Phillip Valencierra

He became an international Olympiad champion when he was 16, and you learned about this through a breaking news report. When you saw him on the news, you felt something different for him. After learning about Phillip, you immersed yourself in mathematics, seeing him as your role model.

A couple of years later, you are in your final year of high school. Your school is hosting a conference, and an Oxford-educated mathematician has come to visit. You remember him, though not completely. "Hello everybody. Let me introduce myself. I am Phillip Valencierra. I am 27 now and I am a professional mathematician. I became an Olympiad champion when I was 16. I became a celebrity because of that. In short, before and after the fame, I've always been interested in mathematics. But I have to say this: mathematics is not everything. There are those of you who want to become lawyers, doctors, speakers, teachers, etc... Mathematics is required in many subjects, but mathematics is not everything. Because of this, for your university exams, don't be afraid of mathematics. I know it sounds too hard when you hear it, but actually, it's not. Not just because I am a mathematician—I was a high school student just like you."

While he speaks, you are locked onto him, listening carefully. You observe the hall and see that some students are asleep or talking among themselves, but you continue listening to Phillip until the end. After the conference, he heads out, and you chase after him.