About Me
Welcome to Harry's Life
I’m a person of many (strange) interests. I was emotionally abused by my beloved Asian Tiger Mom into believing that I either had to be the best or nothing. So… here I am, a desperate perfectionist trying to reverse the damage. 🙂
Where I Come From
I graduated with a BA in mathematics at UC Berkeley, where I met inspiring mentors, supporting friends, and brilliant students. Currently, I’m a PhD student in Mathematical Logic at UW-Madison.
What I Do
Share the math I learn. Learn new math. Share the new math. Repeat. But most important of all:
MAKE IT FUN!
What's in the Future?
Change the stigma that math is only for boring geniuses. Math can be fun, and it certainly is creative and colorful. I fight the stereotype on mathematics, pure or applied, through exposure of fun activities, dynamic personalities, and the landscape of diverse humanity among mathematicians.
Brief Biography
I was born and raised in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam during the time when we had two power outages every week and filtered faucet water with cotton balls three times to get the “black stuff” out then boiled it before drinking with hopes that we wouldn’t die.
I aspired to be many things growing up: flight attendant, lawyer, political leader, mathematician, musical theater superstar, stay-at-home trophy boy, the President… Many of those have, of course, gone down the drain. 🙁
The point is: at least ONE of those dreams is coming true!! So, kids: NEVER stop dreaming, and keep working at it!!
Outreach Projects
Leading a summer research program to expose high school students in Vietnam to mathematical research.
Exposing young students in the Bay Area of mathematical ideas outside of scope of regular school.
See my math circle sessions for sample papers.
My YouTube channel, inspired by colleagues and students, to share my mathematical thoughts beyond my usual classrooms.
Snippets of personalities, stories, ideas that I find inspiring or interesting in the math community. The world of mathematics is so diverse, and mathematicians are more human than media portrays us.
Would you like to start a project with me?
Project prospects are welcome. However, I tend to respond slowly during the school year.