Impressive academic achievements
At the age of 17, Lai Khoi Minh, a student of 11Sedona, The Dewey Schools, has not only impressed his friends and teachers with his passion for technology but also with his remarkable self-learning ability and academic achievements:
- Setting a personal goal to earn a university degree right after graduating from high school, Minh is currently pursuing both his high school studies at Dewey and a major in Information Technology Programming at FUNiX, FPT University.
- Khoi Minh and his team ranked among the top 5 teams in the national round of the Enjoy AI robotics programming competition, earning the honor of representing Vietnam at the international finals in China. Drawing on the confidence and experience honed at Dewey, Minh’s team excelled, finishing in 4th place overall.
- At the finals of the Dewey Business Venture competition, Minh’s team won the “Most Impressive Presentation” award with their Aspire Hub project – a platform designed to help students connect with advisors, guiding them in their academic and career pathways.
The origin of a passion for technology
Behind his quiet and reserved demeanor, Khoi Minh surprises others with his determination and impressive self-learning ability. “When I was younger, I loved playing video games. As I grew older, I started to wonder: how do you program a game, and why not try creating my own game application? That question drove me to dive deeper into programming,” Minh shared. His journey of exploring technology began from that moment.
True to his words, Minh started dedicating hours to teaching himself coding, building websites, and experimenting with technology through YouTube. Not stopping at self-study, Minh proactively connected with online communities of like-minded peers to learn together and share experiences.
Khoi Minh’s passion for technology continues to be nurtured and developed at Dewey. He rarely misses workshops or career-oriented activities in the field of information technology organized by the school. Notably, Minh has expressed a deep interest in Maker Design Engineering (MDE), one of seven innovative subjects transferred from MVS (USA) to Dewey. This subject provides him with a creative space to turn ideas into highly practical products. Recently, Minh has been focusing on completing his Art Gallery Website project, a platform where users can store and share images, similar to Instagram. This is one of the projects under the MDE, allowing him to develop programming skills while practicing Design Thinking.
The tireless journey in pursuit of dreams
Beyond acquiring knowledge at school, Minh took the initiative to expand his learning by enrolling in the online programming program at FUNiX after some time of self-study. He shared that this two-year program equips him with foundational to advanced knowledge in website building, web application development, and computer science.
To balance both academic programs, Minh often uses his lunch breaks to go to the library and complete assignments. Having honed his self-learning ability, research, and information synthesis skills at Dewey since middle school, Minh has easily adapted to online programming courses, which demand a high level of self-discipline. The Dewey environment has also helped him develop critical thinking and confidence. Minh is not afraid to ask questions of his teachers and mentors to gain a better understanding of the material.
The unwavering support from loved ones
Khoi Minh shared that, although he is not pursuing the career path of his family, he has always received encouragement and support from his parents. “Recognizing that information technology will be a leading field in the future, my parents have always created the best conditions for me to follow my passion. I also feel incredibly fortunate to study at Dewey, where I’ve connected with friends who share the same interests. As a quiet and introverted person, I have never felt out of place because I’ve always had friends and teachers by my side, ready to support me.”
Having accompanied Khoi Minh for the past three years, Mr. Joe Gore, an MDE teacher, proudly remarked, “It has been a pleasure to witness Khoi Minh’s growth and passion evolve year after year. What sets Minh apart is his eagerness to learn and strong determination, never hesitating to step out of his comfort zone. In just six weeks, he taught himself and built an impressive website. His project not only applied design principles but also showcased exceptional programming skills. I am confident that with his talent and proactive learning spirit, Khoi Minh will achieve even greater heights in the future.”
Though the road ahead may still hold challenges, Khoi Minh remains steadfast in his belief in the path he has chosen. With his self-learning mindset, passion, and strong “support system” of family, teachers, and friends, we wish this 17-year-old student great success and joy as he continues to pursue his dreams.
