Nacafli Nacaf, who successfully completed the 4th grade of the Technical and Natural Sciences Lyceum this year, attracts attention with both his academic achievements and his successes in international olympiads. Over the course of four years, he has finished all grades with high results and has participated in international competitions since the 2nd grade, winning a number of prestigious awards.
Nacaf is a three-time gold medalist of the SASMO olympiad and a two-time gold medalist of the AMO olympiad. Most recently, he achieved a 100 percent result in the International Global Olympiad, winning a Diamond medal. In addition, he was awarded a gold medal with a 100 percent result in the Cambridge English Language Olympiad. We talked to the young talent about the secret of his success, his interests, and his future plans. – Nacaf, first of all, we congratulate you on your achievements. How would you introduce yourself to our readers? – Thank you very much for your congratulations. I am Nacafli Nacaf, a 4th-grade student at the Technical and Natural Sciences Lyceum. – You have finished all grades with excellent grades over four years. What is the secret of this success? – The secret of this success is hard work and setting goals. Working hard alone is not enough; the support of teachers and parents is also very important. I have always felt their support. – You started participating in international olympiads in the second grade. How was your first competition experience? – The first olympiad I participated in was SASMO. I prepared for this competition independently at home. My first olympiad was very exciting. When the results were announced, both my family and I were very happy to learn that I had won a gold medal. – How did it feel to win a gold medal three times in the SASMO olympiad? – Winning gold medals consecutively gives me a sense of pride. But I don’t want to settle for this. In the coming years, I want to work harder to achieve a 100 percent result in the SASMO olympiad and represent my homeland in Singapore. – You have participated in the AMO olympiad twice and won a gold medal in both competitions. How did you prepare for this result? – I prepared for the AMO olympiad with the support of my mother and my class teacher, Elnura muallima. I am very grateful for the help they have given me. – What does winning a Diamond medal with a 100 percent result in the International Global Olympiad mean to you? – This is a very important result for me. Because this is the first Diamond medal I have won. I will work harder to increase the number of these medals in the future. – You won a gold medal with a 100 percent result in the Cambridge English Language Olympiad. What methods do you use to learn English? – The Cambridge Olympiad was the second English language competition I participated in. Since my English level is B1–B2, I was able to achieve this successful result. I always try to read, learn new words, and use English resources. – Besides your studies, you also swim during the summer months. What role does sports play in your life? – Swimming is both a very interesting and healthy sport. This sport helps in the development of all body muscles. I swim regularly every summer vacation. – We know that you have a great passion for reading books. What topics do you read about most, and what is your favorite book? – I love reading science fiction books the most. Some of the books I read are in English, and others are works of fiction. My favorite book is “Sherlock Holmes: The Red-Headed League”. – What profession do you want to have in the future, and what are your main goals for the coming years? – I want to be a lawyer in the future. I have a great interest in history. I watch historical films and learn information about historical figures. My main goal for the coming years is to work harder and achieve successful results in future olympiads as well. – Finally, what would you like to say to your peers? – I wish success to all students. May they work constantly to achieve their goals and believe in themselves. We thank you for the interview and wish Nacaf new successes in future competitions.