Oaxacan teens triumph at International Math Contest – Level 2

Ada and Zuri, two teens from Oaxaca, Mexico, dreamed of participating in the Singapore International Math Olympiad Challenge (SIMOC), one of the world’s toughest math competitions. To make their trip happen, they didn’t give up — even though it seemed impossible at first. The boys and their families worked together: Ada raised money by selling raffle tickets and asking for help from local friends, while Zuri’s family baked carrot cakes for community sales. With extra support from a foundation and their neighbors, they finally raised enough money to fly to Singapore.​

Once there, Ada and Zuri joined more than 2,000 students from 37 countries, all ready to solve difficult math puzzles. Ada won a silver medal in the “Mastermind” category, and Zuri earned a bronze team medal plus a special mention for his solo work. The contest was challenging, but what they liked most was meeting kids from all around the world and exploring the city. They learned that teamwork and friendship matter as much as being good at math. It was their first time outside Mexico, and they discovered new places, cultures, and ideas.​

Ada and Zuri’s story shows that big dreams need effort, support, and not giving up. After their adventure, Ada wants to study biomedical engineering, and Zuri is excited about computer science. Both say that with hard work and community help, you can create great opportunities — no matter where you are from or how hard your goal seems.​

Bridging words

These words sound similar in English and Spanish: Why not practice them now?

 Time to discuss

• Why is teamwork important for reaching your goals?
• How did Ada and Zuri’s families help them succeed?
• What new things do you think they learned from traveling?

Let's write

Answer the following questions in one paragraph:

• Write about a time you worked with others to accomplish something.
• Imagine you could go to any country for a competition—where would you go and why?