Kseniia first entered Olympiads without preparation, winning third place and discovering the appeal of building theorems from simple axioms. She gravitated toward combinatorics and number theory and later became fascinated by topology, seeing how shapes can be classified in unexpected ways. She learned by explaining topics as if to others, which made tutoring a natural and enjoyable experience, especially with motivated students. Kseniia also shares her efforts to overcome shyness, how she balances her need for speed with biking, and her goals for university.

We caught up before she started university (interview edited for length and clarity):