There’s currently an intense war over education in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. On June 19 after months of protest by activists, there was finally a violent clash between the protestors and the police. Thirteen people died in those clashes as the state fights for educational reform and an end of police related violence. Out of the same state emerges teen Diego Hinojosa, dubbed #LordMatemáticas by his people.
Unlike most teens Hinojosa doesn’t really think math is that difficult or that he’s naturally gifted at it, but he has won seven mathematics Olympic medals in 15 years. Hinojosa isn’t in some prep school either, he goes to public school and is preparing for a five day competition half way around the world in Thailand. He has already lead his team to victory in the Central American and Caribbean competitions. His key is hard work, dedicating 15 hours a week to studying just math.
“Some people think that mathematics is for geniuses, but we are normal children,” he told El País. “Anyone can develop that talent.” He has become a Twitter phenomenon as #LordMatemáticas and a ray of hope and young leader by default in a state rife with so much tension.
