Morningside learner looks forward to crunching numbers at Maths Olympiad in Mongolia
Luna Ren is one of the Redhill learners selected to travel to Mongolia as part of the South African delegation, where she and her teammates will compete alongside young mathematicians from around the world.
As the countdown to the International Junior Maths Olympiad enters its final week, Redhill learner Luna Ren is preparing to represent South Africa on the international stage in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
For Luna, the opportunity is both exciting and meaningful, not only because of the competition itself, but also because of the friendships and teamwork that have developed during the preparation process. “I am very excited as the countdown to the Olympiad enters its final week, and I am very excited to see the friends that I made at the training again.”
Luna said one of the aspects she is looking forward to most is the team contest, where learners will work together on complex mathematical problems. “I am excited to work with my team on the team contest paper, because I only need to focus on my questions and not all of them. I’m also excited because we can work together on the last two questions and discuss them, which we rarely get to do.”
While she is familiar with the key stage 2 learners, Luna said the broader South African team is still getting to know one another, as they prepare for the international event. “I know everyone in key stage 2, but I am still getting to know the key stage 3 students.”
Luna anticipates that adapting to a new environment may be one of the biggest challenges, once the team arrives in Mongolia. “I think the biggest challenge, when we arrive in Mongolia, will be the language, because we speak two different languages, and if we need to get somewhere, Google Translate won’t be so useful.”
Beyond the competition, Luna is eager to learn more about Mongolian culture and how mathematics is approached in another part of the world. “I want to learn their culture, traditions, and how they teach or look at maths.”
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For Luna, success at the Olympiad would represent the progress she has made through years of dedication and practice. “If I win a medal, it will mean my improvement and development in maths.”
She also credited Redhill School for playing a significant role in her mathematical journey. “Redhill gave me the opportunity to compete in various competitions and gave me exposure to various kinds of questions. Redhill played a great role in my math journey.”
When reflecting on what she hopes people will remember after the Olympiad, Luna highlighted the commitment required to compete at this level. “When I return home, I hope people will remember what it takes to compete as a representative of South Africa and the persistence behind our achievement.”
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