“Unbelievable” was the first word Minh Triet used to describe the moment he saw his score. But behind the modesty lies a carefully considered strategy, a deep sense of self-belief, and an unrelenting passion for learning.

“I approached the IB like a long-distance bike race. I paced myself for most of the journey, focusing on deep learning and understanding, and then sprinted to the finish in the final stretch with everything I had.”

This analogy not only encapsulates Minh Triet’s academic philosophy but also reflects a mindset that has shaped his high school experience at the European International School (EIS). His remarkable journey offers inspiration to students everywhere - and stands as a testament to the kind of learning environment EIS fosters.

Staying Positive and Playing the Long Game

What kept Minh Triet going during the toughest parts of the IB? A surprising mix of joy, perspective, and what he calls “a bit of a prank.”

“I always tried to find something fun in every assignment - even the difficult ones. And I didn’t feel external pressure; I was driven by a desire for self-actualization and curiosity. Part of me also wanted to surprise my teachers who probably didn’t expect me to ace the exams. It became my little prank.”

On the hardest days, he says, there were always good things to be found. “I focus and remember these daily good things to keep me motivated in the toughest of times,” he explains. This comes from his belief that every situation has both positives and negatives - and that leaning into the positives can be a powerful driver of progress.

“I follow the principle that things always have their good and bad sides. If we think about the good, even in something that first seems bad, we can use that to our advantage and improve - like making ‘lemonade’ when life gives you lemons. Not only that, trying to be positive and happy to your peers, teachers, staff, and others always creates a motivating atmosphere, which not only helps you, but also the others!”

He also credits a personal mantra - “stay positive” - rooted in a PSHE (Personal & Social Health Education) class at EIS. That lesson planted the seed of a growth mindset that matured into resilience and creative problem-solving. “Besides having a positive growth mindset, being able to accept your mistakes and learn from them is very important and will take you a long way. Being yourself is also what matters. The IB — and your future endeavours - is lengthy, so you need to be a version of yourself that you’re comfortable and confident with.”

With a touch of humour and humility, Minh Triet likens his process to reinforcement learning in AI: “fail, learn, adjust, improve.”

A Spark for Science - And a School That Fed the Flame

While his IB grades are undeniably impressive, Minh Triet’s true passion lies in physics - particularly in electronics. That passion was ignited at EIS in Grade 8 during a science project where he boldly diverged from expectations.

“Everyone made acoustic instruments. I made an analog voltage-controlled oscillator using resistors, capacitors, transistors, and op-amps. My teacher was stunned!”

That project earned Minh Triet top marks and sparked a deep love for circuitry that grew through other EIS projects - from building a Monome Norns music instrument in Design class to developing a self-driving car using machine learning algorithms for his personal project. With every step, EIS gave him space to innovate, make mistakes, and push boundaries.

“EIS helped me merge creativity with logic - music with math, imagination with engineering.”

A Global Mind, Heading for Munich

Now bound for the prestigious Technical University of Munich, Minh Triet will study Electrical Engineering and Information Technology - a perfect fit for someone who tinkers with Arduinos for fun and dreams of designing music tech gear.

“Germany was a natural choice. It’s central in Europe, culturally rich, and a hub for innovation. I love the language, and TUM stands out as one of the best in the world.”

Long-term, he hopes to innovate in the audio technology industry, building synthesizers and tools that empower others to express their creativity.

Advice for Future IB Students: Practice with Purpose

Minh Triet is quick to dispel the myth that the IB is “impossible.”

“IB isn’t that hard if you’re consistent. I used to get 3s and 4s in Maths and Physics. But I kept solving problems, and soon I jumped to 6s.”

He also emphasised balance - not through rigid schedules, but through flexible “soft plans,” early morning study sessions, and finding time to unwind with music, games, and bike rides.

But perhaps his most practical piece of advice is how to beat procrastination. “I would often lose sleep from procrastination rather than from working. So, I tried to remove all causes for my procrastination - locking my phone away, switching to my Blackberry ‘dumbphone’ at home, avoiding social media for the first 15 minutes after I get home, and using an e-ink tablet instead of a normal one to cut down on online distractions. Not all these methods are effective because I still lack discipline - but having them is better than nothing.”

His calm, grounded approach to time management helped him avoid burnout without compromising results.

Gratitude and Growth: A Heartfelt Thank You

As Minh Triet reflects on his school years, one theme shines through: community.

“I’d like to thank the entire EIS community - the teachers, the staff, and especially the students, across all grades - for being so supportive in my journey. I truly enjoyed every interaction with all of you, whether it was during break time, study time, or class time.”

From casual hallway conversations to shared projects and after-school clubs, he credits the everyday moments and people for shaping who he is today. He offers a warm shoutout to his Dungeons & Dragons ASA group, who added joy and imagination to his school life, and shares a characteristically humorous note of apology to his teachers:

“To my teachers, I’m sorry for mostly being late - both in my physical presence and in the submission of my work!”

He also extends his thanks to the support staff for their simple but impactful gestures:
“To the EIS staff, thank you for saying hi to me every morning and giving me large portions of food during lunch!”

And, of course, to his classmates: “To EIS students (my gang gang) - Ski Aggu.”

In his words and in his journey, Minh Triet embodies the spirit of EIS: curious, creative, community-minded, and full of heart.

At EIS, stories like Minh Triet’s remind us that education is not just about results - but about nurturing a love of learning, building resilience, and empowering young people to turn curiosity into action.

Congratulations, Doan Minh Triet - we can’t wait to see the impact you’ll make in the world.