17-year-old Vahan Abrahamyan is the new hero of our series about the successes of PhysMath students. In January, Vahan won a bronze medal in Informatics at the Zhautykov International Olympiad.

We spoke with Vahan about his chosen path, experiences, and future plans.

Why Informatics

Since childhood, I have loved mathematics. Solving problems has always been interesting and engaging for me. That curiosity led me to the PhysMath School, where I had the opportunity to participate in various Olympiad clubs, one of which was Informatics.

Over time, I realized that this field is especially close to me: it involves creative solutions and constant mental exercise. That is why I decided to continue in this direction and, possibly, make it my profession in the future.

Participating in Olympiads

Constant mental exercise is extremely important: it keeps you active, helps you approach problems from different angles, and find diverse solutions. These skills later play a significant role in various life situations. Olympiads also create healthy competition, which is very important: we not only compete but also help each other, learn from one another, and grow together.

In 2024, I participated in the Zhautykov Olympiad for the first time. It was a very interesting experience for me—a new environment, new people, and a high level of organization. I was impressed both by the tasks and by interacting with participants from different countries. This was a great achievement not only in knowledge but also in experience.

I believe everything should start with love. It is important for children to try different fields from a young age, participate in Olympiads, follow successful examples, and understand that they too can achieve great success.

Role Models in the Field

I try to take the best from everyone. Of course, there are many top-level programmers and Olympiad participants whom I follow and aspire to be like. My teachers also play a big role in my life—Armen Andriasyan and Samvel Andreasyan—from whom I have learned a lot and continue to learn.

Future Plans

In the future, I want to continue in programming. I haven’t yet decided whether to pursue my education in Armenia or abroad, but I am certain of one thing: whichever path I choose, I will try to use my knowledge to benefit my homeland, create innovations, and contribute to the development of my people.