21/09/2018

Three-time medalist from Tocantins wants a future in Mathematics.

Na premiação da OBMEP, Caio (blusa branca, sem óculos) ao lado da mascote Aramat

Karine Rodrigues

Life is just beginning for Caio Cardoso Carneiro, 17, from Tocantins, but whatever surprises the future holds, 2017 will surely be remembered as one of the most unforgettable years. In one fell swoop, he experienced three unprecedented and remarkable events: he received his first gold medal at the OBMEP (Brazilian Mathematical Olympiad for Public Schools); he saw the sea for the first time; and he left his hometown for Rio de Janeiro. This was all thanks to winning the most coveted medal in the competition. The gold medal guarantees him an invitation from IMPA (National Institute for Pure and Applied Mathematics) to participate in the annual awards ceremony in Rio de Janeiro.

“It was unforgettable. I had never traveled by plane or seen the sea up close. When I got off the bus upon arriving at the hotel, I saw how far mathematics had taken me and I thought: this must be just the beginning,” recalls the student.

Caio has truly traveled far. Physically and metaphorically. From Rio to Jardim Aureny III, in Palmas (TO), the neighborhood where he grew up and still lives today, it's about two thousand kilometers. Furthermore, he is currently attending high school at the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Tocantins (IFTO), a leading institution in the field of Exact Sciences, and is aiming for a professional future that includes Mathematics.

Caio com a mãe, Elisângela, e a irmã, Gabriela: apoio da família

Regarding one of her favorite subjects, her earliest memory is set in the humble, bare-walled house where she lives with her parents, Elisângela and Valdemir, and her younger sister, Gabriela. "My memory is of my father teaching me the multiplication tables when I was little."

Years later, in 2013, came his first participation in the OBMEP (Brazilian Mathematical Olympiad for Public Schools). A student at the Eurídice Ferreira de Mello Municipal Full-Time School, Caio found the test very difficult and doubted he would be able to win an award. He ended up winning an honorable mention and an additional curiosity about Mathematics. "A desire to always learn more began to emerge."

At home, Caio's achievement filled Valdemir – who resumed his studies as a grown man and became a surveyor – and Elisângela with pride. The general services assistant began to envision other paths for Caio, different from the one she followed when she abandoned her studies after finishing high school and focused on work. She believes that her sons' dedication to school will change the course of the Cardoso Carneiro family, which, until last year, was a beneficiary of the Bolsa Família program. "They are both responsible and enjoy studying. This is a blessing."

In 2014, Caio won his first bronze medal at the OBMEP (Brazilian Mathematical Olympiad for Public Schools). The Scientific Initiation Program (PIC), aimed at medalists of the Olympiad, with in-person and virtual classes, further broadened the teenager's horizons.

“It was wonderful to take classes at the Federal University of Tocantins, a great experience for me. It was one of the things that most encouraged me to invest in Mathematics for my life. OBMEP helped me discover a talent I didn't know I had. Before OBMEP, I thought that a professional path was something people should only think about when registering for the university entrance exam, but with OBMEP I've already discovered what I want for my future. OBMEP gave me direction.”

At the time, in addition to the PIC (Program for Scientific Initiation), Caio was attentive to initiatives carried out within the school to reinforce the study of Mathematics. Therefore, he quickly joined the project of a newly arrived teacher. "I made a booklet with previous OBMEP (Brazilian Mathematical Olympiad for Public Schools) questions and started working on it with a group of students," recalls Agostinho Levino Gonçalves, who has been teaching at Eurídice Ferreira de Mello for eight years.

“When I entered the school, Caio was already there. An excellent student. Polite and very dedicated. He perseveres despite the difficulties,” says Agostinho, explaining that in the classroom he likes to present mathematical content in a playful way and linked to other subjects. In one of the school terms, he covered content related to statistics, presenting texts with controversial themes such as euthanasia, abortion, and violence against the elderly.

Em 2017, quando veio ao Rio receber a medalha de ouro, Caio viu o mar pela primeira vez

Now in high school, with an even more demanding pace, Caio needs an extra effort to not neglect his studies and maintain space for sports and art in his life. Since the school is no longer in the same neighborhood where he lives, he wakes up while it's still dark, takes the bus and, about 40 minutes later, begins his daily routine: classes from 7:30 am to 5 pm.

Twice a week, the teenager returns home very late, around 9 pm, because of handball practice. And he wants to return to music. “I play clarinet and saxophone, but I stopped for a while because I played in my old school band. I'm planning to buy one of the two instruments so I can get back into it,” he reveals.

With an honorable mention, two bronze medals, and a gold medal, Caio says he can even give some hints about the future. "One thing I'm already sure of is that I'm going to work with something that involves mathematics, something I respect. I want mathematics for my future."