“I was very, very happy to achieve such a high result. I would like to thank Ms. Trang, my homeroom teacher from class 6H1, for introducing me to the HKICO and encouraging me to join the school-level round. I’m also grateful to Ms. Mai, my ICT teacher, who accompanied me throughout the preparation and shared the joy with me when I received the results.”
Those were the heartfelt words of Lê Minh An, a student of class 6H1 at Hanoi Adelaide School, when sharing about his journey to winning the Gold Medal at the Hong Kong International Computational Olympiad (HKICO).
The first impression of Minh An is of a tall, gentle, intelligent, and slightly shy boy. He transferred to Hanoi Adelaide School in Grade 5, spending most of the school year studying online and only about two months attending in-person classes at the Kim Lien campus. In Grade 6, he moved to the Duong Noi campus. Adjusting to a new environment and grade level required self-direction and great effort – and Minh An did even more than that.
From a Curious Boy to a Young “Golden” Talent in Informatics
Behind Minh An’s quiet appearance lies a wealth of knowledge across various fields such as history, cinema, science, and programming. He often surprises people around him — not only in class and school projects but even in casual conversations — with his unique insights, discoveries, and thought-provoking questions.
For example, during a filmmaking project at the Vietnam Documentary Film Studio, Minh An asked in-depth questions about the development of documentary films through different periods, impressing even experienced directors with his professionalism. Or during a history field trip to the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long and Hoa Lo Prison, he showed his deep understanding by completing the reflection task quickly and meaningfully.
For this reason, when Minh An registered to take part in two academic competitions — the Hong Kong International Computational Olympiad (HKICO) and the Hong Kong International Science Olympiad (HKISO) — his teachers firmly believed he would achieve remarkable results. Still, winning a Gold Medal in the HKICO and a Silver Medal in the national round of the HKISO came as a joyful surprise to both Minh An and his teachers. In particular, the Gold Medal at the international level, with an outstanding score, has marked a significant milestone in his learning journey.
A Positive Transformation
What truly stands out in Minh An is not only his broad knowledge or his love for reading English books, but his remarkable personal growth. A clear example of this transformation is the “Student of the Month – December” award that he proudly received in class 6H1.
Throughout the first semester, as his academic abilities became more evident, Minh An gradually became more confident and enthusiastic in school life. He even signed up to compete in badminton during the school’s Sports Festival — a bold step for a once-shy boy.
Today, Minh An actively takes part in physical activities, and he feels genuinely happy to be at Hanoi Adelaide School, where he has found close friends who share his interests and teachers who truly understand and support him. He also shared that the nutritious, home-style meals at school give him more energy to enjoy and engage in learning every day.
