27/10/2023

Medalist dreams of going to college and inspiring family.

The son of a cleaning lady and a truck driver, 18-year-old Pedro Henrique de Paula Freitas, a resident of Ubá (MG), says that OBMEP (Brazilian Mathematical Olympiad for Public Schools) was responsible for "introducing" him to university. Awarded three medals in the Olympiad, one silver and two bronze, and two honorable mentions, the student gained access to the PIC (Scientific Initiation Program) which helped him deepen his studies and dream of higher education.

“Most of my family didn’t have the opportunity to go to college. My parents, for example, only have an incomplete elementary education. I never had close people to talk to about what it’s like to go to university. By participating in OBMEP and PIC, I developed more interest and enjoyment in studying. Furthermore, the first time I went to a university was at the PIC Regional Meeting [which took place this year, in September, at the Federal University of Ouro Preto], where I became even more interested in continuing my studies and inspiring other people in my family to do the same.”

Pedro was a student in the PIC program for four years and is currently part of the Mentors project, which offers courses taught by university professors. Students who are scholarship recipients from CNPq (National Council for Scientific and Technological Development), have won awards in OBMEP (Brazilian Mathematical Olympiad for Public Schools), and have participated in the PIC program more than twice, with at least one participation at level 3, are eligible to participate in the program.

In addition to discovering new ways to learn mathematics, the classes opened doors for the student. Pedro was one of those selected for the 8th Hilbert Hotel Meeting, which took place in Natal (RN), in July of this year. The experience was described as "wonderful".

“Being able to interact with people from other regions of Brazil is very interesting. I believe that one of the best parts is this interaction with different people because we get to know new cultures and realities that are totally different from our own.”

Like other students in the PIC program, Pedro receives a scholarship of R$ 300 for participating. This amount helps him invest in his studies. With the money, he was able to buy school supplies and books for both mathematics and other subjects.

Dalva Helena de Paula and João Carlos de Freitas, the student's parents, played an important role in their son's performance: They always encouraged his studies. "Pedro is our pride and joy; it's an immense joy to have a son as hardworking as him. Neither I nor his father had opportunities, but he is on his way to a bright future in college," Dalva emphasizes.

She also mentions that she lived in Campinas (SP) for 19 years, but to provide better study conditions for her sons, Pedro and his brother Gabriel, she and the boys' father chose to move to Ubá, in Minas Gerais, in 2011.

João emphasizes that OBMEP (Brazilian Mathematical Olympiad for Public Schools) was one of the greatest incentives his son received. “He has excelled, he’s very hardworking, he loves to study. He won a medal, and it’s very rewarding to see all this effort. We always pray that his path will be filled with great success.”

A lover of mathematics from a young age, Pedro emphasizes that the subject can be much more interesting than people believe. “Mathematics isn't necessarily boring; it might seem difficult at first, but that's because people don't understand it. And the OBMEP (Brazilian Mathematical Olympiad) is a great opportunity for us to understand it. The Olympiad's tests stimulate our logical reasoning.”