30/08/2024

'Mathematics led me to NASA,' says Ana Clara Darze.

Gold and bronze medalist at OBMEP, 14-year-old student Ana Clara Darze traveled to the United States this year to visit NASA in Washington and Disney in Orlando. The trip was a result of her excellent performance in the Rio de Janeiro Mathematics Olympiad – a competition organized by the Rio de Janeiro city government with the support of IMPA.

Ana Clara, a ninth-grade student at the Rodrigues Alves Technological Educational Gymnasium in Rio de Janeiro, recalls that at the beginning of elementary school, she didn't even like math that much. Today, the student has accumulated six Olympic medals, including those from the Brazilian Mathematical Olympiad (OBMEP), the Brazilian Mathematical Olympiad (OCM), and the Kangaroo Math Competition.

“Today, I like math much more than I did at the beginning. In 2019, for example, I didn't even know you could win medals and I didn't care much. Now, math has taken me to NASA. I would do it all again. I realize that the trip strengthened my desire to work there, one of my dreams. My father even gave me a telescope,” the student said.

The trip to the USA wasn't the only experience that mathematics provided for the student from the Rio municipal school system. The bronze medal in the OBMEP (Brazilian Mathematical Olympiad for Public Schools) in 2021 guaranteed access to the PIC (Junior Scientific Initiation Program) and, subsequently, to the gold medal in 2022. The following year, Ana Clara traveled to Santa Catarina to attend the OBMEP National Awards Ceremony.

“OBMEP helped me grow a lot in my studies. Through it, I gained access to the PIC program and a scholarship. The Olympiad also provided me with many incredible experiences, a trip to the South, and I even won a cell phone, which came at a great time. I had just lost my phone,” she said, laughing. “I recommend that everyone participate in OBMEP because it offers many study opportunities,” the student concluded.

Ana Clara explains that the PIC (Scientific Initiation Program) was responsible for strengthening her relationship with the subject. In addition to attending the program's in-person classes every Saturday, the student adopted a study routine at home and does at least one math exercise a day. "Today, I see that mathematics represents a challenge for me that opens doors to new opportunities and a great future. Mathematics is in everything."

Alessandra Darze, the student's mother, emphasizes that participation in the program provided her daughter with skills that go beyond academics. “She developed a greater sense of responsibility towards her studies and the scholarship. The R$300 monthly stipend was her first source of income and investment. OBMEP opened a new path of possibilities. Thanks to OBMEP, my daughter built memorable experiences.”

According to Alessandra, the expectation is that the awards will help Ana Clara achieve a good university degree. One of the young woman's wishes is to study astronomy.