Beauty in Unexpected Places

Beauty in Unexpected Places

For Rachel C. ’26, mathematics isn’t just about solving problems—it is about discovering beauty in unexpected places. As a dedicated mathematician and Marlborough’s most advanced math student, Rachel’s passion for math has propelled her to tackle topics that extend far beyond the standard curriculum. Whether she’s leading Marlborough’s Math Club, teaching herself representation theory, or preparing for a national competition, Rachel’s love for mathematics is emphatic and contagious. 

“I want to expose more people to the beauty of math,” Rachel explains.  “There is a large misconception that math is boring and pointless. I want to get rid of that.” As Math Club leader, she organizes events, brings in All-School Meeting speakers like Dr. Po-Shen Loh, and helps her peers see mathematics from new perspectives. 

Rachel’s own mathematical journey has taken her far beyond traditional classroom boundaries. She is currently participating in PRIMES, MIT’s prestigious mathematics research program for high school students. After an intensive two-month application process—including a 100-hour problem set and rapid-fire mathematics questions during an interview she completed at 11:30 p.m. local time while competing in a chess tournament in Europe—Rachel was selected as one of just 47 students nationwide.

Her PRIMES research focuses on group theory and the Davenport constant, involving complex mathematical concepts that even many college students have not encountered. Working with two other high school students and mentors from Clemson University, Rachel’s team has developed new research that represents original contributions to the field. Their work will be presented at a major math conference in Seattle this January, where they will join over 3,000 presenters and 6,000 attendees.

When asked who her biggest supporters at Marlborough have been throughout her mathematics education, Rachel easily answers the entire math department, “and especially Ms. Moser.” Math Instructor Alison Moser notes that Rachel’s ability to grasp new concepts is unlike anything she has ever encountered. “She can learn three weeks of materials in three hours—no matter the subject. As soon as she sees it, she knows it,” Ms. Moser says. This natural aptitude shows in Rachel’s contest performances; on the challenging Canadian Mathematical Olympiad, where even the most advanced students typically solve only two to four of the six problems in the allotted thirty minutes, Rachel consistently solves all six.

Perhaps more impressive than her mathematical brilliance is Rachel’s dedication to building community and inspiring others, particularly young women, to dive into the field of math. In a field where gender disparities remain stark—Rachel notes that only 10 of the 47 PRIMES participants are girls—she is working to change the narrative. 

Rachel also serves as a teaching assistant for Athemath, an organization supporting girls in mathematics. “For the first time, these girls can feel the confidence to speak in a math classroom to other girls who love math without feeling like they are the minority,” she says. “This is why schools like Marlborough exist and are important!” She is particularly passionate about introducing students to higher-level math, working to expand Athemath’s curriculum beyond competition math to include more advanced concepts.

When she is not teaching or conducting research, Rachel might be found at various summer mathematics programs—she attended the Canadian IMO Training Camp for top math olympiad students last summer—or sharing interesting mathematical concepts with her Math Club peers. “Rachel understands math from every angle and she retains it,” Ms. Moser observes. “She has an interest in the breadth of math knowledge she can acquire.” Beyond her individual achievements, Rachel’s greatest impact may be in how she is helping to reshape perceptions of math at Marlborough. After recent Math Club events, students have approached her saying they had never seen math from these perspectives before.

Looking ahead, Rachel hopes to continue her PRIMES research and is always on the lookout for additional advanced mathematics opportunities. But her fundamental goal is unwavering: sharing the beauty and excitement of math with others. When you’re teaching,” she reflects, “you’re passing on knowledge that has been passed to you through generations. That aspect is really cool.”


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