BK: I’m doing a summer program where I take short classes that just introduce subjects–machine learning or cognition or various stuff about AI. Then if you want to dig deeper, you can study afterwards. I most enjoyed the classes about programming because I thought they might motivate me to try programming again. I tried it in the past and didn't like it, so I wanted to try it again to see how it feels.
At the program, we have learned about information theory and C++. But the thing right now that I'm thinking about doing in the future is a research career. But if for some reason I am unable to do it, because I know it's very, very hard and I know it's very demanding and I might not enjoy it, then I can do something more applied.
BK: Research looks cool, having a bunch of problems that no one has solved before and creating your own problem and then trying to solve it with a bunch of tools. And I know that probably if I become a researcher and I write a paper, very few people will actually read it. But just the fact of having discovered something and working so hard and, afterwards having this rewarding feeling of “I did it.” It seems cool.
GTF: What mindset do you think is most important for participating in math Olympiads?
BK: In Brazil there hasn't been a girl on the IMO team in the last 15 or so years. So it’s hard to feel inspired. But I think just remembering that if the boys can do it, you also have the chance of doing it – I think that's a better mindset than just saying it's impossible.
BK: Yeah, I think it has made me believe I could go beyond Brazil, I could go and study abroad. So for instance, I wasn't sure if I wanted to try and go to study abroad or stay in Brazil and after my first EGMO, I was like “this environment is really cool.” So I decided I might try going abroad.
BK: I think I'm excited in the sense of trying something new. It definitely will be something very different from what I have experienced, but I would say I'm also a bit afraid of not being able to adapt well or find a friend group or that kind of stuff, but I will only know when I get there. I'm excited to just meet the people that got into the university, like their backgrounds and what they did at high school.
GTF: Do you have a favorite memory from math competitions?
BK: I remember once I sat for a whole afternoon with my friend and we were trying to solve a geometry problem and for us it was very hard at the time. And then after like a few hours we actually managed to do it together without any external help and we got very happy about it. Yeah, I think that was one of the most exciting.
GTF: What do you like to do for fun outside of math?
BK: I really enjoy football. I'm also a little bit excited about this because I know there's a Cambridge football team. I'm excited to make new friends through that kind of stuff.
GTF: What advice would you give to someone just starting out in math Olympiads?
BK: Try not to overwork yourself like from studying and that kind of stuff. Try to enjoy trying to solve a math problem. You can see it not as studying, but more as some fun and you're trying to solve a puzzle or something. I think it's a more healthy approach than just thinking I need to do this, I need to get better, I need to improve.
