February 11, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, is a great occasion to speak with the talented female students of PhysMath who are achieving outstanding results alongside their peers.

Today, we are featuring 17-year-old Nare Smbatyan, who won a bronze medal in Mathematics at this year’s Zhautykov International Olympiad.

Why Mathematics?

I have been studying at PhysMath since the 7th grade. Noticing my strong passion for mathematics and my early achievements - such as winning the “Kangaroo” competition in the 4th grade - my parents and I decided that I should continue my education at a stronger school. On the recommendation of many people, we chose PhysMath.

Participation in International Olympiads

I have been taking part in Olympiads since the 5th grade, receiving either a diploma or at least a certificate of merit at the national stage every year. I have also achieved success at the international level - for example, last year I won a bronze medal at the European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad.

It was the first time Armenia participated in that Olympiad, and I believe it encouraged many girls to work harder and strive for similar achievements.

At the Zhautykov Olympiad, being the only female representative from Armenia, I felt additional pressure. I think I could have demonstrated my abilities even better, but I am still very happy with the bronze medal.

Breaking Stereotypes

International Olympiads provide an opportunity to represent our country with pride, connect with people from different countries, and learn about their cultures. For girls in particular, these competitions build confidence and help break the stereotype that only boys can succeed in mathematics.

To girls who want to participate in Olympiads, I would advise them not to be afraid, to work hard, and not to give up even after failures. Our achievements today can become motivation for more girls to enter the field of mathematics in the future.

Future Plans and Dreams

In the future, I plan to deepen my knowledge of mathematics and I am also eager to study informatics more thoroughly. I believe there is still so much to learn, and I would like to continue my education abroad.