At nearly two years old, my mother introduced me to interactive math and English discs on her laptop. The "Smart Pencil" program captivated me with engaging visuals and puzzles, making concepts like addition and size comparisons fun and accessible. Encouraged by my mother’s praise, I developed a deep love for learning, which she documented fondly with notes and photos of me studying.

​

​My passion for math blossomed further during my first trip to the U.S. with my mother for a publication conference for her PhD thesis. Excited to accompany her, I took the opportunity to study math on the plane instead of watching movies. Once in the U.S., while my mother took me to Disneyland during her breaks, I would pull out my math worksheets to work on even while walking around or in our hotel room.

 

Recognizing my aptitude, my mother invested in more math programs, eventually enrolling me in Kumon in first grade. My quick progress allowed me to complete lessons in minutes, leading my teacher to assign extra work. By fifth grade, I was solving 10th-grade math, and by seventh grade, I had completed the entire Kumon program. I then advanced through the Mathnasium curriculum, completing all levels for grades 7-9.