NG: Yes, I had a really busy summer. In Bosnia, we have short, fast-paced camps that are centered around competitions. In China, the atmosphere was much more relaxed. I also came across some new and unexpected methods of solving problems, such as using vectors to solve combinatorial problems.
NG: The IMO went well, and I met some nice people. The competition took place in the city of Bath, and I got to see more of the UK. It’s a beautiful country, and I hope to explore it more in the future, especially Edinburgh.
NG: When I was in middle school, we had a test that included a bonus problem about flowers doubling in a lake each day. I thought, “Wow, how is that possible?” I enjoyed logical riddles, and competitive math felt like a natural continuation. I started studying mathematics more seriously in my second year of high school.
NG: I view creativity as a step that brings everything together in a problem. Certain board problems are good examples of this concept. By coloring the board in a specific way, the solution can suddenly become clear.
NG: I became more serious about it when I started understanding things I couldn’t grasp before. The great thing about math is that it encourages you to work hard to understand it.
NG: The mocktails at EGMO 2023 were fantastic.
NG: I’m looking forward to it, but I’m also nervous. It will be a walk into unknown territory. It’ll also be nice to continue my education in the UK with my close friends.
NG: Research is something I want to pursue at university, especially since I know I’ll have more opportunities for it in the UK. I’ve always liked the idea of selecting one interesting problem and working tirelessly on it.
NG: I enjoy art and attended a fine arts course for two years during high school. I also love reading. The book I’m currently reading is by a Bosnian author named Zija Dizdarević, who writes about life in Bosnia in the 1930s, and it’s fascinating to compare that to life today. Skiing is my favorite sport.
