Celebrating Olivia's Journey: From Camp to Gold

June 2024

In early December 2024, Olivia (Yihan) embarked on an extraordinary journey, having earnt a spot in the Senior Math Olympiad camp. This camp is crucial for selection to the prestigious European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad (EGMO).

However, Olivia faced a tough choice: to attend this camp, she had to miss one of the pinnacle experiences of Howqua – the seven-day hike. Additional complications arose when the math camp was delayed due to a COVID outbreak, which then forced another difficult decision to shorten her final stay at Howqua so that she could prepare for an exam at home. This only allowed her a few hours to say goodbye to the campus and pack up her “Howqua life”. Her housemates and House Tutor were incredibly supportive – after all, Howqua had not only strengthened their friendships but had also strengthened her self-belief to choose her own path.

The sacrifice was ultimately worth it, as Olivia was selected for the EGMO team in December. Competing in Kosovo in April, she joined a team of four, with the excitement building around the opening ceremony on the 11th. The competition days, filled with intense problem-solving, tested her skills for 4.5 hours each day.

Despite the pressure, Olivia’s hard work paid off. After a rigorous marking process, she earned an individual gold medal, with the Australian team securing third place overall. The anticipation and excitement were palpable, with friends and family back home eagerly tracking her scores.

Olivia’s Year 10 experience is marked by balance and support. With guidance from a variety of staff, and opportunities and participation in netball, choir, and GSV, she thrives both academically and physically.

Year 10 Coordinator, Mr Joel Irons, elaborates on how Lauriston has supported her journey, saying:

“Olivia’s ability in the mathematics field is unique and Lauriston has adjusted her program so that she can continually be challenged and continue to be a courageous lifelong learner. The school is excited to see Olivia continue to not only succeed in the field of mathematics but shatter barriers that exist within today’s society that exist for women in STEM.”

Likewise, Dr Zara Dennis, who has been witness to Olivia’s journey since 2021, and is responsible for developing Lauriston’s Senior School Aviation curriculum, highlights that Olivia’s math prowess is not her only strength – her collaborative nature shines at every interaction:

“Olivia will be joining the Year 10 STEM Aviation elective in Semester 2 this year, and I am very much looking forward to having her in my class again. I’m excited to see how she thrives in this more applied learning environment, which emphasises the practical application of knowledge rather than the more traditional exam-based assessment style. I am confident that Olivia will excel here as well, and I anticipate she will bring thoughtful, inspiring questions to our discussions. The final assessment task is open-ended, encouraging students to blend imagination with technical rigour as they propose their own scientifically justified vision for the future of flight and/or space travel. It will be a pleasure to see the ideas Olivia develops as she engages with this creative and intellectually demanding task.

“It goes without saying therefore that Olivia excels academically; however, what is equally commendable is that she has maintained the same kindness and humility she displayed when I first met her in Year 7, four years ago.

"She is consistently generous with her time and always willing to support others; whether through her leadership and involvement in the Year 8 Maths Club, or more recently, by working collaboratively with me to assist other students with extracurricular mathematics puzzles."

- Dr Zara Dennis

“Olivia is truly a well-rounded student, excelling not only in her studies but also in character and contribution to the school community.”

We look forward to following Olivia’s journey in the years ahead!