Welcome!
My name is Michael, and I am in Grade 8 at Park Lawn Junior Middle School in Toronto, Canada. I really like aviation, flight simulation, biking, travelling, gym, math, chess, and drawing.
How Jeff Wall's Weightlifter Changed How I See Goals
Recently, I went to the Museum of Contemporary Art in Toronto and saw an exhibition of Jeff Wall, a famous Canadian photographer from Vancouver. One photo, called Weightlifter (2015), really stuck with me and made me think about my own life goals. In the picture, a man is struggling to lift a huge barbell. It feels like a mix between old-school hard work and modern personal ambition, almost like a conversation between the past and our tech-filled future. It also reminded me of stories about my grandfather, who worked as a miner in Ukraine and had to do heavy labour to get by. Now, people lift weights in gyms to get stronger and improve themselves, not to survive, and that difference really stood out to me. I started to see the weightlifter as more than just a guy in a gym. The photo made me think about how effort and pushing hard can turn into a way to chase my own dreams. That idea motivates me to work harder at school, in my hobbies, and in my everyday life.
Proud Award Moments
I Won Math Gold! I got notified that I have achieved the highest honour at the Bhanzu Mathlete Scholarship Assessment in North America, the coveted 🥇 GOLD MEDAL! I was super nervous watching the screen as the timer ticked. I even had to use special proctoring software for this competition. Around 1,800 families signed up their kids. My prizes are pretty awesome: a real medal, a new iPad, a certificate, a report about my math strengths, a Letter of Commendation, and a 100% free spot in the Bhanzu Math Program. I am grateful to have received a wonderful package with the 128 GB A16 iPad, the gold medal, and even the cap! This whole experience makes me feel like math can really be my superpower, and I am excited to keep levelling up. Bhanzu was founded by Neelakantha Bhanu Prakash, the world’s fastest human calculator and winner of a major mental math championship in 2020, and I am eager to learn more and work toward a similar experience. 🚀
Mathlete Experience
The Letter of Commendation is not just about my score. It also highlights how I can reason through problems, spot patterns, understand ideas clearly, and I’m ready for more advanced math. It says I face confidence issues and have strong problem-solving potential. This scholarship gives me a chance to think more deeply, be creative with how I solve questions, and build a long‑term love for math. Math is also about growing my confidence, staying strong when things are hard, and learning how to handle tough challenges.
Chasing New Horizons
