Stepan’s path into mathematics was anything but ordinary. Unlike many peers, he only discovered his passion in eighth grade. He sees math as “beautiful” beyond medals, valuing both the quick creativity Olympiads demand, and the patience of working on problems for days. Whether exploring combinatorics or connections across number theory, linear algebra, and even physics, Stepan approaches mathematics as an interconnected landscape. He shares why combinatorics excites him and what he looks forward to at university.

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