MY Camper Reetta Repo: Understanding mathematics behind physics
17-year-old MY Camper Reetta Repo would like to link maths and physics studies to economics in the future.
Reetta is originally from the municipality of Siilinjärvi, in Eastern Finland, but is currently living in the neighbouring city of Kuopio, where she is just about to finish her second year of high school in Kuopio Lyseo high school’s IB diploma programme. Her studies focus around maths, physics, and economics. She intends to study these subjects further in university too, and has already taken a university course called Introduction to Analysis.
Reetta heard about MY Camp from her physics teacher, who encouraged Reetta and her friend Jarkko to apply.
“The camp sounded very interesting, and I thought it could be helpful when thinking of my IB Extended Essay. So, I decided to give it a shot. I didn’t even believe in my chances to get in the camp before the results of the first application process came through. The camp is the best thing that has happened to me this year!”
Reetta is looking forward to meet her fellow campers. She also wants to get more information regarding the Aalto University, where she intends to apply after graduating.
“I also have high expectations concerning the group work on the camp and I want to learn as much as possible.”
Reetta is in MY Camp’s Applied Mathematics group. Her project plan is a modified version of her Extented Essay plan, which she was working with along side the MY Camp project.
“I’ve always liked simple harmonic motion as a topic and I thought the mathematics in it was quite fascinating. I got more interested about it when our physics teacher, who usually always shows the proofs for different formulae, only gave us the formula, and I wanted to know where the formula comes from. I also thought learning second order differential equations already now would be useful for me in the future.”
Reetta has always been interested in maths, and that is also something she has always been good at as well. She also likes physics, and plans on making science her future career.
“However, I don’t consider myself being married to science or anything! I also have this “humanist-side” as I’m into economics. In addition global issues have a great importance for me. I also have a dream of spending a year in Spain studying maths or economics or working, and learning the language.”
When Reetta has some time off from studying, she likes to spend time with her friends and follow sports, football and ice hockey. She used to play football (soccer, that is) herself too. Music is important to her as well, and she admires people who play an instrument.
“I also do voluntary work by visiting an old lady who has become a good friend of mine.”
Link: Millennium Youth Camp
Document: Reetta´s plan for MY Camp (pdf)
Elisa Lautala works as web editor for University of Helsinki's Faculty of Science. Elisa likes all kinds of cultural events, good books, warm weather, and aqua-jogging.