Apparently, he doesn’t smile too often, but it has been difficult to wipe the grin off Horton Lai’s face this past week or so.
And it’s little wonder, considering the Grade 12 Burnett secondary student got 100 per cent on a North American chemistry exam.
Horton got all 40 questions correct in the University of Waterloo test, which 2,186 students sat, including his classmate Kittie Lam, who placed 60th in the continent.
To put Horton’s achievement into perspective, only 470 students out of more than 198,000 who have written the exam over 47 years have matched the humble 18-year-old.
“I told (Horton) on the phone that I had something to tell him and then, when he came into the class, I laid out the (certificates) in front of him,” Horton’s chemistry teacher, Robbie Kailley, told the Richmond News.
“Probably for the first time in two years, there was this look of extreme joy; the biggest smile came across his face.
“As a teacher, just watching that, to see how much he’s...grown. It was special.”
Horton said he only studied for the test, which was taken locally, for a few hours, as he had a biology exam that day.
After sitting Waterloo’s chemistry test, however, Horton had a feeling it went rather well.
“We were checking answers with each other and I thought, ‘I didn’t get anything wrong.’”
Kailley said he had intended to keep Horton’s incredible score as a surprise for the school’s valedictory ceremony on Thursday.
“I realized I wanted to give him some time to reflect and experience the amazing results and to share it with his classmates,” he said.
“I’m so happy for him; he’s a really hard-working kid and really humble.”
As well as the recognition of being one of the top chemistry students in North America, Horton’s prize included a research award for those attending the University of Waterloo.
However, he’s off to study science at UBC, with a special focus on biotech and DNA.
Horton was set on Thursday night to receive top awards for chemistry at the ceremony.
As for his parents, they had no idea about the 100 per cent — until Thursday evening.
“I’m going to surprise them at the valedictory ceremony,” Horton said.
“I hope they will be proud of me.”
