Mathematician’s Day: An elementary schoolteacher’s role in inspiring a student

Numbers, fractions and formulas are the basis of mathematical reasoning, essential for countless areas of knowledge, such as physics, engineering, economics and artificial intelligence. That’s why, on October 26, Mathematician’s Day is celebrated in Brazil, in tribute to the professionals who dedicate themselves to this fundamental science. Mathematics not only develops analytical thinking, but is also indispensable for progress in various fields, such as physics, economics and engineering.

This day is an opportunity to celebrate those who challenge logic, solve problems and contribute to the advancement of technology and the development of new theories. For all this to happen, you need to be inspired. In the case of Adrian Felipe Alves, an applied mathematics student at Fundação Getulio Vargas’ School of Applied Mathematics (FGV EMAp), his elementary schoolteacher Rafaella Gatis was his inspiration.

Adrian highlights his teacher’s support for his school projects. “She taught me in the eighth and ninth grades of elementary education, and later on she gave me some private classes to prepare for Olympiads and she supported my projects at school. She even got me a scholarship at another school focused on Olympiads,” he says.

Adrian explains that he picked FGV EMAp because of its excellent professors and the wide range of career paths it opens up, including teaching, working in the financial markets and research.

Read the full interview below.

- Who inspired you to study applied mathematics?

I was inspired by a teacher of mine, who always supported and encouraged me. Before I didn’t know what to do and she introduced me to the Mathematics Olympiads and even gave me private lessons for free. Her passion and drive really inspired me and to this day I’m grateful to her for helping me find myself.

- Can you tell us more about your relationship with her?

At school, she was practically a mother to me. Sometimes we’d talk and she’d give me advice, mostly about careers and so on, but sometimes about life in general. She taught me in the eighth and ninth grades of elementary education, and later on she gave me some private classes to prepare for Olympiads and she supported my projects at school. She even got me a scholarship at another school focused on Olympiads. To this day we keep in touch. We chat sometimes and I give her an update on how everything is going.

- Do you remember something notable this person said?

I remember that she always told me to keep trying and never give up, to stop being hasty and instead fight and be patient. Her support helped me a lot to become who I am today.

- What is your motivation regarding this program?

I’m motivated by the program’s mix of pure and applied mathematics. What we see in pure mathematics is applied to some useful and very cool tools.

- What are the program’s advantages and distinctive features?

I think one of the biggest advantages is the range of careers you can choose from, including teaching, working in the financial markets and research. Also, the professors are incredible. I’d seen some of these professors on the internet before, and now they’re teaching me, you know? Amazing!

To find out more about FGV EMAp, visit its website.

This article is part of our special series called Inspiring Examples. Read the other articles, based on other commemorative dates:

• World Communications Day
• Public Administrator’s Day
• Social Scientist’s Day
• Lawyer’s Day 
• Economist’s Day 
• Administrator’s Day
• Accountant’s Day
• International Relations Professional’s Day
• Science and Technology Day