Dear MATES readers, 

About two years ago around this time, Forest Ho-Chen and I were probably still debating about what we want MATES to become after delivering the very first edition to the group. Looking back, MATES seems to evolve untrammelledly as an organization quite without a clear definition: we had hosted a LEGO exhibition, had celebrated Alan Turing’s birthday, and had reported the successes of the GS Varsity Math Team. In this particular occasion writing to you for the last time as the leader of MATES, I want to step aside from introducing you to another interesting scientific fact, but to share some commonality between my STEAM journey over the past four and the spirit of MATES. 

My first contact with mathematics happened while my dad was teaching the five-year-old me about how the clock works. It seems from the moment on, I gradually started to realize that mathematics is something that truly excites me. There were much stereotypes regarding what a person who enjoys mathematics should be like, which I still hear today and would simply laugh it off or not mention my genuine passion much at all. Just like what MATES always reminds me of, there does not exist a set of definition for individuals in the STEAM community. Quite the opposite, from my experience getting to know people in the academia through several research opportunities, the community welcomes diversity— a key realization that offered me confidence in my pursuit of mathematical research. 

When I decided to step into research in 9th grade summer, my sole motivation was from a book called Mathematics and Philosophy, where the 9th-grade me read about math that sounded entirely different from the quick wits and the emphasis on techniques in competition mathematics. At the time, people around me seemed to celebrate those under the spotlight of winning awards in competition mathematics, however, I was somehow enthusiastic and adventurous enough to pursue a path not as common. After my entire high school journey, I still appreciate my willingness to take my first attempt at mathematical research, because along the uncommon path (for math enthusiasts at this age) I found the freedom to explore fields in mathematics that no one has visited, the joy of slow thinking, and a group of people who encouraged me to pursue higher mathematics.

My personal account is not to denounce the charm of competition math but to mention the importance of not being limited by the artificial definition of what a pursuer of STEAM should be like. To me, this is in common with the spirit of MATES, which I consider could be described as the liberty of STEAM pursuers originated from their zeal for the field. Lastly, MATES readers, I hope you could fly high with this spirit in heart. 

Yours truly, 

Linglong