13-year-old director causes a stir, used to play games all summer, now has 6 companies inviting him for internships

Journey of self-study, programming every summer and the first teacher is my father

Nguyen Nam Long, currently a 7th grade student at Tran Dai Nghia High School for the Gifted (HCMC). Having started to be exposed to technology since the age of 6, his family proactively created conditions for Long to get acquainted with computers early.

Instead of diving into social networks like many of his peers, Long chose YouTube as a companion, where he naturally sought knowledge and learned programming skills.

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Behind the 13-year-old Director's journey of both studying and playing is the silent but strong support of his family. Photo: NVCC

Without extra classes or exam preparation, Long spends most of his free time tinkering with programming, from writing small games to conducting highly applicable scientific research.

While his peers were busy with extra classes, debate classes or crowded summer activities, Long quietly chose a different path for himself: sitting in front of the computer, learning from English videos , experimenting with programming ideas with the quiet guidance of his father, Long's first and most patient teacher.

My parents did not force me to study extra or pursue achievements. I had a lot of free time to play games, playing to the point of boredom. Then I found programming as something that really fascinated me. Nguyen Nam Long

“My parents didn’t force me to study extra or pursue achievements. I had a lot of free time to play games, to the point of boredom. Then I found programming as something really interesting,” Long said.

According to Mr. Nam Nguyen, Long's father, instead of imposing a learning path or setting expectations for grades, he chose to raise his son with patience and trust. He let Long find his own passion and strengths, and quietly created conditions for him to pursue that path.

During the 7 years, Long not only maintained his excellent student record but also accumulated a deep understanding of technology, the ability to use foreign languages flexibly, and especially the ability to convey knowledge.

“Besides the time I spend in class, I use the remaining time to play games, write code, and develop my skills. And most importantly, I do what I truly love,” Long said.

Every summer, this 7th grader chooses a new direction to explore himself. If last summer was a time of diligently writing games and carrying out scientific research projects, this year, Long chose a more practical journey, becoming a member of the executive team of a software company.

13-year-old "little boss" and the dream of spreading programming knowledge to children

This summer is more special than ever for Long as he has just officially taken on the position of Growth Director at Opla CRM, a startup developing gamification applications in customer management, based in Ho Chi Minh City.

In this role, Long is responsible for coordinating with sales, engineering and product teams to build growth strategies. His KPI is very specific: attracting 1,000 international users to test the software within 100 days.

Actually, this is the opportunity that my father suggested, but to be accepted, I still have to prove that I have enough knowledge, skills and time to do the job well. Nguyen Nam Long

“In addition to the time spent on scientific research, I decided to work full-time four days a week. Actually, this was an opportunity suggested by my father, but to be accepted, I still had to prove that I had enough knowledge, skills and time to complete the job well,” Long shared.

Although only 13 years old, Long did not encounter many barriers when working with older siblings, because since childhood he was used to communicating in a professional environment.

Notably, Long did not use Facebook, Instagram or TikTok, platforms familiar to Gen Alpha, but chose LinkedIn as the only channel to build his personal image and connect with work. Long's first articles, written entirely in English, quickly attracted attention from the international startup and technology community.

Currently, Long is responsible for coordinating with sales, engineering and product teams to build a growth strategy with a KPI of 1,000 international users in 100 days. Photo: NVCC

According to Long, Gen Alphas like him have many advantages, accessing technology early, learning quickly and mastering digital tools well. However, there are also many limitations, especially in social communication experience and time management skills, things that Long is gradually learning to improve himself.

An interesting point is that Long does not set specific goals for the distant future. He does not have a blueprint for what the future will be like. That flexibility helps Long be more open to new opportunities, and ready to take the plunge when he sees something worth trying.

Outside of work, Long is still a real boy after work hours with a passion for table tennis and collecting Pokemon cards.

Revealing his plans for the near future to Vietnamnet, Long said that he is currently nurturing a project to build basic programming classes taught by himself, with the desire to share knowledge, inspire and help friends of the same age, those who do not have the conditions to go to extra classes outside, to have more opportunities to access technology early.

At the age of 13, an age when many of his friends are still struggling to find their interests and define themselves, Nguyen Nam Long chose to study, play, and work at the same time.

He doesn't put pressure on himself to succeed early, but with the accumulated foundation, Long is ready to receive all knowledge and practical experience to develop comprehensively in his own way.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/giam-doc-13-tuoi-dang-gay-sot-cay-game-ca-he-gio-duoc-6-cong-ty-moi-dau-quan-2410626.html