hue. From a young age, she was an outstanding student, achieving numerous academic awards. In her final year of secondary school, she won a third prize in history and a consolation prize in literature at the town level, as well as a second prize in history and a third prize in literature at the provincial level.
For many students, history is considered a “difficult-to-digest subject.” However, Anh Thu has a deep passion for it. Her love for history began when her father would tell her stories about President Ho Chi Minh, which sparked her interest. During her secondary school years, she actively sought out books and videos about the nation’s heroic past. After graduating from Tran Dang Khoa Secondary School, Anh Thu was determined to pursue her passion by applying to the history-specialized class at Quoc Hoc Hue High School for the Gifted. She not only passed the entrance exam but also achieved the highest admission score in her class.
Leaving Binh Tien for Hue to study marked the beginning of a new, independent chapter in Anh Thu’s life. She faced many difficulties, ranging from not knowing how to ride a motorbike to feeling overwhelmed by the bustling city life. At school, she initially felt inferior compared to her hardworking and talented classmates. In 11th grade, Anh Thu struggled to keep up with the rigorous pace of her studies, feeling lost amid the vast sea of knowledge. When she first joined the Provincial team competing in History, she had the lowest score among her peers. However, the encouragement of her homeroom teacher, Ms. Kim Thuy, helped her regain confidence. Knowing that someone believed in her, Anh Thu found the strength to push forward and chase her dreams.
According to Ms. Kim Thuy, Anh Thu is a dedicated student who actively seeks deeper understanding rather than just memorizing facts. She describes Anh Thu as “intelligent, diligent, and deeply invested in her specialized subject.” Her diligence and attention to detail have contributed to her consistent academic success. Winning First Prize in History - or in any subject - in the National Exam is never easy. Simply memorizing facts is not enough. Ms. Kim Thuy emphasizes that passion is essential, as history involves an immense volume of events. Equally important is logical and scientific thinking, which helps students connect events, understand their essence, and recognize the links between the past, present, and future.
Reflecting on her journey, Ms. Anh Thu shares: “Knowledge, acquirement, and experiences are the most valuable things I’ve gained from my three years studying history. I used to be shy and timid. I failed in every competition I entered, which made me feel insecure. But through those failures, I realized that only with resilience and confidence can success come. Today’s achievement is the result of a long journey. I didn’t start out as the best, but I improved myself step by step, and I’m truly proud of that.”
During her time at Quoc Hoc Hue High School for the Gifted, Anh Thu earned several prestigious awards. Specifically, in 10th grade, she was awarded Consolation Prize in History in the Exam for Selecting Excellent Students in the Coastal and Northern Delta; in 11th grade, she won Third Prize and Second Prize in History in the Provincial Exam and the National Exam for Selecting Excellent Students in High Schools respectively; and in 12th grade, she achieved Second Prize and First Prize in History in the Provincial Exam and the National Exam respectively.