Now I really believe in music therapy. It cured my headache.

Was working on some SMO questions in the afternoon. The questions in senior section were alright, but not those in open section. Haha. I have to work hard.

I wonder if I was given the opportunity to go for olympiad training, would I dread the training sessions or would I be intrinsically motivated to attend each session.

Ever since the time I went on stage to get the badge for top scorer in AMC, I began to believe in Math competitions. Doing well in such competitions may not lead to one becoming a great Mathematician in future. One may not be able to come out with ground breaking theorems and results. However, I believe these competitions provide students with ample challenges to go beyond the syllabus. Minimally, these competitions reinforce the syllabus content.

I was never good in sports. Neither was I exceptionally good in debate or creative writing. Therefore, trophies and medals seem super far away. That badge was my first prize since secondary school. And from then on, I felt less deprived. Yes, I've this hunger for recognition. And I like shiny things like badges and medals. I must say, all these kept me going all these while. When intrinsic motivation is lacking, such extrinsic motivation drive the motor to work towards success.

I like what Terence Tao said in his book:

As a high school student, competing in mathematics competitions, I enjoyed mathematics as a sport, taking cleverly designed mathematical puzzle problems and searching for the right trick that would unlock each one. As an undergraduate, I was awed by my 1st glimpses of the rich, deep, and fascinating theories and structures which lie at the core of modern mathematics today ...

... how one approaches a mathematical problem for the first time, and how the painstaking, systematic experience of trying some ideas, eliminating others, and steadily manipulating the problem can lead, ultimately, to a satisfying solution.

Anyway, math competitions aside. I have finally handed in my thesis. Commencement this July! Too bad, my parents don't get the VIP seats this time round.

Sent the first draft of my paper to my supervisor. I foresee lots of corrections. I must say, those few days which I spent working on my paper, I really enjoyed them. I felt as if I'm in touch with an old friend again.