I've decided to take a break from doing IMO problems (instead I'm focusing on PFTB, MOP handouts, and random hard Geo problems with pi37) so I wanted to reflect on the goals I made at the beginning of the year.

For reference, here they are:

In terms of what I've accomplished so far, by playing Super Smash Flash 2 a lot online (which runs on Melee physics) I got REALLY good with Fox and Sheik. In 64, my mario became pretty good (that fthrow to shorthop fireball to confirm repeat is a great tech chase).

I'm on book 9 of Wheel of Time, and it's definitely one of the best fantasy series I've ever read (up there with ASOIAF and Sword of Truth and The First Law).

So I learned how to cook a nice shrimp + pasta + garlic butter + assorted vegetables dish and my mom showed me a cool recipe for fried chicken. Soup progress is slow, however.

I watched V for Vendetta today - it ripped off 1984 a bit but was pretty cool.

I made Nationals in WWTBAM (Who Wants to Be a Mathematician) which is cool, somewhat because of the free money (my goal is to win at least 1000$, which should be doable) but mostly because of a free trip to San Antonio and a chance to sit in on the lectures of real mathematicians (especially Ken Ono, I'm really looking forward to hearing him speak).

In debate, my partner and I got to semis at a national and got our first TOC bid, so hopefully these goals will be accomplished!

Hmm so at the most recent chess tournament I went 1-1-2 at third board (I asked to be moved down), not the most promising start but at least not a losing record! However, my team got 4th overall and a HUGE trophy so that was nice.

The real reason I'm writing this blog post is not to reflect on these goals but on stuff that has happened so far that I couldn't foresee but that are more important than a lot (most?) of these goals. I helped Evan Chen edit four chapters of his upcoming Geometry book (which is absolutely amazing; EVERYONE should get a copy - it is by far the most comprehensive and well-written text out there) and got a job to TA Geometry 3 with Cosmin Pohoata (tied with Po Shen Loh for the most amazing teacher I've ever had) at AMSP Cornell this summer! Even if I don't make IMO or medal at APMO (which almost certainly will be the case), I feel like I'm going to make a mark on the incredible mathematical community and that to me is the most rewarding thing I've ever done.