Anna Konstorum shares her grandmother’s inspiring story living through Stalin’s regime and the Holocaust, persevering and becoming a maths teacher and sharing her passion with her granddaughter.
“My grandmother was a high-school mathematics teacher and eventually vice principal for the majority of her career. She was a kind, warm woman, who shared her love of math with me through fun mathematics games and activities, creating a space where math was something to look forward to and enjoy in good company. Yet, her kind and gentle nature belied an incredibly difficult life, her family lived through Stalin’s Great Purge and the Holocaust, and had to grapple with rising anti-semitism in Stalin’s post-war Soviet Union. Through all this, she was able to pass on to her children and grandchildren a gratitude and appreciation for the many beautiful things life has to offer, and part of that inheritance that I am incredibly grateful for was the love of mathematics that she shared with me. I share her story here in hope to inspire readers to see the beauty of what they are working towards, whether in mathematics or elsewhere, in spite of the difficulties we all face. I want to share the richness of the inheritance she left me.”
“As I move forward, I will continue to champion gender equality and work towards dismantling the barriers that hold us back. I will strive to be the mentor and ally I wish I had when I was starting out. By embracing our unique strengths and fostering a supportive community, I believe we can create a more inclusive and equitable world for all.” - Kira Wetzel