2006-2012 • Mathematics
Since there is no better way to understand, there can be no better way to teach.
—Henri Lebesgue
I went to Pierre et Marie Curie university (now part of Sorbonne University) where I graduated with a masters degree in mathematics and passed the competitive examination to be a high school mathematics teacher (Agrégation).
Algebra and cryptography were the domains I enjoyed the most. One
day you learn that 1 + 1 might sum to 0. Another day, you learn that
in projective spaces parallel lines have the infinity point in
common. And without realizing it, one day you learn that on top of
elliptic curves you can define a group structure (ie. you can define
a + operation that applies to the points of the curve: each time you
add two points of the curve, the resulting point belongs to the same
curve).
This was just amazing. I had a really great time.
If you had wanted to meet me then, you should have looked for me at the library, I spent all my time there. Reading, Struggling, Solving... again and again and again.
What did I learn?
You'd better learn how to trust yourself. Authors are humans, books contain mistakes and if you come with a solution that belies what's in the book, you might be right.
Mathematics is an infinite game. I mean, there is always another level of abstraction that can help you better understand the level you are in. It's up to you to know if you want to work hard enough to get to that next level.
Mathematics is about symbols, language and imagination, all combined together.