Chukwuebuka's Story

I discovered my passion for math while doing geometry in 8th grade. I'm not great at geometry, but the way the material was taught truly interested me. It surprised me at the time that we could prove a large reasoning of what I considered true by virtue as an extension of a few simple axioms. After that, I've always been interested in why something works rather than being complacent in using it blindly. My first exercise when learning something new is to prove it and many times it's always simply an extension, or the same things in different terms, from what I've previously learned. The idea that if someone were to accept a small set of axioms, that if I accept these seemingly superficial statements as true, that a plethora of theorems, identities, expressions, and more could follow is almost surreal, in a good way.

Attending Centenary Summer Scholars would allow me to have some research experience with not only some of the best mathematicians but also one of the best facilities. What I hope to gain by attending Centenary Summer Scholars is an increased level of mathematical maturity. Attending will allow me to be around equally, if not more, enthusiastic young mathematicians. One of my favorite times is when I go to a math competition and have a discussion with the person next to me about how they solved a particular problem, how much preparation they put into the meet or things of the like. Being around people who like math as much as I like it and do math as much as I do would be a great experience.