LBS: It was a lot of fun. I spent time with friends, and we traveled for the competitions, including the IMO. It’s always a great experience not only because of the results but also because of the friendships I’ve made along the way. Friendships make math competition much more enjoyable. I started getting serious about math competitions in high school when I went to Fazekas, which is the best school for math in Hungary. Having really clever classmates and great teachers made a huge difference for me, and that’s when I started getting better results.
LBS: I’ve enjoyed math from an early age. In elementary school, I was always a bit bored because the material wasn’t challenging enough, but things changed when I got to high school and had a stronger focus on math. I find math fun in general, and that’s enough for me. I love solving problems and thinking about them with other people—it’s much more engaging than just listening to someone lecture. I enjoy number theory the most, but I’ll be learning a lot of new topics at university, and who knows? My preferences might change.
GTF: What excites you about starting university, and are there specific topics you’re looking forward to?
LBS: I’m really excited about university, especially being in a new country and meeting lots of new people. I have a few friends from Hungary who will also be at Cambridge, but I’m looking forward to making new connections. I’m eager to dive into more theoretical aspects of math. I’ve always preferred abstract math over applied math. I don’t care too much about how useful something is—I just want it to be fun, beautiful, and intellectually interesting. I’m also hoping to enjoy the social side of things and have fun while studying.
GTF: Do you have any thoughts on what you’d like to do after university?
I’m not sure yet. Ideally, if everything works out, I’d like to become a mathematician, doing research and teaching at a university or a research center. But if I become interested in something else, or if that doesn’t work out, I’d consider teaching in high school. I’ve had some great math teachers who were really enthusiastic and made a big impact on me, and I could see myself doing the same. There’s also the possibility of going into something more practical, so I’m keeping my options open.
GTF: What advice would you give to someone just starting out in Math Olympiads?
LBS: The most important thing is to do as much as you enjoy and not to push yourself too hard. If you force yourself to learn topics you’re not good at, it can become more fun as you get better, but don’t overdo it. And remember that competitions are just one part of math. Don’t determine your self-worth based on competition results. I know people who are incredibly smart and great at math but not as good at competitions—that’s okay. Competitions are only one aspect, and they’re not everything.
GTF: Do you enjoy the international aspect of math competitions?
LBS: Yeah, I’ve enjoyed meeting people from other countries, but to be honest, I spent most of my time hanging out with the Hungarian team. I could have socialized more with people from other countries. That said, I did make some friends internationally, and some of them will also be at Cambridge, so I’m excited to see them again.
GTF: What hobbies do you have outside of math?
LBS: I really enjoy sport climbing in the gym, and over the years, a lot of my friends started climbing too. At one point, there were about 15 of us climbing together, which was really fun. I also love ice skating, although that’s not possible in the summer. I’m pretty competitive, so whenever I lose at something, whether it’s sports or math competitions, I get frustrated and then train to improve and win the next time.
