21/08/2023

OBMEP medalist uses PIC scholarship to invest in studies.

Samyra França, 16, traveled over two thousand kilometers and took a plane for the first time to participate in the 8th Hilbert Hotel Meeting in Natal (RN), in the last week of July. The young woman is from Tanque Novo (BA), a municipality in the Chapada Diamantina region, with just over 17,100 inhabitants. On her way to Natal, she also had the opportunity to visit Salvador, the capital of her state, which is 766 kilometers from her home.

“I experienced everything for the first time! It was my first time in Salvador, my first time flying on a plane, and at Hilbert's Hotel! Since I had never flown before, I didn't know what it would be like and I was even a little scared, but in the end everything went well. It was really cool and I was able to take pictures from up there,” she said excitedly.

Daughter of farmers Aparecida de Fátima Oliveira and Neuzemilton Silva, Samyra says that her parents always encouraged her to study. "They are my biggest motivation for participating in the OBMEP."

With the encouragement of her family, the student won silver in the 1Fridays and 17th OBMEP (Brazilian Mathematical Olympiad for Public Schools) and bronze in the 1Thursdays edition. As she points out, the Olympiad has already provided great opportunities in her life. In addition to the honors, she was able to participate twice in the PIC (Scientific Initiation Program). At the time, besides learning new mathematical concepts, Samyra used the funds from the scholarship granted by the program to invest in her own education.

"With the scholarship money, I was able to invest in myself. I paid for some online courses and my English course as well."

The young woman recounts that her story with OBMEP began by chance in the Fridays grade. She recalls that the teachers gave a very brief overview of the exam. They only informed her that the students who qualified in the first phase would be called for a second exam. Among the names approved for the second phase of OBMEP, hers was there. That's when her relationship with the Olympiad became closer.

“I didn’t really know that OBMEP existed when I first learned about it. Anyway, I decided to take the first phase thinking it would be a very important exam. After I passed, still in Fridays grade, I researched it, tried to understand what it was, and discovered the PIC program and the scholarships that OBMEP offers.”

Despite qualifying, the first medal came a year later: a bronze in 2019. The silver medals were won in 2021 and 2022.

The student's mother says it's a privilege to have her daughter among the OBMEP medalists. “We were surprised when she won the medal, but we know how hard she works as a student. She has always been dedicated and studious. Just getting to the second phase of the Olympiad is already a victory, imagine being a medalist,” said Fátima.

First time at Hilbert's Hotel

In addition to the opportunity to get to know the new state, Samyra participated in Hilbert's Hotel for the first time. She says she was surprised to learn that she had been selected for the meeting, which this year brought together the 160 students from all over Brazil with the best performance in the PIC program.

“I had heard about it, but I never thought I would participate. I immediately told my parents, and we went to find all the information and everything that would be needed to guarantee my participation.”

The medalist described the meeting as a "unique experience." During her immersion in the world of mathematics, she said she was able to develop her reasoning skills, put into practice what she learned in the PIC classes, and also exchange experiences with colleagues who enjoy mathematics as much as she does.

Currently, the student, who is in her second year of high school, participates in the Mentors program, aimed at PIC students, with courses taught by university professors. Students who are CNPq ( National Council for Scientific and Technological Development) scholarship recipients , who have won awards in OBMEP and have participated in PIC more than twice, at least once at level 3, participate in the program.

Looking to the future, the young woman dreams of studying Medicine and is already considering a specialization: neurosurgery. "It all depends, I need to see what it's like in college. For now, I know I want to specialize in the neurological field."