Mathematics
“It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important.
— Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince
I have a deep interest in the intricacies of numbers and patterns, and enjoy solving complex mathematical problems. I plan to major in math and do research in pure mathematics, with the long-term aim of being a professional mathematician.
My mathematical journey has unfolded in three distinct chapters—each shaping how I think, explore, and learn.
Chapter 1. Contests.
My early years were spent immersed in math contests—I began the AMC series in second grade, qualified for the AIME in fourth grade, and by age 12 had achieved a perfect score on the AMC 8 and qualified for the USAMO. That same year, I placed 4th nationally on Math Kangaroo Level 12, a competition intended for high school seniors. It was an exciting time, filled with sharp puzzles and the joy of quick insight.
Chapter 2. Research.
Around this time I became curious about what mathematics looked like beyond competitions. As a 12 year old freshman, I applied to the MIT PRIMES-USA program, where I’ve now spent three years researching topics in commutative algebra, representation theory, and combinatorics. I’ve co-authored four papers published in well-regarded journals, including one recognized with a USA Bronze Medal in Mathematics at the S.-T. Yau High School Science Awards. As a World Science Scholar (WSS ’24), I’ve had the chance to explore math and interdisciplinary science under the guidance of world-renowned researchers.
Chapter 3. Balance.
As I turned 14, my passion for contests was rekindled through the Putnam Exam, a competition designed for undergraduates, which I took as a high school junior, placing 58th nationally among thousands of undergraduates—thereby earning an Honorable Mention. Getting back on the AMC track, I have recently won a USAMO Gold Award and attended the MAA’s Math Olympiad Program (MOP 2025). Meanwhile, I have continued my research and advanced coursework through San José State University, Euler Circle, and AoPS.
Through graduate-level applied mathematics courses at SJSU, I developed a fascination for physics, which led me to self-study college level physics. Subsequently, I became a USAPhO gold medalist and a member of the 2024 U.S. Physics Team.
Today, I find meaning in both the elegance of contests and the depth of research—they challenge me in different ways, and together, they shape me into the mathematician I hope to become.
I am a 2023 Spirit of Ramanujan Fellow and a recipient of the 2025 Global Child Prodigy Award.