DO DUC MINH’s Story
Fortunate to be born into a family that wasn’t overly challenging, accompanied and strongly encouraged by my elder brother, I embarked on a journey in pursuit of knowledge and was admitted to the specialized program at the High School for the Gifted in Natural Sciences. Together with my brother, our names were frequently mentioned on the school’s honor roll with first and second prizes in the National Physics Competition for many years. My journey at the age of 17 consisted of extended days of studying alongside outstanding friends. We all relentlessly strived in a rigorous academic environment. I appreciate the dedicated months of studying, the restless nights with only a few hours of sleep before school, and the summer breaks that felt like an extension of the school’s laboratory at the Hanoi Institute of Science and Technology. All of this served as motivation to surpass my limitations, earning numerous gold medals in international and national physics competitions. This has further defined my passion for STEM and my aspiration to explore outer space.
Hanoi, with its rich historical heritage, always provides me with a sense of connection, blending tradition with progress in daily life. Every step through the ancient streets on starlit autumn evenings, every science book I’ve read since childhood, and the achievements of scientists worldwide have nurtured my dreams of uncovering the mysteries of the universe and contributing to the advancement of space technology. Occasionally, while sitting in a corner of the schoolyard, discussing NASA’s space research and exploring enigmatic rocky planets beyond the Solar System, I journey into my imagination, pondering intriguing questions about the existence of life beyond Earth. To me, the inventions of scientists in deciphering the secrets of distant planetary systems are like a world of timeless tales that have stayed with me for many years in every dream.