Let me preface this blog post by saying there is no argument involved, more so my simple appreciation towards a complex matter; math. I am no mathematician, I do not study math either. I am just a person who is deeply intrigued by the history of math, and more specifically how every tangible thing around us has an explanation to it because of math.
My fascination with math began from the stone age, back when building blocks defined equations.
The day I learned that math involved letters, I was flabbergasted, extending my captivation with the subject beyond my intellectual mind. As I continued to grow older, my appreciation for the subject deepened. It drove me to take challenging International Baccalaureate math courses throughout high school, participate in my school’s math fairs, and even integrate it with my love for teaching and service.
The implementation of math in different fields sparked a sense of curiosity within me to push beyond the known and explore the unanswered questions of the universe with a goal of finally understanding how things work, why they work, and where they are heading.
A simple integral can be solved in infinite ways whether it is by integration by parts or u-substitution, the beauty of it is that the final answer is always the same. Having the ability to unwind complex problems using different methods nurtured my well-rounded personality as I discovered that every problem, whether it is in mathematics or real life, needs different outlooks and perspectives to reach the correct answer.
Staring at an equation holds the power to take my mind to a million places. It's funny how a problem itself can make me forget all my problems, isn't it? Trying to come up with the most efficient way of executing the problem fostered my hard work ethic. Controlled solely by unknown variables and operations, I try everything to overcome mathematical dead ends as well as life’s obstacles. Nothing in my world is bound by the inability to move forward.
There is nothing more beautiful than a solved equation; like art, the letters beautifully intertwine to create a masterpiece. A masterpiece that has proven to be essential in all things in life. My passion for math has shaped my life and the direction I intend to go with it. With a TI calculator in my hand, I aim to explore this new chapter of my life with a global and constructive spirit, move the scientific world forward, and unveil the mathematical mysteries that are yet to be discovered.
For me, math also provide a space for escape. It is one of the only subjects where almost everything is completely made up or at least highly abstracted. To solve a math problem is to be in a different universe. It helps me block out all the chaos and trouble in our own world.