Luna looks to crunch numbers in Mongolia
Morningside learner Luna Ren says the upcoming maths competition in Mongolia will be an opportunity to test her skills, experience a new culture, and learn from learners from around the world.
As the countdown to the International Junior Maths Olympiad enters its final week, Luna Ren is preparing to represent South Africa at the international competition in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
The Redhill School learner described the opportunity as both exciting and meaningful, saying she is looking forward not only to the competition but also to reconnecting with the friends she made during training. “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 most looking forward to is the team contest, where learners will work together to solve 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 she is still getting to know the key stage 3 students as the South African team prepares for the international event.
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 itself, Luna is eager to learn more about Mongolian culture, and to see how mathematics is approached in another part of the world. “I want to learn their culture, traditions, and how they teach and look at maths.”
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.”
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She also credits 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.”
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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