When I was in school I liked math because all the problems had answers. Everything else seemed very subjective.

It started with math. When I was a kid, I just gravitated toward math. I would do problem sets all the time and then eventually did Olympiads and I loved doing that. It was such a passion.

I did all the problems a little different from the rest of the class.

Yes, if we all threw our problems in a pile, I'd take mine back, not because they are easier, but because they are mine. My lessons. My honors. My gifts.

...I still remember those girls and who didn't love math, uh, the way I did. And I mean, oh my gosh, think what they were missing. I know I always felt, you know, solving math problems was a little bit like eating candy. There was something about it. It was so rewarding. It was just such a pleasure to do it. And I thought, oh, once they see this, they're going to enjoy it too.

Your work creates a foundation for these children's future, ... But most of all, I've been struck by the children's own desire to solve their problems.

enjoy your problems

I think many people love their problems. Gives them all sorts of excuses for not growing up and getting on with life.

I loved mathematics and science-related subjects.

But what if solving worthwhile problems is how we enjoy life?

Their problems were my problem. My problems were their problems. I shared it with them. I was happy to eat with them, dance with them. I was paying school fees doing everything.

While in the past I would encounter problems, figure out their causes, and design my own ways to get around them, others who think differently than I do will make different diagnoses and designs. My job as mentor was to help them be successful at that.

– ‘I think many people love their problems. Gives them all sorts of excuses for not growing up and getting on with life.

Each problem that I solved became a rule which served afterwards to solve other problems