Started in 2000 in Ho Chi Minh City and then expanded to the Mekong Delta region from 2004, the “Good essay – Good handwriting” contest held by the HCMC Department of Education and Training, Sai Gon Giai Phong newspaper, and Prudential has attracted many secondary school students’ participation and interest from Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta region.

Candidates have to go through a school ranking contest first, then a district ranking contest, and finally the city ranking contest by achieving two criteria “good essay” and “good handwriting” in one essay (the essay on human life and society for grade 6 and 7, and on discussing society’s issues for grade 8 and 9). The contest aims to cultivate and improve the middle school students’ writing skills as well as promote civic - mindedness in order to help them become good citizens.

Lam Boi Linh is a student of The Asian International School, Pasteur Campus, class 7/1. All teachers and friends at the school cherish her a lot because of her good-nature and friendliness. On 27/09/2012, Lam Boi Linh was commended and rewarded by the Head of the Department of Education and Training of District 3 for her academic achievement. She persuasively surpassed more than 70 excellent students from many secondary schools in District 3 and won the district ranking contest "Good essay – Good handwriting".

Lam Boi Linh was delighted to win the contest. The result is not only a great achievement for her and the school, but also a shining example for IAS students. To achieve such great academic success, Lam Boi Linh has made a great effort and studied very hard. She said: "I have been studying at the Group of Asian International Education from grade 1 up to now. At first, my handwriting was not as beautiful as my classmates’, so I decided to improve it every day. My class teacher encouraged and helped me a lot and finally I got such a wonderful achievement."

Ms. Tran Thi Thanh Vuong said: “In class, Lam Boi Linh is very good, she always listens to her teachers. Besides, she is very friendly and enthusiastic. She is always ready to help her friends and never absent from the school’s outdoor activities.”

Lam Boi Linh shared her learning method: "Every day in class, I always try my best to write beautiful essays and improve my handwriting and when I am home, I often search for good essays on the internet to read and analyze."

Lam Boi Linh has loved reading books since she was a child. She says that literature is not as boring as people think. According to her, literature makes us feel interested and happy, it also helps us understand life better, and through literature, people know how to behave and live well. Lam Boi Linh is very aware of the importance of study because she can only make her dreams come true with continued study. That is the reason why she always studies hard to reach her goals as well as satisfy her parents and teachers.

She added: "I really like the educational environment that IAS brings to me. The facilities of the school are very spacious and modern. The facilities and equipment include library, laboratory, computer rooms, and music rooms. By learning the Vietnamese program and the international program simultaneously, I can develop in all aspects at IAS. In addition, all of the teachers always guide and teach me conscientiously so that I can make progress day by day."

Boi Linh is not only good at literature, but at math also. She said that math helps her develop her thinking ability which she needs to perfect her writing skill. She added when practicing handwriting, it is easier to use fountain pen than ball-point pen. Besides, practicing handwriting helps people become more focused and hard working.

On 14/10/2012, Boi Linh will participate in the city ranking contest "Good essay – Good handwriting". To prepare for the exam, Boi Linh reviews all of her lessons with her teachers in class and when she is at home, she searches for good material on the internet to read and examine. She said: "The city raking contest is a great challenge for me. I will try my best to become the first prize winner of the contest. I would like to say thanks to my parents, my teachers, and my friends who always support and encourage me a lot. In particular, I appreciate all teachers at IAS who provide me helpful knowledge."

Boi Linh’s dream is to become a writer, she wants to bring people a different perspective on literature from her works. She hopes that after graduating from IAS, she will study abroad to expand her knowledge about world literature so that she can combine Vietnamese literature with world literature to create new features.

Studying at the modern educational environment of IAS, Boi Linh will certainly make her dream come true. All The Asian International School teachers and staff members hope she achieves the best result in the next city ranking contest on 14/10/2012.